Hi guys! It’s Erin from @StyleByThePeople! Now that my wedding planning is in full swing, I have some seriously exciting posts on the way for you all. If you follow my blog, you’ll probably notice that I frequently mix high and low pieces to create the perfect look – I’m a huge believer that sometimes the best outfits come from these combinations. That said, when it came to planning my wedding, I kept this in mind, splurging on certain facets and saving on some. I really believe that this handpicked mix of vendors will make my wedding a true representation of me.
Today, I’m going to share the things we’re saving on and the things we’re splurging on. I hope my insight helps some of you with your decision making when it comes to your big day!
Blogger Bride Erin's Wedding Budget Splurges + Saves
What's most important to us in our budget:
VENUE
A wedding’s venue is probably the most important part of a wedding. That said, Matt and I thought long and hard about where we wanted our big day to take place. The venue we chose felt different than our normal environment. It was far enough away that it felt like a vacation, but it was close enough to LA that our friends and family would have no trouble getting there. It’s beautiful, relaxing, and there’s so much to do on the property, which is exactly what we wanted for everyone attending.
A WEDDING PLANNER
I am the first to admit that I am not the most organized person, so when I started the wedding planning process, I knew I was going to need help! Kristin Banta not only planned my brother and sisters’ weddings, but she is a legit creative genius. I love that we share a similar aesthetic and can work together to bring my vision for this day to life. I totally trust her, and know she’s going to make my wedding day perfect.
VENUE
A wedding’s venue is probably the most important part of a wedding. That said, Matt and I thought long and hard about where we wanted our big day to take place. The venue we chose felt different than our normal environment. It was far enough away that it felt like a vacation, but it was close enough to LA that our friends and family would have no trouble getting there. It’s beautiful, relaxing, and there’s so much to do on the property, which is exactly what we wanted for everyone attending.
A WEDDING PLANNER
I am the first to admit that I am not the most organized person, so when I started the wedding planning process, I knew I was going to need help! Kristin Banta not only planned my brother and sisters’ weddings, but she is a legit creative genius. I love that we share a similar aesthetic and can work together to bring my vision for this day to life. I totally trust her, and know she’s going to make my wedding day perfect.
DJ
A wedding DJ really sets the tone for the evening, so this aspect of the wedding was very important to Matt and I. We not only did a ton of research, but we also reached out to friends and family to see if they had any specific DJs to recommend. We recently found a DJ we loved and although he was a bit higher priced than others we spoke with, we knew he’d be the perfect person to make the evening a blast for everyone.
A wedding DJ really sets the tone for the evening, so this aspect of the wedding was very important to Matt and I. We not only did a ton of research, but we also reached out to friends and family to see if they had any specific DJs to recommend. We recently found a DJ we loved and although he was a bit higher priced than others we spoke with, we knew he’d be the perfect person to make the evening a blast for everyone.
What we're saving on:
DRESS
I actually found my dress on accident, which is really funny because as a fashion blogger, most people thought I would have had this lined up wayyy ahead of time. Once Matt and I got engaged, I was browsing Pinterest and saw a dress by an Israeli designer. I instantly fell in love with the intricate details, the timeless silhouette – everything.
I never imagined myself in a wedding dress, but when I saw this one, I could totally see myself wearing it. Coincidentally, she had an upcoming trunk show in LA, so I hightailed it over there and found my dress. Oh, and because it was a trunk show, I got it for 15% off (yay!).
DRESS
I actually found my dress on accident, which is really funny because as a fashion blogger, most people thought I would have had this lined up wayyy ahead of time. Once Matt and I got engaged, I was browsing Pinterest and saw a dress by an Israeli designer. I instantly fell in love with the intricate details, the timeless silhouette – everything.
I never imagined myself in a wedding dress, but when I saw this one, I could totally see myself wearing it. Coincidentally, she had an upcoming trunk show in LA, so I hightailed it over there and found my dress. Oh, and because it was a trunk show, I got it for 15% off (yay!).
PHOTOGRAPHY
This wasn’t intentional, but when it came to finding a photographer, I found that I gravitated towards smaller photographers. Matt and I wanted something that felt more natural and “us.” I am not only happy that the photographer we went with is incredibly talented, but she’s also in our budget, too.
INVITES
While I love an invite that stands out apart from the rest, I knew that I could get the design I wanted for a price that wasn’t unattainable. That said, when I was browsing invites, I chose a design that not only represented Matt and I, but that also didn’t break the bank. I highly recommend browsing Pinterest, Etsy, and Instagram for less expensive invite designers who can really bring your vision to life.
I’m so happy I get to share all of this with you guys. I’ll be back next month with another post about my wedding process, so stay tuned. In the meantime, follow me on Instagram @StyleByThePeople for more!
What are your must-splurges for your wedding and how are you saving?
This wasn’t intentional, but when it came to finding a photographer, I found that I gravitated towards smaller photographers. Matt and I wanted something that felt more natural and “us.” I am not only happy that the photographer we went with is incredibly talented, but she’s also in our budget, too.
INVITES
While I love an invite that stands out apart from the rest, I knew that I could get the design I wanted for a price that wasn’t unattainable. That said, when I was browsing invites, I chose a design that not only represented Matt and I, but that also didn’t break the bank. I highly recommend browsing Pinterest, Etsy, and Instagram for less expensive invite designers who can really bring your vision to life.
I’m so happy I get to share all of this with you guys. I’ll be back next month with another post about my wedding process, so stay tuned. In the meantime, follow me on Instagram @StyleByThePeople for more!
What are your must-splurges for your wedding and how are you saving?