According to a survey run by Bride To Be magazine in 2017, the average cost of a wedding in Australia is $65,482. I don't know about you, but that just sounds outrageous to me. If I am not in a position to be putting a deposit down on a house, I am certainly not in a position to be spending $65k on one party.
Sure, the day should reflect you as a couple & you should get to have whatever you want. But if you don't have the money to spare, just be mindful on where you spend your money!
The harsh reality is that a lot of the things you want for your big day will go unnoticed by most of your guests. You have gone to such huge effort to make the day perfect, so be sure to spend your time & energy (& money) on things your guests care about!
Here is a list of 10 things your guests do not really care about.
By all means, if you want these things for you, then go for it - but if you are looking to cut things out, definitely start here.
1. The invitations
I completely understand the desire to go a bit old school with the wedding invites (I am one of those people who does have paper invites), but you don't need to go all on on something which the majority of your guests are going to throw out. Hard back invites, multiple pages, snail mail RSVPs with stamped addressed envelopes, custom designs... just remember that most of these are going to end up in the bin, so spending upwards of $3-8 (or more) on each invite is just burning money! If you have 120 guests, you're creeping towards $1000! Don't even get me started on custom envelopes, stamps with your photo on them, stickers to seal the envelopes...
You can get some gorgeous free templates for invites on many different platforms. You can even purchase some super affordable templates from Etsy.
If you are really sure you want to go paper invites (which I do), try & stick to 1 page double sided & print somewhere smart!
I ordered mine from Vistaprint, custom A5 design on linen paper, with the free included envelopes for less than $100. Pro tip: if you leave your designs in your cart for a few days, Vistaprint often sends discount codes to you! Or just wait until they have one of their many sales - I actually bought my invites worth $95 (inc. shipping) for $65.
2. Your flowers
You love flowers, you want flowers, you want go big & grand with arrangements all over the place. But chances are your guests aren't actually going to notice them, so put them where it counts! Your bouquet will be the most noticed, so splurge there, but there isn't a need to put them on every table & hanging from the ceiling etc.
Again, if you want to, by all means. But there is a high chance you won't even have a photo of your centrepieces (at least not guest-taken ones).
If you want to cut costs on flowers, put them where you will enjoy them - after all, they are there for you! It might also be a nice idea to have a big piece that guests will want to get a photo of/with - think mantlepiece, or photobooth backdrop.
3. Menu cards & programs
Another piece of stationary that will just end up in the bin! Guests literally don't care about these things. Pop your runsheet up on your wedding website ahead of time. If you want to share the menu, you can also pop it on the website, but you can also go for a chalkboard on the tables.
4. Linens
Yes some tables need linen & it makes the room look polished. But your guests are not going to notice the type of linen or the colour! I'm actually going for no linen for mine, because my tables are stunning, but if I needed linen, I would take whatever the venue included for free. There is really no need for custom coloured tablecloths.
If you want to inject colour into your table settings, go for a coloured napkin. Some venues can get them, some can't. I actually ordered mine online & purchased them, because it worked out cheaper than the venue supplying the white linen napkins for me. Do your research & do whatever works for you!
5. Your dress
Yes guests will look at your dress & tell you that you look beautiful, but they don't actually care about it! As long as you look happy, that's good for them. They certainly don't care if you spend $100 or $10000. Your dress will not affect their experience at your wedding.
6. The colour scheme
Another thing that is of no consequence to your guests. This one is all for you - the guests experience will be the same regardless of the colour of your bridesmaid dresses or flowers.
7. The cake
If you want a $3000 7 tier monster of a cake, then go for it! But just remember that your guests will look at it, maybe take a picture of it & probably won't even eat it. Especially if you have dessert as part of the menu. As long as theirs food & booze & music, your guests are good, so no need to go over the top on the cake!
8. Favours
It has become such a tradition to give your guests a little gift to take home with them. But you will find that half the guests don't even take them. They didn't come to your wedding for the gift! If you are going to give favours, don't spend too much on them, & have a think about what your guests might actually like. Do they really want a pen with your names on it, or a succulent, or a shot glass... think about your guests & do something that makes sense for them & you. After all, you are going to be stuck with all of the favours that get left behind!
9. Your first dance
If you want to put on a big show for your first dance, then go for it. But your dance isn't going to make or break your guest's evening. They don't care that much. Sure, it's cute, but if you aren't dancers, don't feel like you have to do one.
10. The bouquet toss
And the garter toss for that matter. This does not need to happen! Guests do not care if a bunch of flowers comes flying at their head or not. :)
As with everything, do whatever works for you - as long as it makes sense, go for it! But these 10 things, if they were all missing from your wedding day, your guests probably wont't notice!
