Spend or Scrimp?
I’m the kind of girl who looks for coupons and deals, waits for the sales to buy stuff, bargains with salespeople for electronics, compares prices on anything vaguely expensive before buying it. This is the way I was brought up. I’ll splurge on something if I think it’s truly worth it, but not without looking at every other option, weighing up the cheapest place to buy it, and trying to get the seller to throw in some extras just because.
Unsurprisingly, this has meant that figuring out just how much a 100+ person wedding costs is freaking me out. I mean, wow. For one day. One special day, to be sure, but one day all the same. Initially The Boy and I discussed how much we wanted to spend, and decided $20,000 for our 80 – 100 person wedding would be reasonable. Since then our numbers have increased (still haven’t got anything definite yet, but expecting at least 120 invites to go out), and I’m trying to still make the budget fit by planning to DIY everything I can possibly DIY.
I suppose it’s down to what you want to splurge on and what you want to scrimp on. Here’s my lists:
Splurge
- Food – we want to serve a full, good meal.
- Drinks – The Boy and I aren’t wine or beer connoisseurs by any means, but I do want decent stuff.
- Photography – I love photography and doubt I’ll have any regrets splurging on the right photographer.
- The Boy’s suit – want to go with something he can wear again and again.
- Music – thinking of splurging a little extra for a jazz singer, or even a band if we manage to save enough on other things…
Scrimp
- My dress – I just can’t justify paying thousands of dollars for a one-day-dress. Lucky the style I’m after is simple, doesn’t take up too much material and should be re-wearable. Still pondering making it myself.
- Flowers – I’m not a big flower person. They’re pretty and all, but I feel odd spending so much money on something that will die in a few days. Hoping to buy a bunch of flowers in sort of the right colour the day before the wedding and putting together some simple bouquets.
- Hair & makeup – I hate other people doing my makeup. And I like doing my hair. Between myself and 4 bridesmaids, I think we’ll manage.
- Cake – pondering going with something that I won’t be charged $5+(!) per head to slice up.
- Centrepieces – see the comment on flowers above. Current plan: potted herbs, to give away/plant in our garden after.
- Transport – The Boy wants vintage cars, and I think it would be cool – but we’re doing everything at the same place (or as close to as possible), so it seems a bit pointless to me. Will probably get my dad to drive me if there’s any driving involved, haha.
- Bonfavs – previously decided to be nice but unnecessary.
- Stationery – because I know I’ll have heaps of fun making them!
What are you guys splurging and scrimping on?
http://memorableoccasioncakes.blogspot.com/
She makes amazing cakes and not too $$$ either. I’m using her for my wedding and the boy’s brother used her for theirs (see the pink wedding cupcake tower). My little sister also used her for her 21st (the red/black doll cupcake tower).
Ooh, she looks good! Actually I’m complaining more about the ‘cakeage’ fee most venues charge, but definitely interested in cutting costs in the cake itself as well.
ugh I totally feel you on the centrepieces, transport, bonfavs, flowers and cake! The very first thing we ditched was the cars. Where we are having ours, no one will see either of us arrive or depart, and the single shot of me gazing wistfully out of the window of the car didn’t seem worth it. We actually quite like our own car so a picture of me gazing wistfully out of that window will probably suffice
Having said that, we are probably hiring a bus to get people back into town from our venue.
As for flowers, I’m sure I’m not telling you anything new, but you’re aware of the wholesale flower markets in West Leederville yes? I’m haven’t checked them out yet but I’m hoping to do something similar to you.
And HELL YES to the nice suit for the boy
We’re going to skimp on transport too. We actually do need cars because there’s travelling involved but we almost had heart attacks when the quotes came in for car hire. Our dillema was that at the same time as not splurging, we did want half decent cars. We’re still working out the logistics of it but we’re looking at hiring a couple of silver Audi’s from Europcar for the day and getting the Dad’s to drive us.
Cars are so pricey! Amy – I like your idea of getting one from a regular rental place and asking a guest to drive it, if you’re after something nice.
I wonder if I can hire a scooter somewhere? I think that would be cooler than a car!
Nic – I haven’t looked into flowers much, there isn’t much info on the next about wholesale flowers! Can you let me know how you go with the Leederville markets if you check it out?
Splurge – food, drinks
mid-range – photography, my dress
save – cake (hopefully his mum), invitations, music (iPod)
undecided as to flowers
i lost the argument about having wedding cars…