by: Lauren

Hi everyone! So today I’m releasing something that I have been working on for a very long time- over a year actually. As some of you know, I’m on a mission to educate brides– because you can’t be expected to know about weddings when you’ve never planned one before! Well, for the last year, I have been collecting data from WEDDING PROFESSIONALS throughout the US. This data is what surveyed wedding vendors have reported that their brides spend with them on average. I set out on this informative mission so that brides can have *some idea* of what to expect when using professionals for their wedding. I’m so excited to finally be able to share this information with you all!

What Does A Wedding Cost? What To Expect When Using Professional Vendors via TheELD.com

*Please note that these figures are averages obtained directly from professional wedding vendors all over the United States.*

What Does A Wedding Cost? What To Expect When Using Professional Vendors via TheELD.com

[Please note that there were a few “vendor categories” not included in the sampling, such as officiants, favors, gifts, and fashion. All of these categories are incredibly varied, most of which (except for fashion) are in price ranges of the low hundreds.]

I’m hoping that this information will serve as an educated bit of knowledge for brides on what to expect for estimated wedding cost when using professional wedding vendors. I want everyone to be educated and prepared- because I know that if I had known this information myself, I would have most definitely made some better decisions! Please know that I’m not saying that these numbers are required in any way, shape, or form. Pricing does indeed vary depending on location, experience, what you get, etc. These are just averages sampled from wedding professionals throughout the country, and I intend to continue to collect data and release an updated version of this infographic next year as well. In the coming weeks, I will be addressing each vendor type and their associated average costs to further this informative series. :)

You see, when I myself was a bride, I had NO CLUE about what to expect what a wedding would cost. I wanted to do everything “by the book” and hire professionals, but I didn’t know what to expect. No clue whatsoever. What I didn’t know at the time, was that I wasn’t alone in this. Now that I’ve been in the wedding industry for 3 years, there have been several times that I’ve heard brides say, “How am I supposed to figure out my budget if I don’t know what things for a wedding are supposed to cost?” You have the budget percentage suggestions in magazines and on websites, but even that doesn’t tell you what to expect your photographer or planner to cost. And sure, you can refer to the national statistics and whatnot, but in my experience, even those numbers aren’t accurate- at least not for the weddings that I’ve seen! In the “real world”, when you’re purchasing something, it always helps to know what to expect to spend- at least a range. For example- you go to buy a cocktail dress at a department store, and you know to expect to see a range of about $70 to $120 (give or take), right? Well, this my friends, is to provide you with an expectation of what to spend for wedding vendors!

Want more information on vendor pricing and wedding budget? Check out these posts:

Why Do Weddings Cost So Much?!

Wedding Budget 101

Budget Before You Book!

Define “On A Budget”

Do “Off Season” Discounts Exist?

How To Find Out Wedding Vendor Pricing

Comparing Vendors: Apples To Oranges

Why You Shouldn’t Negotiate With Wedding Vendors

What Negotiation Doesn’t Mean

 

Have questions? What have you yourself experience as far as pricing, and what area are you in? Share your own experience in the comments if you have already booked your vendors!



by: Lauren

Wedding Planning Advice: Breathe & Hire Professionals! via TheELD.com

“Breathe! Then enlist the services of experienced professionals (pick people and companies that make you feel good, and like they’re really listening!), and enjoy the process.”

– Kim of Dine By Design Catering

 

Dine by Design Catering, LLC

email: dinebydesign@aol.com | phone: 850.231.2461 | website: http://www.dinebydesigncateringinc.com/
twitter: @dinebydesign1 | facebook: Dine By Design Catering Facebook Page

location: Florida, Panhandle | type: Catering | style: Eclectic | price: $$$, $$

 



by: Lauren

Today’s eclectic pink and yellow wedding is bright, fun, and full of gorgeous images from True Bliss Photography! I mean, it took place at a Strawberry Farm… it can’t get much better than that! Oh, but it kind of does… this adorable bride and groom, Jessica and Matt, were childhood friends who fell in love when they “grew up”. Imagine how much FUN this wedding was! Jessica is here sharing her wedding story with us too, so I’ll let her tell us all about it!  (PS: Thanks to the Strawberry Farm, “Strawberry Fields Forever” is now stuck in my head!)

Eclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.com

What (or who) helped you most in your planning process and/or on your wedding day?

Throughout my time planning the wedding the thing that helped me the most was staying organized and on the ball. As a teacher I’ve always set deadlines and goals-so why would my wedding be any different? I’m not a last minute person and so in order for me to stay stress-free I set a timeline up for when things needed to be done and most importantly… I followed through on them! This gave me the ability to be a “care free” bride on the day of my wedding because I knew everything was taken care of.

Eclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.com

What was the most important thing to you when deciding who to work with for your wedding?

It was most important for me to have people who we clicked with. When it came to finding a photographer I wanted someone who we felt comfortable around and wouldn’t make us do those awkward prom poses. My florist was amazing and I knew from the beginning that she could make my vision come true (and even make it better!). 

Eclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.com

What was your inspiration for your wedding details and/or design?

I’ve always loved a vintage design and feel so I knew that would be a big part of the details. I also wanted our wedding to be bright and fun, pulling in all sorts of colors. I loved when people would ask me what my wedding colors were because I would list off more colors than they would know what to do with. I didn’t want my inspiration to be stuck in a box; I wanted it to be overflowing in every aspect of the wedding-from having a canoe to hold the gifts (we love the outdoors), braiding yards of fabric to weave through the arbor and wrap around the bouquets, to homemaking cookies for our guest to enjoy. Our wedding was a huge celebration and through these tiny vintage and bright colored details it made our wedding the perfect day.

Eclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.com

What was your favorite thing about your wedding?

I don’t think I could just pick one favorite thing about the wedding. It was amazing to see the wedding come together. You work so hard to create this blissful day and to see it come to life was beyond amazing. I remember Matt and I walking through the barn and seeing all the little details that we worked so hard on. I couldn’t stop smiling thinking about how beautiful everything was. My second favorite was simply partying and getting down with my husband. We call our wedding day the “best day ever” and we couldn’t have had that day without all the hard work!

Eclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.comEclectic Pink and Yellow California Wedding  via TheELD.com

What is your best piece of advice for other brides?

My best advice would be that when it comes to the actual day of the wedding let all those people who you have hand picked take care of everything! Take a deep breath, squeeze your husband’s hand real tight, and take it all in because the day goes by so fast! Also, don’t forget to have a piece of that yummy cake you took hours deciding on because it’ll be delicious!

Seriously, don’t they look so absolutely happy and in love? Between the wonderfully bright colors, and Jessica and Matt’s happiness, I can’t help but smile. Oh, and how fabulous are the bridesmaids’ dresses?! LOVE them!

So we already know that I love this, but what do YOU think of this brightly colored wedding? Are any of you planning on using several different colors like Jessica did?

 

Vendors who made it all happen…

Photographer: True Bliss Photography / Reception Venue: Strawberry Farms Golf Club / Flowers & Decor: Sweet Blossom Designs / DJ: Ovation Entertainment / Makeup Artist: Flawless Faces / Bridal Salon: The White Dress Couture / Bridesmaid Dresses: Nordstrom


by: Lauren

If you haven’t seen today’s inspiration shoot yet, head on over to check it out! It’s southern, vintage, and absolutely gorgeous! Moxie Studios was kind enough to share some insight with us on what it would take to “Get The Look” for the vintage and southern tablescape that you see below. And please remember- this is all about you KNOWING what it would take to have the look that you’re inspired by!

Get The Look: Vintage & Southern Wedding Inspiration via TheELD.com

 Get The Look: $341

Table Decor & Placesettings:

Farm table (rental) – $95 

8 chairs (rental) – $30 

2 large centerpiece arrangements – $7

6 candle holders w/candles – $75

          Table number – $1 

Lace Runners and Linens- $50

Peaches and Grapes- $15

All Dinnerware, Flatware, Glassware- Borrowed

*Please note: Some costs are rentals, and some are purchases. Know that prices vary depending on location- these figures are just to be used as an example, as well as to educate you on what the things you see cost.*

 

So that’s what it takes to Get The Look for today’s Vintage & Southern table! I’m still LOVING the lace runners!!

*Images by  Elizabeth Scott Photography. See full inspiration shoot here.*