Join me next week for the 10 things your guests actually DO care about!
Hx
Sure, the day should reflect you as a couple & you should get to have whatever you want. But if you don't have the money to spare, just be mindful on where you spend your money!
The harsh reality is that a lot of the things you want for your big day will go unnoticed by most of your guests. You have gone to such huge effort to make the day perfect, so be sure to spend your time & energy (& money) on things your guests care about!
Here is a list of 10 things your guests do not really care about.
By all means, if you want these things for you, then go for it - but if you are looking to cut things out, definitely start here.
Pic from freepik
1. The invitations
I completely understand the desire to go a bit old school with the wedding invites (I am one of those people who does have paper invites), but you don't need to go all on on something which the majority of your guests are going to throw out. Hard back invites, multiple pages, snail mail RSVPs with stamped addressed envelopes, custom designs... just remember that most of these are going to end up in the bin, so spending upwards of $3-8 (or more) on each invite is just burning money! If you have 120 guests, you're creeping towards $1000! Don't even get me started on custom envelopes, stamps with your photo on them, stickers to seal the envelopes...
You can get some gorgeous free templates for invites on many different platforms. You can even purchase some super affordable templates from Etsy.
If you are really sure you want to go paper invites (which I do), try & stick to 1 page double sided & print somewhere smart!
I ordered mine from Vistaprint, custom A5 design on linen paper, with the free included envelopes for less than $100. Pro tip: if you leave your designs in your cart for a few days, Vistaprint often sends discount codes to you! Or just wait until they have one of their many sales - I actually bought my invites worth $95 (inc. shipping) for $65.
2. Your flowers
You love flowers, you want flowers, you want go big & grand with arrangements all over the place. But chances are your guests aren't actually going to notice them, so put them where it counts! Your bouquet will be the most noticed, so splurge there, but there isn't a need to put them on every table & hanging from the ceiling etc.
Again, if you want to, by all means. But there is a high chance you won't even have a photo of your centrepieces (at least not guest-taken ones).
If you want to cut costs on flowers, put them where you will enjoy them - after all, they are there for you! It might also be a nice idea to have a big piece that guests will want to get a photo of/with - think mantlepiece, or photobooth backdrop.
3. Menu cards & programs
Another piece of stationary that will just end up in the bin! Guests literally don't care about these things. Pop your runsheet up on your wedding website ahead of time. If you want to share the menu, you can also pop it on the website, but you can also go for a chalkboard on the tables.
4. Linens
Yes some tables need linen & it makes the room look polished. But your guests are not going to notice the type of linen or the colour! I'm actually going for no linen for mine, because my tables are stunning, but if I needed linen, I would take whatever the venue included for free. There is really no need for custom coloured tablecloths.
If you want to inject colour into your table settings, go for a coloured napkin. Some venues can get them, some can't. I actually ordered mine online & purchased them, because it worked out cheaper than the venue supplying the white linen napkins for me. Do your research & do whatever works for you!
5. Your dress
Yes guests will look at your dress & tell you that you look beautiful, but they don't actually care about it! As long as you look happy, that's good for them. They certainly don't care if you spend $100 or $10000. Your dress will not affect their experience at your wedding.
6. The colour scheme
Another thing that is of no consequence to your guests. This one is all for you - the guests experience will be the same regardless of the colour of your bridesmaid dresses or flowers.
7. The cake
If you want a $3000 7 tier monster of a cake, then go for it! But just remember that your guests will look at it, maybe take a picture of it & probably won't even eat it. Especially if you have dessert as part of the menu. As long as theirs food & booze & music, your guests are good, so no need to go over the top on the cake!
8. Favours
It has become such a tradition to give your guests a little gift to take home with them. But you will find that half the guests don't even take them. They didn't come to your wedding for the gift! If you are going to give favours, don't spend too much on them, & have a think about what your guests might actually like. Do they really want a pen with your names on it, or a succulent, or a shot glass... think about your guests & do something that makes sense for them & you. After all, you are going to be stuck with all of the favours that get left behind!
9. Your first dance
If you want to put on a big show for your first dance, then go for it. But your dance isn't going to make or break your guest's evening. They don't care that much. Sure, it's cute, but if you aren't dancers, don't feel like you have to do one.
10. The bouquet toss
And the garter toss for that matter. This does not need to happen! Guests do not care if a bunch of flowers comes flying at their head or not. :)
As with everything, do whatever works for you - as long as it makes sense, go for it! But these 10 things, if they were all missing from your wedding day, your guests probably wont't notice!
Join me next week for the 10 things your guests actually DO care about!
Hx
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