How to budget for your tyler, texas wedding

Written By Amber McKinney

The B-Word we LOVE to hate & why we would stop shying away from the word “budget.” 

 

I know, I know!!  It's not polite to talk about money in public, but  we're all friends here.  

 

Not only in wedding planning, but in marriage, financial planning and communication go hand in hand.  Think of wedding planning as a test run of planning your future family budget.  

 

Why does Sunset Oaks care about how much you spend on your wedding?  Venue pricing is date-based and set in stone, right?  

 

YUP!  

 

Arches & Silk flowers included at no charge!

👂 But here's the secret sauce: we've been lucky enough to witness hundreds of starry-eyed brides during their engagement journey. And now, we're sharing our insider knowledge with you!
 

Here's the thing, your entire experience counts. Not just the glitz and glam, although that's important too. 



BUT WAIT…. as a wedding newbie, how on earth are you supposed to know how much everything costs?  

 

Spoiler: You decide how much your wedding costs by discerning your MUST-HAVES from your NICE-TO HAVES.  

 

Here are some examples:

 

  • Must have October but all Saturdays are booked at your dream venue?  Save $2K on a venue rental by doing a Sunday

  • Must have fresh flowers?  Book a venue that includes decor so you can use all their vases, candles, signs, etc!

  • WANT a custom neon sign and custom favors?  so you have a pro running the wedding day so you live in the moment and enjoy it? 

 

Use our ETX Wedding Budget Calculator Tool to see how your pinterest board stacks up to your financial plan:




 

Decision Making Context:

 

  • Many folks make the mistake of compiling a guest list before they understand the cost to wine and dine a large group of people.

  • Let's pull back the curtains and keep it simple:

    • Assume you're going to dinner.  A modest meal and 1-2 beverages will cost you $25-$40 per person.  

    • So, before you start adding any wedding related costs, the average price of treating 150 people to said dinner is almost $5K-$6K THEN you add the wedding-related expenses on top of that (venue, decor, entertainment, etc)  

  • So, your guest count matters to your budget.  A LOT.  Then, you work on your expectations around food and beverage to keep it cost effective!

Booking a venue with decorations included will offset THOUSANDS of dollars you'd otherwise spend on decor, so you can focus on funding the experience you've always dreamed of!

👀 Some clever ways to save:

  • Utilize the "Something Borrowed" decor closet- thousands of classic and trendy centerpieces and decorations included with the venue rental :-) 

  • Choose a Sunday-Thursday date (up to $3,500 LESS than the rate for a prime Saturday!)

  • Not a DIY'er but all inclusive breaks the budget?   Check out special ALL INCLUSIVE packages for certain dates.  

  • Keep it intimate by limiting guest count  (because you can expect to spend at least $20-30/person for food & beverage alone)

  • Pass on the bar- Save hundreds by foregoing a bar.  YES, you can absolutely still have fun!!  The minimum spent on alcohol + service is around $900, and can run into the thousands for large weddings with a premium alcohol selection.

  • Try some alternative desserts!  Wedding cakes can often be expensive, and most of it goes uneaten (trust the ones who throw away 1/2 of every wedding cake, yikes!).  A small cake to cut, cupcakes, bundt cakes, or a dessert table are HUGE hits with guests!

  • Set your priorities & focus on the memory making above the nice-to-have "stuff," like favors, groom's cake, expensive alcohol, neon sigs, TikTok and Pinterest trends that bulk up your budget or add stress. 

  • Things we would NOT advise skipping on:

    • Photography

    • DJ

    • Full Service Catering

    • Pro Hair & Makeup

Save thousands using our “Something Borrowed Boutique” decor!


  

We know deep down, you're dreaming of a flawless wedding day while also saving up for your future home. And we are 👏SO 👏HERE👏  by your side to make sure both dreams come true!

 

Having a clear set of priorities in mind when planning your wedding can make all the difference. By choosing an off-season or non-Saturday date, you can allocate more of your budget towards the things that matter most, making sure that your special day is one for the books. 

 

Check out pricing and available dates online, then:

 

Amber McKinney
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