In examining your wedding budget, it’s wise to prioritize what is important to you. This is a great first-step when planning your wedding budget, but often couples get caught up in the tangibles of their wedding expenses and forget the intangibles that are worth exploring for an overall quality experience of their wedding day.
- Smaller guest list, elevated experience – Some couples with large inner circles just can’t figure out how to shave down their list and that is certainly okay. If you were building a house, would you invest in huge square footage or mid-size with some niceties or one smaller with all bells and whistles? A wedding is much the same way. In the middle of Covid, I had a college student tell me, “I sure hope these smaller weddings stick around. That’s what I really want for my day.” Halleluiah! Trimming down your guest list can offer opportunities to add on something you wouldn’t for a 200+ crowd such as a parred-up menu item, live musicians, quaint ice cream cart, or a whiskey bar. Not to mention some couples find a large guest list confines the couple’s venue choices to big ballroom venues sometimes eliminating unique venues with intimate spaces.
- Details, details and details – Sure the guests will take note of the dress, tuxes, table setting and centerpieces, but wow your guests with something truly unexpected in the way of floral. Taking notes from local floral expert, Gary Garrison of Garrison’s Designs, consider one floral wow piece that you splurge on that can be moved from ceremony to reception space. That’s money well spent to opt for a floral piece with a dual role that could be both backdrop to your sweetheart or head table as well as ceremony. Also look at your venue for unexpected spaces to place floral in a unique way, like a beam that can handle floating floral or add draping floral to a doorway or chandelier. Guests love the unexpected.
- Getting to and from without the hassle –Arrange for a chauffeur for your wedding party, whether it be a festive party bus, vintage trolley car, or stylish limousine. Weymouth Hill Event Venue offers a Mercedes Sprinter Van with driver as an add on service. If you don’t want the added spend, ask a relative or two with a nice large SUV if he or she will act as a chauffeur as a wedding gift. There’s something quite satisfying when a driver is on standby to take you where you need.
- At your service – I spend a lot of time in a coastal town, and I’d be lost without a company appropriately named “at your service Island girl.” The owner’s business model includes any errand needed within reason. This level of service would be a nice touch on your wedding day. Sometimes you can count on family and friends for these extras such as offering to make a Starbucks run. In most cases, it’s smart to look for venues or planners who can assist you with special requests. Be willing to pay for extra services that aren’t included in your contract, especially those that create the need for additional staffing. In fact, it’s a good idea to line item all your wishes for the day and outline who will do what.
- The unexpected – We love when our couples bring something new to our venue. Consider your friends and family and those who have a special talent that could add to your day, such as an artist friend who would be willing to do a live painting. Don’t be afraid think outside the box or ask your venue if they can accommodate your ideas. Visiting venues across the country, we’ve seen some inexpensive add ons such as onsite restorative yoga for the bridal party to babysitting services to late-night Chick-Fil-A sandwich giveaways to guests. The sky is the limit with the right vendor team.
