Summary
Planning a wedding is exciting but costly, and reflecting on our experience, we share lessons learned about budgeting wisely, avoiding unnecessary expenses, and prioritizing what truly enhances the celebration of love.
Planning weddings is a whirlwind of excitement, decisions, and, of course, expenses. It’s easy to get caught up in the desire to create the perfect day, but looking back, there are definitely things we wish we’d done differently.
One of the first things we are so glad we did before we even started planning was to evaluate our finances as a couple and set a firm budget for our wedding. We also planned on maximizing that budget by doing two things:
- We placed those budget dollars into a high-yield savings money market account. We gave ourselves a good amount of time to plan our wedding, so it would be sad not to let our money earn interest while we plan.
- The second thing we did was use our rewards credit card to be sure we were getting the most for our budget dollars.
Once we had maximized our money situation, we set about planning. We had a fantastic wedding and were so thrilled with how everything turned out! However, we did learn some lessons along the way that we want to share with you!
Here are 16 things we regret spending money on for our weddings and 3 things we don’t.
The 16 Regrets
Overpriced Wedding Planner: We had high hopes for a wedding planner who promised to take all the stress out of the planning process. Unfortunately, they didn’t live up to the hype. Many of the details were still left to us, and I realized later that we could have handled much of it ourselves or with the help of friends and family.
Customized Wedding Website: Creating a wedding website seemed like a fun idea, and we were lured into adding all sorts of fancy features. In the end, most guests barely glanced at it, and the extra costs for customization just weren’t worth it.
Extra Save-the-Dates: We were so worried about everyone remembering the date that we sent multiple reminders. In hindsight, one well-timed save-the-date would have sufficed, saving both money and effort.
Luxury Honeymoon Suite for the Wedding Night: We splurged on a lavish suite for our wedding night, but we were so exhausted after the day’s events that we barely had the energy to enjoy it. A simple, comfortable room would have been just as good, and we could have saved the money for our honeymoon.
Pre-Wedding Spa Day: Treating myself and my bridal party to an extravagant spa day seemed like a great idea at the time. While it was relaxing, it wasn’t essential, and the hefty price tag didn’t add much to the overall wedding experience.
Elaborate Rehearsal Dinner: We wanted to make our rehearsal dinner special, but in retrospect, it felt like an unnecessary mini-wedding. The money spent could have been better allocated to the actual wedding day.
Expensive Guest Accommodations: We decided to foot the bill for luxury accommodations for a few key guests, hoping to make their stay extra special. But many of them barely spent time in their rooms, making the splurge feel like a waste.
High-End Hair and Makeup Trial Runs: I booked multiple hair and makeup trials to ensure everything would be perfect on the big day. While it was nice to feel pampered, I could have achieved a similar result with fewer sessions and less expense.
Engagement Photo Shoot: We paid for an elaborate engagement photo shoot in addition to our wedding photos. Looking back, the extra shoot didn’t add much value, and we could have done something simpler (or skipped it entirely).
Gifts for the Bridal Party: I spent a lot on personalized, expensive gifts for my bridal party, hoping to show my appreciation. While the thought was there, the gifts didn’t have the impact I’d hoped for, and a more heartfelt, less costly gesture might have been better.
Destination Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties: We decided to go all out with destination bachelor and bachelorette parties, which ended up being costly and logistically challenging. While we had fun, the financial strain wasn’t worth it in the end.
Live Streaming of the Wedding: Many guests could not attend in person, so we invested in live streaming the wedding. Unfortunately, technical issues and limited viewer engagement made this a regrettable expense.
Extravagant Escort Cards and Table Settings: We got carried away with customizing escort cards and table settings, adding intricate details that most guests didn’t even notice. The money spent on these small touches could have been used elsewhere.
Over-the-Top Videography: We paid for additional videography services, including extra footage and edits. While the idea was to capture every moment, we found that we rarely watched the videos, making it a regrettable expense.
First Dance Choreography Lessons: I wanted our first dance to be a showstopper, so we invested in choreography lessons. The pressure to perform a flawless routine added stress, and we realized later that a simple, natural dance would have been just as memorable.
Post-Wedding Brunch: To extend the celebration, we hosted a post-wedding brunch. While it was nice to see everyone one last time, it felt more like an obligation than a joyful event, and the added cost wasn’t necessary.
The 3 Things I Don’t Regret
Hiring a Day-of Coordinator: While our experience with a full-service wedding planner wasn’t great, the day-of coordinator was a lifesaver. They handled last-minute issues and made sure everything ran smoothly, allowing us to actually enjoy our wedding day without worrying about logistics.
Splurging on Comfortable Shoes: We each decided to invest in a pair of comfortable yet stylish shoes for the big day. This was one of the best decisions we made. Being on our feet all day, we were grateful for shoes that kept us comfortable and pain-free, allowing us to dance the night away.
Investing in Quality Sound Equipment: Good sound is something that can easily be overlooked, but it made all the difference at our wedding. Clear audio for the speeches, ceremony, and music ensured that everyone could hear and enjoy the moments, making it well worth the investment.
Keep Your Eyes on the Joy of the Day
Planning weddings involves many choices, and it’s easy to get caught up in spending on things that feel important at the moment. Looking back, we realize that some expenses just didn’t add as much value as we’d hoped.
Our advice to future couples is to prioritize what will truly enhance your experiences and memories and not be afraid to skip the things that might seem impressive but won’t matter in the long run. After all, weddings are about celebrating love, and that doesn’t require a massive budget.
