Pretty Doesn’t Have to Mean Pricey: Wedding Planner Design Budget Tips
One thing I tell my couples all the time is that you don't have to spend a ton of money to have a beautiful wedding! Before you start buying decor, let's talk about where you can save, where it makes sense to rent, and a few places you may not have thought to shop.
Here are some of my favorite wedding design money-saving tips!
Start With Your Venue
Before you start buying decor, look around your venue.
Is there a beautiful view? A pretty garden? A great ceremony backdrop? Beautiful windows or architecture? If the answer is yes, use it!
You don't have to decorate every inch of your wedding. If your ceremony location is already beautiful, you may not need a large backdrop or tons of flowers. Also some venues include rentals in their package.
Rent the Pieces You Love
Rentals are one of my favorite ways to get a beautiful look without buying everything.
Think about renting your:
Linens
Cylinder vases
Bud vases
Candles
Taper candle holders
Specialty tables
Backdrops
Faux Florals
Decor pieces
And here's something to think about: what happens to all of that stuff after the wedding?
With rentals, you don't have to find somewhere to store it, figure out how to transport it, or spend time trying to sell it afterward. If setup and tear-down are included, even better! That's one less thing for you or your family to worry about. With Lamie Events we have rental packages that include setup and tear down!!
Shop Somewhere Other Than a Wedding Store
This is one of my favorite budget tips!
Before you buy something brand new, check your local donation and thrift stores, Facebook Marketplace, wedding resale Facebook groups, and local buy/sell groups.
You can find some really great things this way: vases, candle holders, easels, signs, baskets, arches, decor. You never know what someone is ready to sell after their wedding. Don't forget garage and estate sales! Start looking early and be patient. You may find exactly what you're looking for at a much better price.
Go Shopping at the Garden Center
Your local garden center can be a great place to find flower pots, planters, baskets, and containers. A pretty flower pot filled with flowers can make a beautiful centerpiece or ceremony arrangement. You can also use them around your welcome table, cocktail hour, cake table, or even along the aisle.
You Don't Need a Giant Floral Arrangement on Every Table
Flowers are beautiful, but they can also get expensive quickly. Instead of putting a large arrangement on every table, try mixing things up. Use a combination of bud vases, lamps, candles, greenery, fruit or vegetables, or smaller floral arrangements. This can give your tables a full, interesting look without requiring a huge amount of flowers. Don't forget to ask your florist what can be moved after the ceremony. You may be able to use those flowers again at the reception.
Pick Your "Wow" Areas
You don't need to spend money decorating every single space. Pick a few areas that you really want to stand out. Maybe it's your ceremony backdrop. Maybe it's your sweetheart table, cake table, or guest entrance. Spend your money where it will make the biggest difference.Your guests aren't going to remember whether every corner had decor. They're going to remember how the wedding felt.
A Good Linen Can Do a Lot
Never underestimate the power of a beautiful linen! A dramatic or textured linen can completely change a table and it may mean you don't need as much decor on top.
Please, don't underestimate how much time it takes to iron or steam wedding linens!
I always recommend looking into linen rentals. Having professionally pressed linens delivered can save you hours of work and one more thing to worry about before the wedding.
Add Candles
Candles are an easy way to add warmth and romance without spending a fortune on flowers.
Try mixing cylinder candles, votives, and taper candles at different heights.
They can make a simple table feel completely different once the lights go down.
Of course, always check your venue's rules about candles and open flames first.
Faux Candles also can enhance the room.
Ask Your Planner Before You Buy
Before you order 100 vases or buy a cart full of decor, ask your Wedding Planner!
We may have ideas you haven't thought about, know where you can save, or be able to help you decide what is actually worth purchasing. Some planners also have relationships with rental companies and may be able to offer discounted rental rates. Sometimes the best way to save money is simply to not buy something you don't need. Did you know Lamie Events has a discounted rate with Something Borrowed Blooms?
Pretty Doesn't Have to Mean Pricey
At the end of the day, your wedding doesn't need to look like everyone else's.
Use what your venue already gives you. Shop secondhand. Check Marketplace. Look through wedding resale groups. Visit your local garden center. Rent the pieces that make sense. Reuse your flowers. Add some candles. Most importantly, choose the details that mean something to you!!! Your wedding should feel like your wedding, not like you tried to recreate something you saw online. And remember, you don't have to spend more to make it beautiful. You just have to be a little creative about where you spend it!
Photo by Katelyn Workman Photography
Contact Lamie Events to schedule a consultation!!
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