Demystifying the True Cost of Planning a Wedding

It’s no secret that everything costs more these days. From flowers to photography equipment to rentals, wedding business owners’ expenses have never been higher. If you’re an engaged couple researching venues and vendors, you already know what that means: the cost of planning a wedding is up.

As your trusted guides to and through the wedding planning process, we at JLE want to ensure you don’t encounter any unwelcome surprises along your journey. And so, we’re here today to demystify the cost of planning a wedding and answer your questions. Why exactly are costs on the rise? And more importantly, what role should your wedding planner play in helping you navigate constantly fluctuating rates?

With insight into the actual cost of planning a wedding and a savvy planner at your side, we firmly believe you can craft a memorable wedding experience at any price point. So, let’s get to it!

First Things First: Shift Your Overwhelm to Our Shoulders

It’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re crunching numbers and frantically perusing all the details associated with planning a wedding. At some point, you might even feel like throwing in the towel on your “happily ever after.”

Enter Julian Leaver Events.

Think of us as the Atlas of the event world: you can let everything rest on our shoulders. We won’t let you down. We promise.

As event business professionals for more than 16 years, we’ve never met a wedding we couldn’t handle (trust us on this one—our clients have even lovingly compared us to the FBI).

Here’s a look at the steps we’ll take to ensure you’re in the know—and completely at ease—regarding all aspects of the wedding planning process.

Step 1: Talk About the Budget

Hearing the term budget can be hard, but it simply means creating boundaries and expectations tailored to you and your event. Creating a detailed budget is our method for knowing how and where to direct your finances to bring your vision to life. As your planner, it’s our pleasure to captain this process, from finding your flawless wedding venue to calculating your total expenditure. To this end, we regularly analyze costs related to per-person spending using current models and calculate actual expenditures accordingly.

It’s essential to remember that this is your wedding and these are your dreams. However, it’s equally as important to give each contributing “stakeholder” input into where finances will be funneled.

As always, remember that communication is key.

Money can be a tough topic to discuss, particularly with family members. But, open communication is essential to realizing the goals and expectations of all involved parties. The best news? As a JLE client, you’ll never go it alone. We are here for you every step of the way (even and especially during difficult conversations).

Step 2: Determine the Guest Count

Your wedding day is all about you. However, your budget is all about your guests.

What does this mean for you and your planner?

You’ll begin by working together to determine your approximate guest count. Then, you’ll rope in your venue of choice to get a full financial estimate. This should include all items impacted by cost per guest (e.g., decor, food, beverage, and stationery). Other items personal to YOU and your experience as a couple—like your dress, honeymoon, and rings—are not related to establishing your cost per guest and should be considered additional expenses.

At JLE, we establish the rubric for building your overall budget by multiplying the baseline figure provided by your venue by four for a non-tented wedding or five for a tented wedding. At this stage, we also discuss expenses related to additional events: rehearsal dinners, welcome parties, and so on.

When considering your cost per guest, note that guest experiences are currently at the forefront of the wedding zeitgeist. For example, it’s become popular to book a large band instead of a DJ. Moreover, couples are budgeting for booking “bonus” vendors like a live painter or cigar roller for the reception.

Step 3: Selecting a Venue

Speaking of venues, now it’s time to decide where you want the magic to happen. Unearthing your ideal venue selection primarily depends on—you guessed it—your total guest count. Your selected venue will also impact your budget significantly, so it’s important to carefully consider your options before making a final decision.

Do you want an indoor or outdoor wedding? Does in-house catering matter to you? Do you want a classic ballroom or tented venue? These are all essential questions your planner will help you work through while crafting your wedding concept.

If you are thinking about “tenting it,” note that you must bring in everything from toilet paper to salt and pepper shakers to build a custom venue from the ground up. This should be accounted for in your budget estimate. Design details are another element to consider when calculating your total wedding expenditure. No matter what type of venue you choose, the overall cost will stem from how tailored you want your big day to be within that space.

The bottom line? Your perfect venue is out there, and we will pull on all our resources and years of experience, as well as our trusted network, to ensure you find it.

During a life chapter as exciting as your engagement, the last thing we want is the cost of planning a wedding to feel like a burden. As your planner and trusted advisor, shifting your overwhelm onto our shoulders is our job and privilege!

We have many tools at our disposal to make your wedding planning journey as seamless as possible, including multi-faceted expertise and a worldwide vendor network. Inquire today to take the plunge and discover more about how we orchestrate weddings and events. We look forward to hearing from you! 

Vendors:

Venue: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek
Ceremony Venue: Highland Park United Methodist Church
Planning and Design: Julian Leaver Events
Photography: Brett Heidebrecht
Videography: Candlelight Films
Bridal Gown Designer: Romona Keveža
Bridal Salon: Warren Barrón Bridal
Hair and Makeup: Anna Sullivan Hair; Sonia Trevino Hair; Tousled Studio; Maitee Miles; Jessica Kirkland
Menswear: Mister Tuxedo Dallas
Engagement Ring and Wedding Bands: Borsheims
Floral Design and Decor: GRO Floral and Event Design
Stationery: MF Creative Designs
Music: Gyros String Quartet; Jordan Kahn Music Company
Lighting Design: Jacob Co Creative
Dance Floor: Center Stage Floors
Tenting: Sandone Productions
Rentals: Nüage Designs; Perch Event Decor; Posh Couture Rentals; Top Tier Event Rentals
Balloon Installation: Helio Bar
Photo Booth: Motus Booth
Transportation: Premier Transportation
Accommodations: Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek; Marriott Dallas Uptown
Travel Agency: Wedaways Travel