When we were married in 2014, we were already a part of the wedding industry. At this point we were seasoned wedding photographers and had been offering The Photo Bus service for 2 years. We knew who we wanted to work with based on our experience with them as friendors (that’s a friend that’s a vendor) and we just started booking all-the-things at full rate. We didn’t offer discounts so we didn’t expect our friendors to, either. We valued their service so we were willing to pay for it. But when all of a sudden we started receiving the emails for all of the final balances being due at once, well, let’s just say the week before our wedding was not an enjoyable one with the weight of money hanging over our heads.
Long story short: Don’t be us.
4 simple ways to save money on your wedding
Straight from a vendor :)
Now 7 years into the photo booth business and we’ve had some very clever people cross our paths. They had great ideas that I only wish we would have thought of when we were planning our own wedding, so here’s to helping you instead!
Prioritize: Before you pick a date and reach out to any vendor (venue included) take time to sit together and dream about the perfect wedding day. What are the first things that come to your mind? The people? The ambiance? The clothing? Write these things down. Then go a step further and think about weddings (and events) you’ve attended. What do YOU remember about them? What stood out to you as a guest? What didn’t you really care for? What do you remember was there only because you’re thinking really hard about it but had actually forgotten about until making this list? Write those things down, too. Then go back through this list and really prioritize what is important to you - and consider why. These are the things that will bring you the most value. I’m not just talking financial value… I mean emotional value as well.
Compare features and benefits: Not all vendors include the same features and benefits in their pricing. Some vendors try to win you over with a low rate and then once you’ve signed the agreement they tell you all of these other things aren’t included. Yes, it happens ALL THE TIME. (No, we don’t do this and are 100% transparent on what is included and what is an optional additional charge). That “overpriced” vendor may actually be a much better choice than you think if you’re looking at what they offer compared to others, compared to what you have on your values list.
Be honest: Is the rate still more than you were hoping to spend? Start a conversation with the vendor! Be honest about how much you were hoping to spend and what you were hoping to receive within that budget. If you are a maker, creator, or service provider yourself don’t be shy to suggest a full or partial trade. You never know how you may be able to help someone else or what they may be willing to negotiate. They worst they can say is, “no,” right?
Ask your experiences instead of gifts: Are you already feeling overwhelmed at the thought of receiving more things for your already-full home? Ask a service provider if they offer gift cards for your friends and family to purchase to put toward the cost. Your guests want to enjoy the experience as much as you do, so ask them to help create it!
There are so many other ways you can save money for your wedding than just these. Really take the time to think about what’s important to you before you start committing to services.
Bonus tip: Hire a wedding planner. They plan weddings every day and know the best vendors to work with and the things you may not be thinking of since you’ve (probably) never done this before.