Photography: Taylor Jewell + Nina Westervelt | Wedding Dress: Lela Rose
Just like a marriage, a wedding is all about balance. Especially when we’re talking about budget! To know where you should splurge and where you can save is key. If done right, you can often fool many guests into thinking you spent a lot more on your fete than you actually did. From rentals to catering, I’m spilling all the secrets on how to save on five of the most costly wedding expenses.
Rentals
Rentals can eat up a HUGE chunk of your wedding budget, but they’re an absolute necessity. The quickest and easiest way to save on this expense is to narrow down your guest list. A more intimate guest list also means you’ll have the opportunity to chat with more of your guests!
Beyond narrowing your guest list, you can get creative with saving on rentals in other ways as well. Don’t feel the need to have traditional place settings with charger and the full set up. Casual elegance is SO in and your guests really won’t notice if you’ve provided them with a fork for every course.
Be mindful of how your table layout can work with your overall budget. Round tables are very common, but most often, are decorated with a centerpiece. Choosing a layout with rectangular tables and family style seating allow you to stretch your budget for things like linens and florals. The above tablescape, for example, highlights a runner of beautiful greenery rather than large, expensive floral arrangements.
Venue
Choosing a venue is typically one of the first decisions couples make in the wedding planning process, and one of the most costly. Your venue can really set the tone for your entire day and your style inspiration as well, so be careful about cutting corners on this one. I personally wanted a venue right on the water, which I knew we’d have to dish out the cash for—so we opted for a weekday wedding, on a Thursday. If you’re willing to forgo a Saturday wedding, you can save a ton! Having our wedding on a Thursday also made our wedding feel like a super long weekend, which was so much fun. You can also get married in the off-season or right at the end of peak season. Some venues are literally half of the price during off season!
Renting a house is also a creative way to save on your ‘venue’. Consider that you’ll probably have to bring in your own rentals, tent, catering, etc. which can end up being just as expensive if you were to just do it at a venue. But, if you really do your research and planning, it can work in your favor. Plus, you and your family and bridal party won’t have to pay for lodging.
Florals
I personally wanted florals to be a big part of the design of our wedding day. But blooms aren’t cheap! A great way to save a penny on those petals is to throw tradition out the door. We chose to forgo corsages for our mothers, which they were all fine with (even happy about!). I’ve also seen brides do special bouquets for the bouquet toss—something we didn’t do at our wedding.
Make sure to repurpose, repurpose, repurpose! Work with your floral designer to create move-able arrangements for your ceremony that you can then use in your reception. You can also display your bouquet or bridesmaids bouquets on the welcome table.
Selecting seasonal blooms also helps big time. If you’re dying to have ranunculus but they’re out of season and suuuper expensive, limit yourself to those special blooms for just your bouquet or your groom’s boutonniere, instead of your entire bridal party and arrangements, too.
Wedding Dress
First things first, don’t go into your wedding dress shopping experience with any expectations. Sure, knowing your personal style and having inspiration to support that absolutely helps. But if you’re only set on trying one designer or one style, you’re most likely going to go over budget on your dress. In short, be flexible. Let the pros give you options to try and in the end if you keep going back to that Oscar de la Renta number, go with your gut. If high-end designer is your dream, you can also scout trunk shows for previous season designs!
Another easy way to save on the wedding fashion budget is to splurge on your dress, but save on your accessories like shoes, jewelry and veil. Your shoes aren’t visible most of the time anyway (if at all) and you’ll probably only wear your veil for the ceremony.
Catering
Here’s where narrowing your guest list also helps big time. The dollar signs really start to add up when you’ve got even 10 more mouths to feed, so take a good hard look at that list if you’re finding you’re way over budget on catering.
The reality is that your guests won’t eat all of the food you provide, but there’s a great solution for this: family style dinners. I’m not talking buffets, where your guests have to line up and wait forever with their plates. How awkward? I’m talking about serving your guests larger portions of food in the center of their table. It feels fancy in the sense that they’re still getting served, but they’ll get to choose what they’d like and less food usually goes to waste—saving you some moola.
Also, don’t feel pressured to have an open bar! There are options. For our wedding, we planned to offer an open bar for cocktail hour only and then when we reached out limit, our coordinator let us know and we extended for about a half hour. Your crowd will totally depend on how quickly your booze budget goes. And while signature cocktails are super cute, they can also be costly, so consider crossing these off your wish list.
