One of the most common issues that we have when discussing wedding budgets with potential clients is the fact that they haven’t educated themselves on what a wedding can actually cost.  A wedding is usually one of the first big investments that you & your fiancé will make together.  It requires as much research & budgeting as it does to purchase a home!  Before you give potential vendors a call to help you host a two hundred person wedding for $5,000, sit down with your fiancé to answer these important budgeting questions.

Who do I want to experience this with most?

Before throwing a random figure out there for your wedding budget, you MUST sit down with your fiancé & put together a guest list.  This list should include everyone you absolutely cannot celebrate your marriage without!  You should even have a second list of people that you may want to invite if your budget allows for it, or if people on your “A list” can’t make it.  There is no shame in having a B list!

_{Right: Christina Vanta Photography}

When do I want to say “I do” to the love of my life?

Most venues & catering facilities will have a required food & beverage minimum that you need to reach on specific days of the week, months of the year, & times of day.  At Lesner Inn, your food & beverage minimum can be significantly less in the months of January, February, March & November compared to any other month of the year.  However, keep in mind when selecting your date that Saturday evenings are the most coveted day & time for a wedding reception, so the minimum requirements are going to be higher than they would on a Friday or Sunday!

Where do we want to say our vows & celebrate with our closest friends & family?

Between, food, beverages, favors, desserts, & décor there is a lot to consider when adding another name to your guest list.  To create a more educated budget, find out what your favorite venues offer & at what cost.  If the cost per person of your wedding venue or catering company doesn’t match up with what you were expecting, don’t be afraid to ask how you can customize their menu to fit your needs.  If you don’t want to offer a bar, speak up!  As long as you are reaching their minimum for your selected date & time it doesn’t matter how you get there!

_{Above: Daissy Torres Photography}

What do we need to make our wedding day perfect for OUR story?

A lot of people forget about the details that go into planning a wedding.  We typically suggest budgeting at least $5,000 for things like cake, florals, DJ, & photographer.  Of course the total cost of these vendors can be more or less, but it all depends on your vision.  Lesner Inn is a one stop shop for food, beverage, much of couples favorite décor, wedding coordination & even desserts.  We also have preferred vendors who offer discounts for couples who book with us if our services don’t quite fulfill everything that you & your fiancé want on your wedding day!

Will you help us make this day everything we want it to be?

After sitting down with your fiancé about the who, what, where, & when, talk to both of your families to find out if they are willing to contribute to your wedding celebration.  If so, get a dollar amount so that you will know what you & your fiancé will be responsible for, & how much room is left in your budget to add that donut bar that you really wanted!

_{Above: Stellar Exposures Photography}

Creating a wedding budget after educating yourself on what you expect for your wedding day will make the whole planning process far less difficult & scary!  If you’d prefer an expert opinion over trying to guestimate a cost by yourself, be prepared to answer some of the above questions for your wedding professionals.  We want to make sure we are giving you the most accurate information to help you create the wedding of your dreams WITHOUT breaking the bank!

Contact one of our sales managers today to see how we can help with your budget wedding!