Jamie Wolfer
4
ASK A WEDDING PLANNER: WHOOPS 👀 A $5k Venue with a $10k Budget?!
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17 comments
Pay for a venue to take the trash bags! Good grief no one wants to load their vehicle with trash to take home or dump illegally in a business dumpster.
it’s just does not even sound real that someone paid $5k for just the space ( without a catering/rentals), not sure about the guest count at that point, and expect only spend same amount on everything else( vendors, b&g, design etc) 😮🫠
It really depends – I had a 10k budget and spent around 7k on venue/food/drinks. We ended up a bit above (around 11k) because our photographer friend got sick last minute and the professional photographer was more expensive. I did not found it very hard – outlet dress, accessories I already had, no flowers at all (don't like them), hardly any decoration, cheap DJ who did it as a side job (and was fantastic), a friend made our cake. Unfortunately, here in Germany, you can't have any friend officiate, only state clerks allowed and only in special locations. If someone does not want to "sacrifice" a great venue, makeshift rings to be replaced at 5 years anniversary or so can be a good idea.
There are a lot of ways to save, but it depends on the venue. I would not choose an expensive venue if I still have to bring own tables/chairs/etc., that makes it much more expensive in the end.
I love what you said about take a break from Pinterest. When I got engaged we figured out our budget (less than 10k) so I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't even look at Pinterest. I don't wanna get more ideas for things I don't have the budget for
I have a 6k venue with a 13k budget 😮 it actually worked out to be cheaper since this venue allows me to bring in our own food and drink
My wedding budget is 2k. My parents upgraded our venue from the back yard to a vineyard for about 2k, comes with tables and chairs, a sound system… Thats it. So far im happy to say the only oups is that i didnt budget the beers😂 this is how i spend my budget. 800$ for photography, got him for 3h. Lots of borrowed decor. Free Mc (his a friend), making all the food ( mom and an uncle work in the industry). 500$ food and breuvages. 500$ decor (including flowers), for flowers alone its about 150 for EVERYTHING, bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, alter, table centers. We have a crew of 12 for set up the day before and 6 for the tare down.
We arent much over budget, but it looks like we might be 200$ over. The things i had to learn the most was i have to be crafty. Tones of DYI and a lot of time spent shipping to find better prices
Catering and alcohol will definitely be most nuanced – some venues will allow potlucks / BYOB but some venues will be very strict about rules & local laws. Our venue required a licensed catering company and a ABC-certified bartending company / bartender so a lot of DIY or cheaper options went out the window. Still managed a $12/head taco bar though!
I'm listening to this and am getting more excited for my wedding. Got a $1200 DIY venue that includes tables and chairs. DIYing quite a bit myself and having family in some other gaps. Everything (whether i think so or not) is actually coming together. Garage sales and Facebook marketplace are my best friend for decor. I swear, I have spent maybe $300-500 on tablecloths, runners, napkins, votives, mirror signs, lanterns and more for 150 people and i'll be able to resale them later too.
This felt so similar to what my fiancé and I have been working with. We have a max budget of $15,000 BUT we live in Hawai'i. Living in a popular destination wedding location certainly adds a challenge as many vendors advertise for and have a target demographic of destination couples with budgets that are simply much higher than ours. Our original venue was $4300 for a gorgeous state park (included ceremony space, banquet space w/ prep kitchen, tables and chairs for up to 300, getting ready space, parking) but cancelled on us. We LOVE our new venue and found one at a comparable cost (about $5k, includes reception and ceremony space, tented space with lights, dance floor, and club house. This is still on the very cheap side out here for venues even with requiring a professional day-of-coordinator and is closer to 5k because we are kama'aina and have a guest count under 75. Venues out here easily start at 10k plus and that isn't always inclusive or if they are under 5k they usually provide basically nothing in terms of rentals AND required a professional coordinator AND have a preferred vendor list that you must use (e.g. Kualoa Ranch). When we were first planning and running numbers, it wasn't unusual for the "$3000 venue" to suddenly be running $10k plus because we'd have needed to rent in all tables, chairs, a tent for weather, all lighting, a dance floor (often required for outdoor grassy venues), etc but through outside rental companies off a preferred list. Add in minimums and delivery fees and it gets crazy.
