WEDDING MEAL 38%

If you are set on having the traditional wedding dinner (3, 4 or 5 course), with wine, a drinks reception and a late evening snack then we suggest allocating 38% of your budget towards this. It’s very important you get exactly what you want from your venue and any wedding coordinator worth their salt will guide you in the right direction with this one. All the wedding coordinators we work with in Munster are wonderful and won’t see you go astray. If you are a foodie then you’ll want a huge input into the wedding meal and if you’re not then you may be happy to go with the guidance of the on-site coordinator. It’s fairly customary to have a welcome reception when you arrive at the venue (or before the meal while the bridal party are out taking pictures). This can be just a simple drink but couples tend to want to feed their guests with some snacks at this point in the day also. Remember dinner may not be served for another 2-3 hours. You can do simple canapes or go all out with a pig on the spit for this. In the evening time, traditionally, the wedding couple will provide a late night snack for all the guests to keep them going well into the early hours of the morning. The choice is yours so do think about the cost of each of this per head and see if it works for you.

WEDDING ATTIRE 12.5%

Let’s face it, we all want to look like a movie star the day of our wedding. As a bride you want to feel like the most beautiful you’ve ever felt in your entire life and to do that there is always the right dress out there to compliment this feeling. As a groom you want to feel a sense of pride and sophistication and the suit has to reflect your personality and style. And once you guys are sorted then it’s time to dress your bridal party- groomsmen and bridesmaids, flower girls and page boys. Some of you may pay for your mother’s dress also. But 12.5% I hear you say, this couldn’t be. Did you forget about the expensive pair of designer wedding shoes you’ve been dreaming about since you started wearing heels and what about the suck-me-ins to hold everything in place so the dress fits like a glove. If it’s winter you may want to invest in a shawl. Then there is the wedding bag and what about the wedding night underwear. We’re not even counting your honeymoon wardrobe in this list- that’s a whole separate article.

PHOTOGRAPHER 9%

Spending nearly 10% of your budget on a professional photographer is a no-brainer. This magazine has been in existence for nine years and in that time we’ve spoken to dozens of couples whose cousin or next door neighbour gifted them with their wedding pictures. They enjoyed taking pictures and knew the couple were on a tight budget. Big mistake! We’ve spoken to many couples who were so disappointed with their final images that they sometimes hired a professional photographer weeks later, donned their wedding attire again and did a second shoot, just so they could have some nice images to frame on the well. DO NOT skip this step. Hire a professional photographer and let them do all the work on the day. They will sit down with you and create a list of images that will be taken, and you won’t have to worry about a thing. 

VIDEOGRAPHER 9%

Let me tell you now, you will not regret hiring a professional wedding videographer; no one does. It’s something initially couple’s don’t budget into their wedding costs but it should be. You will miss so much of your wedding day, things will happen you never see that your videographer will catch. There will be things you will forget that took place, you won’t remember your other half’s speech or your dad’s teary eyes as he walks you up the aisle. You’ll want to look back on your first dance and see if the dancing lessons paid off. Your wedding videographer is there on the day to capture all the memories that you don’t know you are making. You may only ever watch it once but you can be sure that your kids down the line (or nieces and nephews and family) will all want to see it decade after decade. Go and find the videographer with the style you want and you won’t regret it. 

FLOWERS , CAKE AND STATIONARY 7 %

These are probably the first three must-haves that spring to mind when we think of weddings and, let’s face it, no wedding is complete without the beauty of flowers and the deliciousness of a wedding cake or that first official wedding contact with your guests through beautiful stationery. These aren’t the first few things you book at the start (It’s usually the venue, celebrant, photographer, videographer and entertainment) but when the time is right to find suppliers to do your flowers, cake and invitations take your time. Find a florist that can accommodate your style. Someone that is professional enough to advise you what flowers are in season for your wedding date and what they recommend and don’t recommend. Any florist worth their keep will listen to your vision and create it beautifully.

Everyone wants a cake that can take centre stage, whether that’s in appearances or taste (and preferably both). I feel, aside from your wedding coordinator, you need to really click with your cake specialist. There is a bond here that goes into the makings of your dream cake. Your baker will take into account all your needs, create a customised design if you want something unusual, and it will be a marriage made in sweetness heaven.

Wedding Stationery is another must for your special day. Between invites, save the date cards, menus, table plans and all that beautiful stuff you need to start thinking about incorporating your theme as early as this stage. A good stationery designer will guide you through this whole process and help your vision become a reality. 

ENTERTAINMENT 10%

No wedding is complete without one hell of a party and the only way to put on a good show is to hire in the professionals! Your wedding band (and/ or DJ) will be one of the first deposits you hand over. Bands get booked up 2-3 years in advance so as soon as you know the band you want and the date of your big day get on the blower as soon as possible and lock them in. There are some wonderful wedding bands throughout Munster, you won’t be short of choice. If you don’t have a band in mind and you’ve a specific style then check out various bands’ websites and social pages for what they can offer. Other entertainment to consider is church music, drinks reception music, maybe a photobooth, comedian, singing chef, magician and all that good stuff. Think thoroughly through what you really want to make it the party of the century and then budget accordingly. 

WEDDING BEAUTY 5%

Initially couples think hair stylists and make-up artists will be needed on the day but what about the trials, manis and pedis, waxing, facials, massages, skin products, wedding tan and possibly the gym to get fit for your big day. There are so many hidden costs when it comes to beauty just know it can add up quickly. 

DÉCOR 2.5%

Décor isn’t absolutely necessary if you’re venue is stunning in itself but perhaps you went for a basic venue and you want to jazz it up or your church needs something extra to add to the drama of the big day. There are some wonderful décor companies that do all sorts of wedding packages to keep you from stressing about how everything will look on your big day. Take your time shopping around, have your vision clear when you have a consultation and enjoy the whole process. 

MISCELLANEOUS 7%

You may think we’ve everything covered but there is so much more to be considered for your wedding day. If you read our article on unexpected wedding costs you’ll see how much you will have forgotten and then some. Always set aside a miscellaneous figure because, we promise you, you WILL need it.