The biggest beast - wedding budget

The wedding budget is one of the most discussed topics among couples who are planning to get married. Especially in cases where expectations go beyond the budget. Many couples face the questions – where to save and where better not to save?

Start with consulting a professional

Although registering a marriage at the registry office is low-cost, in reality, the price tends to grow by several zeros. Let's face it – beauty and aesthetics often take superiority over the budget. Often, unless the couple has attended many weddings or is involved in the wedding industry, there is a lack of understanding of how much a beautiful and Pinterest-worthy wedding could cost.

Professional wedding organizer Kristine Strazda from Goldfish Events recommends starting wedding planning with a meeting and consultation with a professional wedding planner, which will help you understand the overall costs of a wedding.

Tip – do not save on decorations and meals

Kristine Strazda points out that the budget, first of all, depends on the number of guests and the wedding venue. "Note that a ceremony and celebration in different venues will be more expensive because the expenses will include transport and all the necessary equipment installation and dismantling time in each place, which requires the involvement of more people in the organization,” explains Kristine.

However, many couples may wonder where they could save. "Since the wedding is also a great visual pleasure, I would not recommend saving on wedding decorations – flowers, beautiful tableware, candlesticks, and other elements to create a festive atmosphere that will remain in the memories of the newlyweds and guests for a long time.

But the main mistake, which, unfortunately, is often made by couples – the desire to save on the amount of food and drinks. Often couples think that it will be enough. But if it is not enough? After all, the guests who will be hungry at midnight, will remember your wedding with disappointment, even if everything else at the wedding was perfect," Kristine shares.

The final budget for the wedding may change

When planning a wedding budget, you should always add at least another 10 percent. In Kristine's experience, it has never happened that the planned wedding budget coincides with the final expenses. The reason is not bad planning, but the fact that the wedding planner can offer the couple many more ideas than the couple had originally envisioned.

Very often the wedding budget increases due to the amount of flowers and decorations, wanting to achieve a wonderful scenery. "Almost always during the wedding planning process, new and sometimes more beautiful and suitable ideas arise,” Kristine shares her experience.

Hidden costs

Of course, there are things we know you will have to pay for them, but there are also a lot of hidden costs to a wedding that the couple may not even foresee at first. "These are most often technical costs – sound and light equipment, tables, chairs, and other inventory, as well as staff costs in general," says Kristine.

The loan is not the solution

Although wishes and ideas tend to be different, Kristine Strazda believes that a bank loan is not a solution to a budget deficit.

"In my opinion, if a couple does not have the funds to organize the wedding they dream of, then it is worth investing the available money in a beautiful wedding trip that will remain in memory for a long time after the wedding day, and to organize a lovely, nice, and intimate wedding ceremony with some friends and relatives,” suggests Kristine.