btw im adoring your hair color 🙂
Our total budget is about 8500. My parents are graciously covering catering (BBQ 3 meats, 4-5 sides) for 1,550ish for 75-85 guests with serving. Venue is free (family friend property) with about 900 in rentals (tables, chairs and delivery/pickup, plus amazon tablecloths), photography is $600 for 7 hours, dress was thrifted for $100 with $150 in alterations, Groom's suit is 150. diying floral for about 150-200, alcohol about $400 with diy apps for 300 and desserts for 200-250. We are hiring a coordinator for 550 since my mom is having a major surgery before the wedding and my parents refuse to let us push it back. Skipping gifts. Diying all decor and makeup. Music was a big speaker for $200 from Walmart. Invited postage etc was 100 because I struggled with a printer and ordered off canva. There's extras like favors and fans I'm skipping. Plus a lot of the little pesky pinterest decor details
It’s hard to predict how much tear down help you’ll need. For my first-born son’s wedding there was an after party at a cabin on the premises so I even lost the help of my kids and the MOB. But for my daughters her bridesmaids and the groomsmen were very good help. Asking in advance doesn’t guarantee. But it all worked out. Also depends on the catering staff. The second one set up things on a cart to go.
My best friend and her husband did a potluck for their wedding food and asked people to bring certain dishes. I would definitely see if the venue is ok with doing that. Also I agree with staying off of Pinterest. Before I actually started wedding planning i had so many pictures saved. What i started doing was once I booked certain vendor or said yes to certain decor etc, I immediately deleted the photos off my pinterest.
For diy flowers you can do these very simple with super market flowers. Plus your set up people can do them if needed. You buy some square vases or jars and tape them in to a grid then have a mix of roses. Two colours is good if they all go into the grid it’s quick. My sister was my florist and my flowers were beautiful but the rosé bowl as a centre piece is pretty simple as long as the roses are striped of leaves and cut to size you could maybe even have a flower girl do it. I find roses work best but gerbras are good and more modern. My bridesmaid flowers were bluebells so cheap but fitting.
I married 1999 and I wanted an indoor picnic my mum insisted on a proper venue. I was happy because my whole picnic idea was budget. We were offered a free church hall with kitchen. It was very pretty but my Catholic family weren’t keen. I still love the idea of pack a picnic as everyone will eat what they like then tidy afterwards as you would at a regular picnic. Loved the venue we ended up at and having everything done for us was great plus unlike the church we could have a bar. (I’m in Scotland so open bars aren’t very common I’ve only been to one I was 17 and got marinated)
I had an incredible crew (sisters, brother in laws nieces and nephews), and was highly organized, we set up 3 floors, and did tables for 190 people in 32 minutes. My husband thought I was nuts when I told him that I had rented a U-Haul to get all the stuff from the house to the venue. As we were unloading I directed traffic then went in and told people how to set up.
TOUGH LOVE is ALMOST ALWAYS needed!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe it's my NY'r mindset, but say it how it is so that we waste no time finding ways to fix all the things. I have been a wedding photographer for 16 years and a makeup artist for photography and weddings for 25 years. You could say, Ive been around a couple weddings in my time. I have seen venders tip toe around brides, MILs, and all the other "Zillas" in the industry.
Want to minimize the drama?!?!
1) manage expectations from the beginning! Under promise over deliver!
2) know what you're talking about. Do not give answers to questions if you are not 100% sure. You make sure that every response you give to a question is crystal clear.
3) Tough kove does NOT have to be aggressive or mean. Its just no frills reality.
If you dont know how to 'do' tough love without being a jerk…….. Maybe you shouldnt be in any service industry. Lol