I think we can all agree that “spare time” is a rarity. Or, maybe we just use the term busy as an excuse for the self-inflicted feeling of never being able to catch up. But the truth is, we can and do make time off a priority when we really want to (one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since becoming a mom!). Have you ever considered literally booking yourself for time off each week—a date with yourself? Not a bad idea right?! You probably have plenty of personal aspirations you’d spend that time on, but here are a few fulfilling activities that might give you a sense of accomplishment.
Pursue a New Hobby
You know all those new hobbies you keep saying you want to try? And then six months go by and you still haven’t done those things? You should go do them. Take that flower workshop or cooking class you’ve been wanting to, buy that film camera you’ve been wanting to play around with, learn how to play the ukulele… whatever your heart desires. Life is too short to keep saying, I’m going to. Start saying I am.
Research Your Background
I love, love, love looking through old black and white photos of my great great grandparents. But have you ever wondered what goes beyond those photos? Where your ancestors originated from? I personally have yet to do a deep dive into my true roots, but it would be such a fun activity! Have you done it yet?
Catch Up on Some Reading
There’s nothing quite like sitting down with a good book to refresh the soul. I personally love to incorporate wellness books into the mix on a regular basis (although that is a bit less frequent lately with a six month old!). From nutrition to meditation to sleep, check out these 5 reads for a relaxing afternoon of reading.
Clean Your House
OK, hear me out on this one. The title of this post doesn’t say fun, it says fulfilling. Sure, the last thing you want to do with your time off is clean your house and the pre-cleaning attitude might be better described by the adjective: stubborn. But, I don’t think I’ve ever met a person that doesn’t feel even slightly better about life after they’ve cleaned their house. And I’m not talking about weekly chores, I’m talking about tackling those projects that you’ve been putting off. You know, that overflowing storage room, the guest bedroom that should be called the catchall room, etc. Every now and then it’s important to clear out the clutter in our lives and it can actually be quite fulfilling.
Equally, it’s important to clear out the clutter in our minds as well. Whether you get out in the fresh air for a hike or meditate, give attention to your soul, too.
Donate Your Time
One of the most fulfilling things you can do is practice selflessness. You can absolutely practice this in your everyday, but try taking a full day off and dedicating it to a cause you feel passionate about. Whether that’s volunteering your time at a local animal shelter, visiting a nursing home, helping at a homeless shelter or soup kitchen, etc.
This Four Seasons Resort Lanai wedding brings together the beauty of the beach with the glamour of a ballroom affair. And that ceremony view! It’s a show-stopper like only Hawaii can produce. Add to that a talented team of vendors including design by Belle Destination Weddings & Events, florals by Mandy Grace Designs and images captured by Ashley Goodwin and the result is dreamy destination “I Do’s”.
From Clara Soh & Elbert Huh via Belle Destination Weddings & Events…
The venue: Clara Soh and Elbert Huh traveled from South Korea (where most of their family and friends traveled from as well) to get married in Hawaii. They wanted an epic destination wedding at a remote and private venue. They heard that the resort was recently renovated and that motivated their decision. The newly designed FSR Lanai is gaining wonderful press and recognition for its Polynesian art, indigenous landscaping, and technologically tricked-out rooms. Clara and Elbert had never been there before but trusted the Four Seasons Resort brand. We also planned their welcome event the day before the wedding which was a bright and tropical luau-inspired event. The entire planning experience was quick. We planned all events in just two months!
The vision (style, colors, etc.): Clara really wanted to go with a soft palate for the ceremony using pastels, while Elbert really wanted to go with darker hues. They met in the middle, by starting with the lighter tones for the ceremony and integrating darker jewel tones for the reception indoors.
Floral Design: Mandy Grace Designs created a circular floral arch composed of a lush base of silver dollar eucalyptus layered in with soft hues of lavender lisianthus and roses, ivory roses and apricot roses. The bride carried a simple, tight bouquet of blush ranunculus. The ceremony aisle was lined in eucalyptus, ginestra and white Larkspur floral arrangements. For the indoor reception, Mandy and her team created floral arrangements of cafe latte roses, amnesia roses, hellebores, scabiosa, ranunculus and a variety of eculytpus and Italian ruscuson poised on tall, modern brass vessels.
