How to Set and Manage a Budget for Your Wedding or Elopement
The greatest mystery to planning a wedding is surely setting and managing the budget. As wedding planners, we know a lot about the difficulties in budgeting (a little too close for comfort)! Here, we break down the differences between setting a budget for an event as small as an elopement, all the way to the intricacies in dealing with a huge wedding budget.
👉🏽 Elopements (2-20 guests)
It takes two to tango. And it only takes two to get married. Elopements are a great way to celebrate with just the people who matter most to you. Intimate weddings are a rising trend, not just because they're more affordable, but also because you get the chance to create a truly memorable experience with just the most important people in your life.
Though you've opted for a smaller wedding, that does not technically mean you have less responsibilities. In some ways, you might feel more responsibility making every moment perfect for a small group of people. So don't procrastinate!
☝️Vendors you should hire:
Photographer! 100%!
Videographer for sure.
You still need an officiant!
A planner/coordinator is always a stress-reliever, but not necessary.
Flowers make the world go round, and they make your wedding day gorgeous. Don't forget them.
Hair and Makeup, you still gotta look your best.
✌️Vendors you can do without:
You don't need a DJ (make your own playlist)!
Invitations - just tell your favorite people and save you some dollas.
You don't need a typical wedding venue, get creative! You have the great outdoors and basically anywhere where 20 or less people can gather comfortably.
💡Tips--> Here are some ways to keep your costs down:
Managing a caterer is a much different experience when getting only a few people fed. Instead, order through a restaurant, eat AT a restaurant, or make your own and make it fun!
Ask one of your friends or relatives that you want to attend your elopement to register online as a universal minister and they can be your officiant!
You can get married pretty much anywhere when you have this small of a wedding party. But, it's always smart to look into permits and regulations for the location of your choice just to be safe. You do not want to ever get kicked out of your own wedding.
👉🏽 Small Weddings (21-50 guests)
A small wedding is a perfect way to bring your closest family and friends together and yet still be large enough to feel like a true celebration. With a small party of humans to manage, you have so much more freedom to pick a unique location for your venue than with a larger group. Take advantage of that! You can more easily host a small party in a backyard, on the beach, or in a field and avoid big venue fees.
☝️Remember:
Make sure your venue fits your guest count. Having 45 people at a venue that usually serves 200 can make the space feel vacant.
You can easily spend just as much on a small wedding as you would a large wedding. Rentals, catering and alcohol will increase your spend quickly if you're not careful.
You can get married pretty much anywhere when you have this small of a wedding party. But, it's always smart to look into permits and regulations for the location of your choice just to be safe. You do not want to ever get kicked out of your own wedding.
💡Tips--> Here are some ways to keep your costs down:
Ask one of your friends or relatives that you want to attend your wedding to register online as a universal minister and they can be your officiant!
When selecting a venue, make sure the amenities you need (restrooms, access to power, running water, etc.) are either included or affordably rented through local providers. You could easily spend more on these amenities than you would if you found a venue that had included amenities.
👉🏽 Mid-size Weddings (51-150 guests)
As far as vendors are concerned, a wedding party of 51-150 is a standard-sized wedding. The times may have changed this standard, but you just cannot beat having everyone you care about in one place. And frankly, this is often the only time in your life when that will happen. So seeing how it's important to you to include all your people, don't look back. Make your wedding design and purchase choices based on your guest count.
☝️Remember:
A rigid itinerary is so important when managing this many people! You cannot escape the need for a coordinator. With a smaller wedding, you can get by without a coordinator, but with more than 50 guests you will lose some hair without someone else managing all the details on your wedding day.
It's imperative to thoroughly prioritize your vendors according to financial importance. It's so easy to jump to the fun stuff that may seemingly be low cost, but it all adds up. It's far too common for couples to get caught up in the decorative expenses and miss out on more important purchases such as photography or catering. Create a list of priorities, stick to it, and be patient.
💡Tips --> Here are some ways to keep your costs down:
Ask one of your friends or relatives that you want to attend your wedding to register online as a universal minister and they can be your officiant!
When selecting a venue, make sure the amenities you need (restrooms, access to power, running water, etc) are either included or affordably rented through local providers. You could easily spend more on these amenities than you would if you found a venue that had included amenities.
Consider DIY'ing your decorative elements instead of renting them. This gives you the opportunity to provide an ultra-personal touch too!
👉🏽 Large Weddings (151+ guests)
Who doesn't love a big party? They are a sight for sore eyes these days for sure. We get why you are holding out for the big event — your wedding day is often the only time in your life when you get to experience having everyone you love all in on place. Seeing how it's important to you to include all your people, don't look back. Make your wedding design and purchase choices based on your guest count.
☝️Remember:
A rigid itinerary is so important when managing this many people! You cannot escape the need for a coordinator. With a smaller wedding, you can get by without a coordinator, but with more than 50 guests you will lose some hair without someone else managing all the details on your wedding day.
It's imperative to thoroughly prioritize your vendors according to financial importance. It's so easy to jump to the fun stuff that may seemingly be low cost, but it all adds up. It's far too common for couples to get caught up in the decorative expenses and miss out on more important purchases such as photography or catering. Create a list of priorities, stick to it, and be patient.
💡Tips --> Here are some ways to keep your costs down:
Ask one of your friends or relatives that you want to attend your wedding to register online as a universal minister and they can be your officiant!
When selecting a venue, make sure the amenities you need (restrooms, access to power, running water, etc) are either included or affordably rented through local providers. You could easily spend more on these amenities than you would if you found a venue that had included amenities.
Consider DIY'ing your decorative elements instead of renting them. This gives you the opportunity to provide an ultra-personal touch too!
Consider a buffet for dinner! It's the cheapest way to serve a lot of people at once.
We hope this helps! If you have any questions about how to stay on budget, reach out to a wedding expert here at Event Hollow by clicking on the chat button in the bottom left corner of your screen, or emailing us at [email protected]. Happy planning!