It’s a brand new 12 months, and I’m thrilled to be again and gracing these pages for my tenth 12 months in a row – how and when did that occur?!
This 12 months, I’ll be masking every thing from high ideas and recommendation from a bunch of Wedding ceremony Planners to at this time’s sizzling and trending subject (and rightly so) of budgeting myths and misconceptions.
However earlier than I leap straight in, right here’s slightly annual intro for these of you who’re not too long ago engaged and are new to this weblog (congratulations, BTW, on becoming a member of the Coco neighborhood – it’s, with out a shadow of a doubt, one in every of/if not THE finest locations to start out when planning your marriage ceremony)… I’m Kat, Founder and Head Planner at Katrina Otter Weddings, and since 2014, as Coco Wedding ceremony Venues’ Resident Planner, I’ve been imparting my trade information, planning recommendation and high ideas by a collection of common options.
Proper, intro over. Let’s transfer on to why you’re right here… Wedding ceremony Finances Myths and Misconceptions.
Full disclosure: this isn’t the primary time I’ve lined the subject of myths (I first delved into the topic in 2018 – Wedding ceremony Planning Myths Busted), however this time, I’m particularly masking (and reiterating) what are, in my view, the 4 greatest marriage ceremony finances myths and misconceptions, and countering them with a wholesome dose of reality and purpose.
Don’t use the ‘M’ or ‘W’ Phrases
The time period ‘marriage ceremony tax’ isn’t new; it’s typically referenced in articles concerning the marriage ceremony sector and might be very damaging and grossly inaccurate. The concept/notion being, if you happen to’re getting Married or going to your Wedding, suppliers will mechanically improve their costs, so it’s finest to maintain schtum and never use the ‘M’ or ‘W’ phrases.
Let me begin by saying simply how disheartened this makes me, a marriage provider (and the entire marriage ceremony trade) really feel. I’ve spent my complete profession listening to statements just like the phrase “marriage ceremony” makes quotes dearer, that there’s an computerized “tax” relating to weddings, and that weddings are overpriced – all of that are stereotypical fallacies.
As I stated again in 2018, and I’ll say it right here once more in 2024, the marriage trade isn’t in cahoots to get wealthy and rip you off on the proceeds of your marriage ceremony. Solely a portion of any quote is revenue, and each provider has a proper to that. In any other case, all of the fantastic, artistic and gifted marriage ceremony suppliers on the market must say goodbye to their companies.
Suppliers cost in relation to their abilities, expertise, experience, their very own market worth and the sheer period of time, planning, service, customisation, communication and preparation {that a} marriage ceremony entails. There are suppliers on the market to swimsuit each value level, and sure, some (like every other trade) will probably be dearer than others, however that’s not as a result of they’re including additional to your invoice.
Saying the ‘M’ or ‘W’ phrase DOES NOT improve a quote: it’s EVERYTHING (looping again to time, planning, service, customisation, and so on.) related to and required to plan a marriage; that does imply that weddings (an incomparable occasion) is likely to be dearer.
I’d additionally strongly advise towards protecting quiet on the truth that you’re planning a marriage as not solely will you upset your suppliers once they flip up on the day, you may also run the chance of your caterer not costing for or offering the precise staffing assist, your hair and make-up artist turning up with the mistaken equipment or not permitting sufficient time within the schedule for bridal glam… you get the drift!
“Common” Wedding ceremony Prices
Yearly, we see options and information articles on “common” marriage ceremony prices, however let me set the file straight: there’s no such factor as an “common” marriage ceremony or marriage ceremony finances!
These studies and surveys are extremely deceptive and don’t inform the entire story of what most {couples} spend for the next causes:
- They’re based mostly on averages, not the median.
- The pattern dimension is extremely small (we’re speaking 0.7% to 2% of the entire variety of weddings in anybody 12 months).
- No corresponding or detailed knowledge is offered on the place these weddings happen, time of 12 months, variety of friends, and so on.
- Not sufficient info is offered on what you truly get for this “common” quantity (i.e. what do you get for a £376 marriage ceremony cake?)
What I can let you know is that this (and as my pricey buddy Chenai of ByChenai stated in one in every of her informative Instagram Tales):
- In case you’re placing collectively an preliminary marriage ceremony finances, DO NOT use an “common” determine as a place to begin. As an alternative, take into consideration your splendid marriage ceremony, necessities, priorities, and what you’ll be able to afford vs what you truly wish to spend. Take the time and do your personal impartial analysis, handle your expectations after which go from there!
- In case you’re on a finances, PLEASE don’t really feel or suppose you must spend the “common” – you don’t NEED to spend a sure amount of cash to have the marriage that’s best for you (see delusion no. 4).
- When you’ve got a Pinterest board devoted to plentiful florals, have an in depth visitor listing, and wish to prolong your celebrations to incorporate pre and post-events, then you definately (most likely) received’t have the ability to obtain this based mostly on an “common”.
In case you’re studying this and feeling disheartened, then this positively wasn’t my intention; I merely wish to level out how deceptive these figures might be. You CAN have the marriage you need with the finances you set; simply don’t base it on what a report or survey suggests.
Planning an At-Residence/Marquee Wedding ceremony is Extra Value-Efficient
Articles that state that the common value of a marriage venue might be exponentially greater than that of a marquee or that they’re an economical different to venue rent are WILDLY inaccurate.
On common, at-home marquee weddings value considerably greater than a marriage venue as you’re successfully constructing your venue from the bottom up. Not solely do you’ve got the construction (which varies in value relying on the model that’s best for you), however you even have the entire further ancillaries to contemplate – energy, bogs, lighting and waste disposal.
On high of this, you’ll additionally have to think about staffing, tools, further provider tools, i.e. catering amenities and refrigerated trailers on your drinks, parking, cleansing (if you happen to’re internet hosting a multi-day occasion), a plan b house on your drinks reception, and so on.
Like all of the myths I’ve lined to this point, please don’t let this discourage you from an at-home marquee marriage ceremony; personally, I am keen on marquee weddings as there’s one thing actually slightly charming and romantic about creating your personal marriage ceremony venue to your personal specs and making it an actual reflection of your model and character.
If it does really feel slightly daunting, there are some fantastic tent suppliers within the listing who can advise on appropriate places with a few of this infrastructure (mills, bogs, catering amenities) in place. However if you’re contemplating the ‘at-home’ possibility, please keep in mind that it’d/WILL value you extra.
to have the ‘Excellent Wedding ceremony’ You Should Spend a Sure Quantity of Cash
I touched upon this earlier, and I’m going to loop again to it once more simply in order that we finish on a constructive notice.
If anybody tells you that you simply NEED to spend a sure amount of cash to have the right/finest/most unbelievable marriage ceremony, then that is 100% NOT TRUE (and I provide you with full permission to inform them to jog on!).
The precedence right here is you and your associate; there isn’t a proper or mistaken option to get married. The way you select to rejoice and share your love for each other and the way a lot you wish to spend is as much as you.
On the finish of the day, it’s your marriage ceremony and your priorities, and will probably be good as a result of it’s a celebration of what YOU need.