Design Details: For the escort card display, we thought lets do something totally cool and unusual. We kind of did a spin-off of the place cards—square, modern acrylic, for a wow factor. Miss B Calligraphy did all the script in gold. The bride’s friend designed the wedding invitations and stationery. For the design of the ballroom, the couple really let us run with it. There were 150 guests so the space felt really comfortable and flowed nicely. Clara wanted elegant draping and mood lighting. She was the most easy going bride! They really are the sweetest couple.
Photography: Ashley Goodwin Photography | Cinematography: Ohana Films | Event Planning + Design : Moana Belle Events | Floral Design: Mandy Grace Floral & Event Design | Catering : Four Seasons Resort Lanai | Calligraphy: Miss B Calligraphy | Ceremony + Reception Venue : Four Seasons Resort Lanai | Linens: BBJ La Tavola | Musician : Paul Marchetti Band | Rentals: Inspiration Events Hawaii | Table Numbers : Venamour Stationery & Ephemera
What do you sleep in? Such a personal and intimate question, I know, but I’m curious. Realistically for me, it’s an old college t-shirt and boxer shorts. #prettyboring.
However, a recent invite to a lingerie shower has got me thinking, and browsing, for new and updated loungewear….ya know, the cuter kind. Assuming I can’t gift this bride-to-be one of my old college tees, I think one from the roundup here, or a gift card for her to pick out her own, will surely suffice. And while I’m at it, I’ll order two…
6 Lingerie Shower Gifts For Every BrideView Slideshow
Style Me Pretty Contributor – Briana Charlotte is a freelance writer residing in Brooklyn, New York. When she isn’t writing about all things bridal, she can be found on the dance floor at a wedding or bachelorette party.
Although the Bride works in the wedding industry at Twobirds Bridesmaid, her vision for her own nuptials was simple and elegant – she wanted it to feel like a dinner party for family and friends. She carefully selected each of her trusted vendors then gave them creative liberty – and lovelies, it sure did pay off. Sag Harbor Florist created gorgeous grapewood spheres and florals inspired a sculptural installation at the venue, Longhouse Reserve, and Lisa Vorce Co. turned the Sperry Tent into a stunning reception space. There’s no better way to kick off your weekend than with this wedding, captured by Artisan Production and Braedon Weddings.
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For almost twenty years I have been spending my summers in East Hampton. Recently my parents became full time residents, so now it is the place I call home. When thinking about getting married, there was really no other destination I could think of to celebrate the most special day of our lives.
Our wedding was at Longhouse Reserve, a 16 acre sculpture garden in East Hampton, NY. The first time I visited Longhouse, I remember telling my dad this is where I wanted to get married. It is breath-taking – the grounds are covered with flowers and greenery as well as installations from a variety of artists.
I work in the bridal industry (Director of Operations at Twobirds Bridesmaid in Manhattan) but never really thought too much about my own wedding. I really just wanted it to feel like a big dinner party with my family and friends. We worked with Lisa Vorce (and her amazing team) who is a dream. She thinks of everything and made the planning process easy (i.e. I really didn’t do anything).
All of our vendors were so spectacular: Braedon, our photographer, and Aaron, our videographer, were the best to be around all day and fit in like they were wedding guests! We used a lot of the vendors that my sister used last spring, so it really felt like family. The band, Northstar from Elan Artists, was out of this world. Everyone at the wedding cannot stop talking about them! Flowers were done by the amazing Anasatasia at Sag Harbor Florist who outdid herself. Lisa collaborated with her on these gorgeous grapewood spheres inspired by Grace Knowlton’s “structural orb” installation that was on the property. I never would have thought of creating something so beautiful and allowing them to creatively express themselves without my input made it the most seamless process.
The local vendors were so special to have. Our home away from home in the Hamptons is Nick & Toni’s (the chicken is all my husband talks about) so to have them cater the wedding was a no brainer. We did it French style so the tables shared all the sides and you had the option to sample all the entrees. Nick & Toni’s pastry chef made us two cakes – one gluten free (for me) and one for Evan. I love weddings this way as it creates a more casual and relaxing vibe.
