What's worth the money?

Videographer - I would love to have one. but can't justify the extra cost. so we are borrowing a friends DSLR camera that can take video, so that way I can have the ceremony taped (will be on a tripod).

decorations - i'm all for the DIY. do NOT attempt to decorate yourself (unless you can get your venue the day before). you will be TOO busy the day of. and so will your bridal party. I would hire someone to do set up/tear down. that to me is money well spent.

as others have said. the most important thing and what guests will remember is food, booze, music. you don't have to go crazy expensive on those...but you want them to be excellent.

I recommend join fb buy and sell wedding groups in your area. show now for some things (like décor) or when you know michaels is having a sale etc).

We're not having a videographer, but we might rig up a tripod to record the ceremony in case someone can't attend and then we can send the video. We still splurged on photography since we want those memories immortalised.

We are doing most of our own decor, our DJ provides uplighting and venue provides linens (table cloths, napkins, chair covers). As a guest, I rarely remember what centrepieces/table decor looks like, so I don't want to spend lots of money on that.

We booked our DJ just before their rates went up for 2019 weddings and they gave us a cheaper 2018 rate, so I consider that a save. We also booked a photo booth with them and got it discounted since we booked at the same time.

Your guests will likely remember 3 things: food, booze and music. As long as you have high quality with those, they'll have a good time!

As the couple, we spent more on attire (FH is thinking of buying instead of renting), and photography, then food, booze and music. Everything else is secondary to us.

We are on a really tight budget as well - married in 9 days! - so I made a list earlier on and ranked them in order of importance ... that told me the things I needed to splurge on and the things I could DIY or skip altogether. Also keep in mind with DIY, what is worth more, your money or your time? I partnered with a decor company to rent and set up our center pieces and backdrop behind the head table. To me, that was worth the investment to save myself time and headaches trying to buy everything and scramble to the venue and set it up (and take it all down again).

A lot of my coworkers said that they wished that they had spent the money on a videographer or more on a photographer so we for sure added these to our budget!

I think at the end of the day, it depends on what aspects of your wedding are most important to you. For example, I wanted fresh flowers and was unwilling to compromise my idea. It was either fresh flowers or no flowers for me lol. But then I'm saving money by doing homemade wedding favours and going REALLY cheap on our STDs and invitations.

I have been lucky enough to save a lot on everything print related as I work at a print company (invites, programs, menus, seating charts) we are not buying a cake and instead making a little 2 tier one ourselves! We were quoted 200+ for a 6" and 8" 2 tier and well... no thanks!! Favours we are doing homemade and all of my bouquets are fake flowers! Cheaper and incan keep them so win win! Centerpieces will have real flowers tho!

A friend told me this recently:
Two things you don’t cheap out on is your rings and photographer as they last a life time. Next is your dress as it will be seen in your photos for a life time. The thing your guest will remember is FOOD and MUSIC, they won’t remember all the other little details.

Things I think you could skip:

1. Rehearsal dinner
2. Wedding cake
3. Flowers (opt for artificial)
4. Wedding favours

Yup - go with what is important to you, and what folks will remember.

For us, it's the same as others - Food (Taco buffet!), booze (toonie bar with lots and lots of options), and music (Booked a fantastic DJ and I think the 1200$ price tag is a steal, especially as it includes uplighting).

Our décor is important, too, but in the end it will probably cost us less than 500$ out of pocket - I have purchased most of it second hand and plan to resell it.

DJ was excellent for what I looked up and spent on for the wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. Important things that mattered were good food, open bar & wine service during dinner, great music and the party after.

No transportation, decorator, rehearsal dinner and flowers were out of the question.

Welcome dinner for the family and wedding party was the evening before paid by my dad.

Simple centerpeices were put together and back drop done by myself and hubby within minutes.

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Thanks Emma, that's how I feel as well.

I agree with what others have said. Think of what is important and spend money on that. For us it’s the food, drinks and music. Basically the party. So that’s what we are spending the money on.

We aren’t spending money on a photographer, flowers, transportation or any rehersal dinners etc because none of that is important to us.

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We both agree music is important, thanks for the heads up!

I find a DJ or Music is often overlooked, and perhaps to some groups not as important. But I personally believe a good DJ can make or break a wedding (especially is they are MCing as well).

I personally have been to a wedding with a bad DJ and we ALL remembered it. As well as the consistently empty dance floor because it just didn’t have a celebration vibe at all.

Food is another huge one! Everyone remembers the food.

That's a great way to think of it, thanks Casey!

Every family member continues to tell me to spend money on the details that your guests will remember.

My Dad just had his second wedding and only spent money on things that were important to them: Food, Booze and Music.

They made sure they had really good food, lots of booze, and great music. Honestly, that is what a lot of my family remembers from that day!