You just got engaged, it is the happiest day of your life. You’ve been dreaming of your wedding since you were a little girl… the white dress, the flowers, the music, the first dance and the most exquisite wedding venue EVER! You begin to schedule appointments with different vendors; the photographer, pastry chef, the florist… and the dollars start to add up… but it’s doable.
It’s time to make your most exciting call to the venue of your choice… they share with you their pricing and your happy tears quickly turn into panic. Frustrated, you rant to your finance, your mother, your sister, your best friend (anyone who will listen), “Why are wedding venues so expensive?”
In this article, we are going to decipher WHY wedding venues are not cheap and more importantly WHAT you can do about it and still have the wedding of your dreams. Let’s take a look at the reasoning behind WHY wedding venues cost what they cost.
Cost of the Venue
As a business owner, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to balancing a profit & loss statement. Every business is in business to make a profit, and the best ones are in business to provide an experience. With that said, I highly doubt there is a bride out there (that a wedding professional would want to work with) who wants their choice wedding venue or vendors to lose money. At the end of the day, the bride just wants her wedding to align with what she dreamed about as a little girl and fits within a budget they can afford. Now that we have that out of the way, let’s discuss WHY a venue charges what they charge.
The behind the scenes cost of a venue include: electricity, water, parking, building/grounds maintenance, bathroom facilities, liability and property insurance, taxes, equipment, equipment rental, staff, marketing/advertising, cleaning, damages, customer service handicap accessibility, building permits… this is essentially overhead.
In order to provide a bride with the experience they are looking for, a top-notch venue must charge a fee that covers their overhead and in order to stay in business… yield a profit (however, big or small).
WHAT you can do to have your dream wedding within your budget.
We’ve been married 15 years and from experience I can tell you that financial whoa’s can tear a marriage apart faster than you can say ‘I do’. A piece of unsolicited advice… Don’t start your marriage stressed about finances, especially ones that are incurred for your big day. A poll on The Knot found couples more often than not-go over budget. That’s not surprising because venues and vendors often cost more than what brides/grooms plan for. Do yourself a favor and not only create a realistic budget, but stick to it and know ahead of time who is paying for what. The first step in creating a realistic wedding budget is to Create a priorities checklist.
Just like if you are investing in a house, a car, any major purchase really-you have to know what is an absolute must-have and what items you would be willing to sacrifice on. One bride said, “I’d rather spend a little extra on my dress and scale back on flowers” and yet another exclaims, “the experience starts with the venue.” If you start with what is most important to you and the groom, and align your budget there first-you are sure to invest dollars for your day where it really matters.
Spend the time researching
Avoid venues and vendors that don’t state their prices or price range on their website. You wouldn’t consider buying a dress that didn’t have a price tag on it, would you? In your research phase, make sure you are working with venues and vendors that are upfront. Oh and if part of your research results in phone calls… run for the hills if you get on the phone with a wedding provider who is giving you a sales pitch before giving you a price range.
We’ve found that the bride/grooms that create a priority checklist and spend the time researching are far more likely to stay in budget than those who don’t. Now that you have created a budget, you may still need to identify a way to cut cost for your special day.
Here are a few suggestions for cost cutting the venue and still getting the experience you envision.
Location, Location, Location
It plays a HUGE roll in price, so whether you are looking at venues in a large city or 10 miles outside the city, it will have an impact on your venue cost. Consider stepping outside the norm and look for venues that aren’t mainstream, perhaps more rural or off the beaten path. You do not have to compromise style or uniqueness just because you aren’t right smack dab in the city. When identifying location, keep an open mind. Which brings me to my next way to save.
This doesn’t mean you have to settle or concede on the experience of your wedding day, it simply means there are hidden gems in every city. Check out banquet halls, parks, historical society, community centers, golf course, cut your guest list, or have a weekday wedding. This day, your day, is about celebrating your love for each other with those closest to you. Finding alternatives, thinking outside the box may be just what the doctor ordered. Remember, it’s your day. Celebrate your love and most importantly do what will make you and your groom happy.
If you liked this post, share it with a bride to be! Our goal here at Under The Stars Farm is to provide insight, resources and remove the stress of planning your dream day. Hope to see you at the farm soon. Where dreams begin… and the lavender grows.