Show Me The Money! 5 Couples Share Where They Blew The Budget
The wedding budget; no matter how large or small, or how savvy your spending, there always seems to be a time when you have to decide where to spend less so that you can splurge somewhere else.
Making those big money decisions can be daunting, though. How do you know where your money will be best spent so that you don’t regret it? Here at Wedding Ideas we always recommend investing in the best quality gown, photographer and venue that you can afford.
Our featured couples also often put in their two cents on the topic of big day budgets, also often offering their own money saving tips. Here, five couples share the elements of their wedding that warranted bigger investments, proving that its an entirely personal decision, from the dress, to the food, to the flowers and beyond…
Charlotte & Jamie, 171
“After trying on over 40 different dresses I decided to go with a completely different two-piece dress from Zahavit Tshuba, based in Isreal, after finding the dress in Les Trois Soeurs, Canary Wharf. The dress was beautiful and so unique, with small pearls scattered all over the front and a plunging neckline. The gown was backless aside from a row of small pearls running from shoulder to shoulder down my back. I loved the long tulle train with a shimmer powder underneath to add some colour to the dress. It was unlike anything else I had ever seen and it cost £5,000.” Charlotte and Jamie then tied the knot in a three-day extravaganza in a French chateau to celebrate a wedding weekend like no other.
Cara & Nicholas, 169
“The ceremony included lots of candlelight and greenery, while each table at the reception had a mercury glass pedestal vase with a loose arrangement of flowers in burgundy, dark and pale pink and a bit of ivory. Dark blue privet and viburnum berry and lots of silvery greens finished the arrangements beautifully. We also opted for two “satellite” mercury glass vessels for single blooms, six votive candles and two candlesticks holding deep blue taper candles, and our head table was one long farmhouse table with a repurposed garland from the ceremony draped across it.” The couple’s centrepiece flowers were supplied by Crocus Hale and were the statement decoration throughout their burgundy barn wedding.
Anouska & Greig, 169
“My piece de la resistance was the show-stopping bespoke ostrich feather and jewel encrusted cape I wore, which was designed and handmade by Ruth Milliam. I met with Ruth and we designed and custom-made my cape to match my jewellery and accessories.
We also had fireworks and sparklers on the terrace as another surprise when I threw my bouquet. As I stood there with my arms around my husband and our four children looking up at the fireworks in the sky, I remember thinking ‘this is the happiest day of my life’. Spend the money on things that will make you and the people you love really happy. These are the things that you will remember.”
You can see all of the twinkling winter wonderland details of this couple’s wedding here!
Toni & Stephen, 169
“We visited the Seychelles for 12 nights for our honeymoon, staying first on Denis Private Island and then at Banyan Tree in Mahe. They were incredible places – Denis Island is a must-go. We fell in love with everything about it!” This bride also glowed in a Galia Lahav gown – want to see it? You can here!
Alexa and Jamie, 169
“We were very lucky to have Linda Hamilton Catering create our wedding breakfast, and they totally understood what we were looking for from the start! We wanted a laid-back feel to the meal to match our relaxed meadow wedding, and something that reflected us and what we enjoy eating so we chose a barbecue of Thai-marinated steak, soy-sesame-ginger salmon and aubergine-mozzarella pesto stacks, served with big sharing salad dishes on each table. The salads included a beautiful fresh salad of grilled asparagus, pea, courgette and goats’ cheese, tabbouleh, and multicoloured tomatoes with balsamic glaze. Everyone could tuck into as much as they liked, and just help themselves from the table. Dessert was a raspberry pistachio meringue roulade or chocolate and Baileys cheesecake – both were delicious!”
What can we take away from each of our featured couples, whose big spends where all on different elements of a wedding?
While some will quip that no one will remember your décor, your flowers or your food, we encourage you to think about what you will remember yourselves, aside from saying those magical vows in the first place, of course!
Work out what is most important to you as a couple – not what other people might suggest should be – and budget accordingly. Spend more on the areas that matter most and don’t be afraid to cut back on the parts you aren’t so bothered about to make it possible.