Thanks to my sister (Jamie Mizrahi who is a stylist in LA), I was outfitted in custom Brock Collection (my dream dress) for my rehearsal dinner! I am just waiting for another place to wear that dress. For the wedding day I wore Ines Di Santo – a simple dress with an open back. My flower girls (Twobirds CEO’s daughters and my best friends) were outfitted in our tulle flower girl dresses. It was so special to have them apart of our day and be able to see our creations come to life!
Thank you to everyone who helped make our special day the best day of our lives.
Photography: Braedon Photography | Cinematography: Artisan Production | Event Planning: Lisa Vorce | Floral Design: Sag Harbor Florist | Wedding Dress: Ines Di Santo | Shoes: Nancy Gonzalez | Catering: Honest Catering | Makeup: Ashimoto | Hair: Scotty Cunha | Band: Elan Artists | Groom's Attire: Burberry | Wedding Venue: The LongHouse Reserve | Tent: Sperry Tents | Flower Girl Dresses: twobirds Bridesmaid | Rehearsal Dinner: Bell & Anchor | Rehearsal Dress: Brock Collection | Sunday Brunch: Nick And Tonis
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While we’re no stranger to childhood friends reconnecting and falling in love, not only did this couple grew up across a quiet street from one another, they also decided to hold their wedding at BOTH their family homes – the ceremony under a tent at the Groom’s parents’ house and the reception in the Bride’s parents’ backyard. Family friend, Monica Holmes of Clean Plate Club, helped the couple transform the two properties into their dream wedding venue, complemented by Vintage Florals‘ utterly romantic white arrangements. The result is oh-so-personal and oh-so-beautiful, and it was all captured by the amazing Cassidy Carson Film Photography.
From the Bride… Since my husband, Wes, and I grew up across a quiet street from one another, the decision to have our wedding ceremony and reception at both our family homes was an easy one. We quickly decided that we would have the ceremony under a tent at his parents’ house and the dinner and dancing in my family’s backyard. After that, the next most important thing was to check the availability of our favorite band, the Atlanta All-Stars. It just so happened that May 13th, the day we were favoring, was the only Saturday in a four month span that they had open, so May 13th it was!
Having the ceremony at Wes’ home enabled us to have our two dogs, Buck and Mae Mobley, in the wedding. Wes’ parents’ home and grounds were already gorgeous, but my mother-in-law, Kae, worked her gardening and floral magic to make the setting for our vows more beautiful than I could’ve ever imagined. The dogs and my two year old nephew as ring bearer made for a really unique ceremony! Our friend and minister, Adam, conducted the ceremony, and his words made it so personal and special to us.
Our family friend and caterer, Monica, is so much more than just a caterer. She coordinated with Liberty Rentals and Bright Events to enhance both our homes and create an ideal setting for our big day. The appetizers and dinner were delicious, and her wonderful staff made everything seem effortless. Melissa from Vintage Florals designed flowers that were beautiful and far exceeded our expectations. We were so glad to have Cassidy, our photographer, there to capture all of the details. Another family friend, Val, was our calligrapher, and she created our beautiful invitation and even hand-mixed the ink to find the perfect color. Although my mother and I did most of the wedding planning ourselves, our caterer had recommended hiring Devon from Meet Cute Event Planning for the week of the wedding, and she was worth every penny. She made sure everything ran perfectly and made the day stress-free.
We got very lucky with beautiful weather, so the transition from his house to mine was fun and easy. Having all our wonderful friends and family together to celebrate our marriage really was the most important thing of all. Thank you Cassidy for capturing each moment for us to have forever!
Photography: Cassidy Carson Photography | Event Planning: Monica Holmes, The Clean Plate Club | Floral Design: Vintage Florals | Wedding Dress: Amy Kuschel | Cake: Dessert Designs | Bride's Shoes: Steve Madden | Bridesmaids' Dresses: Amsale | Catering: Monica Holmes, The Clean Plate Club | Makeup: Woo Skincare And Cosmetics | Hair: Surreal Blow Out Bar | Calligraphy: Val Cole | Band: Atlanta All Stars | Groom's Attire: Jos A Bank | Groomsmen's Attire: Jos A Bank | Accessories: The Bride Room | Bridal Boutique: The Bride Room | Ceremony and Reception Venue: Private Residence | Event Planning + Coordination: Devon McNeill | Paper Suite: Val Cole | Rentals: Liberty Party Rental
These Featured Designers are members of our Look Book.
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