Sunday, November 30, 2008

Budget Trimming Mistakes

There are many ways you can trim down your budget, but there are also many things that you should NOT hold out on.

1. Photography: A good photographer is essential for your memories. A good photographer is one splurge that you shouldn't feel guilty about. Any photographer can line up your family members on the church altar and snap a photo (some can even manage to get them all with their eyes open!) but a GREAT photographer can capture the emotions and energy in a picture. I personally love the photo journalistic style, which is becoming outrageously popular. They do a great job at capturing the moment, and they are beautiful pictures that you will enjoy looking at in the years to come that really tell a story. They generally are more expensive to hire, but it is SO worth it, they are beautiful photos. Some say a photo is worth a thousand words, but I say a photo journalistic style picture is truly priceless. Need some suggestions? Check out Birdsong Photography's blog listed on my page, and their website is beautiful. I also love SilverBox Photography.

2. The music: A good DJ can really get your wedding reception rockin! They can inject energy into your party, and that's what your guests will really remember- how much fun they had! I've seen some DJ's that will interact with the guests and even play games and give out prizes at weddings. A good band is hard to find, which is why they can be so expensive. If you have your heart set on a band, give yourself plenty of time to do your research. Ask for demo tapes, and in either case ALWAYS ask around for recommendations.

3. The Food: Typically, the food for a wedding is about 45-60% of the total budget. You definitely don't want your guests to go home hungry. While it may be necessary to cut down slightly on the quality of the food, you don't want to cut down on the quantity. If your budget is tight, you may need to order chicken instead of the filet and lobster combo. But, they are doing amazing things with chicken these days!!!