Plan a Luxury Wedding Without a High-End Budget
When planning a wedding, most couples and families brace themselves for higher costs, assuming everything from flowers to stationery will have an inflated price tag. But do you need to sacrifice elements of your dream wedding for the sake of your budget? Thankfully, the answer is no. With some strategic planning and thoughtful decisions, you can execute a luxury wedding, without an outrageous price tag.
Whether you and your future spouse are paying for your wedding yourselves or have the support of your families, once you’ve established a budget, you can decide where to reduce your spending and where to invest in a quality experience.
Here are five ways to plan a luxury wedding without killing your budget:
Look Off-Season
One of the easiest ways to reduce costs is to plan a wedding off-season. In most parts of the country, wedding season follows traditional weather patterns, with most weddings held in the warmer months.
This makes sense, as most weddings require time outdoors. Even if you plan for your ceremony and reception to be inside, you and your guests likely still need to move from one location to another. As you step in and out of vehicles, you want the best chance for good weather.
Many couples prefer an outdoor setting for photos, as well. Naturally, they gravitate toward the months with the best odds for a beautiful, clear-sky day. In Michigan, and throughout the United States, this means that May, June, July, August, and September are the busiest months when venues and vendors are more likely to charge peak-season rates.
So, which months are the least popular for weddings? November, January and February. If you’re able to plan your wedding in one of these slower months, you will almost certainly find better rates on most wedding locations and services. If you have a luxury wedding in mind, this might be the most important decision you can make, to keep your dream day within your budget.
Consider a Mid-Week Event
Just as off-season weddings can save you money, so too can mid-week weddings. Most couples envision their wedding on a weekend when guests are most likely available to attend. However, the opportunity to use a higher-end venue during the week may give you a reason to consider a midweek event.
Many venues, even the higher-end locations, will offer a midweek discount to make use of their space during traditional downtime. Look for discounted booking opportunities on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and sometimes Thursday.
While a mid-week wedding might have a different feel, it might be just the pivot you need to afford a luxury wedding without a high-end budget. Keep in mind that a mid-week event might mean fewer guests can attend. It might mean that guests need to leave earlier, to get enough sleep for work the next day. It might mean that your guests arrive straight from work, potentially in a rush.
If you are okay with these variables, be sure to keep a mid-week event in mind. Some vendors are even able to provide a mid-week discount. This change in timing might just be your opportunity to host a luxury wedding at your dream location.
Give Yourself Time
When planning any holiday or event, time is an important asset. Last-minute plans reduce your options and almost always end up costing you more. For wedding planning, the more time you’re able to spend researching and exploring venue and vendor options, the more likely you’ll be able to execute your dream wedding, without breaking your budget.
As a first step, consider what matters most to you. Would an evening reception with an outdoor component give you luxury wedding vibes? Would uplighting or elegant table decorations help? What about special touch features, such as a customized monogram with your initials, projected onto the wall?
With an idea of which features feel right to you and some time to research venues and vendors that can provide what you’re after, you’ll have a better chance of creating a luxury wedding, while saving your budget. Higher-end vendors will usually offer add-on products or services within a bundle, offering you greater value and saving you the time of dealing with individual vendors.
Keep the Little Things in Mind
Small wedding details can have a big impact on your budget. To execute a luxury wedding on a less-than-luxury budget, you may need to forego some traditional wedding details, in favor of creative solutions.
Do you need to send paper invitations, for example, or could you go digital? Could you skip party favors, as a way to help both your budget and the environment? Would you and your partner be willing to have a smaller wedding party? What about having a local bachelorette and/or bachelor party, rather than traveling for an expensive getaway? For guests you know well, could you suggest paying for table centerpieces as a wedding gift?
Smaller costs add up quickly. The more you can get creative — or even remove certain costs — the more you can focus on elements that will make your event feel like a luxury wedding. The trick is knowing how much to spend, and where.
Decide Where to Invest
Of course, a luxury wedding needs certain elements to make it feel like a special event. Knowing where to invest your budget, will help you prioritize certain items over others.
Start with your venue. A luxury wedding doesn’t need to be held at a five-star resort, but your location will set the backdrop for your entire event. Choose a venue that is spacious enough for your guests and has either beautiful natural surroundings or a quiet elegance that feels right. As mentioned, many venues provide discounted off-season and mid-week rates. Be sure to explore these discounts to reduce your expenses on this important element of your wedding.
A luxury wedding venue may include higher-end finishes, such as furniture, décor, and padded or covered chairs. If you are given the option to include certain upgrades for a fee, consider adding items that have a clear visual impact. Covered chairs and table linens are a good place to start. Flowers, strategically placed, can help create a feeling of luxury, as well.
Choosing the right wedding DJ is also an important step in creating a luxury wedding. An experienced, upscale DJ team will follow the tone and pace of your wedding. They will often offer enhancements such as customized dance floors, spotlight monograms, uplighting, and more. They will sometimes provide additional services such as photo booths, photography, and videography services.
While you bundle DJ, lighting, entertainment, and videography costs, you’ll elevate the experience of your wedding and reduce the number of contacts you need to use.
Find a Trusted Partner for Luxury Wedding Services
Creating a luxury wedding comes down to a handful of decisions around your budget. If you can reduce costs in some areas, you’ll have more to invest in things that have a true impact. Everyone will value specific elements. As you consider each line item in your wedding budget, imagine your wedding day with and without that component, and then trust your instinct.
At Pro DJ Services, we look forward to making your wedding dreams come true. We’ll help to create an unforgettable, luxury wedding night for you and your guests. As professional wedding DJs, we bring fun and energy to your event, with years of experience and unmatched professionalism. We deliver high-energy expertise and know how to get your crowd moving.
Serving Detroit and Southeast Michigan, we are proud of the awards and recognition we have received. Whether you are looking for wedding DJ services, photo booth services, videography, photography, or something else, we’re ready to elevate your special day. Contact us to find out more.