Hi, I'm Jessie! I was a 2020 bride and, with a little help, financed my own wedding. Although we did keep things small, we still had Unnamed Films along to capture our wedding day moments, and we love to look back on them 💞

In 2021, shortly after the wedding, I had the opportunity to start working with the UNF team, and I jumped right in! Now, if you email our inbox, it might just be my name in the signature field.

I remember the struggle of trying to fit everything we were dreaming of into the little budget we had prepared for ourselves! I learned a lot planning my wedding, and I learned even more pulling back the curtain to become an industry professional. That said, here are my top 10 tips for budgeting for your wedding as both a former bride and a current wedding professional!

1. Sort Out Your Priorities

Before you draft a budget, send out messages, or even visit a bridal show, you'll want to sit down with your fiance and have an exciting, beautiful conversation about priorities. There are always cheaper options—but where are you NOT willing to skimp? If you're willing to splurge on an excellent venue, would you be willing to go without live music for the ceremony? Is your partner as excited about a live painter as you are? Make sure you understand what you're looking forward to, but make sure you also understand what your partner is looking forward to before you jump into planning head-on.

Here are some questions to ask yourselves as you decide what your priorities are for the big day:

• What are you most excited to feel?
• What are you most excited to look back on?
• Which services are a "want" and which ones are a "non-negotiable"?

Once you've got your priorities ordered, you can launch into the next phases of planning.

2. Set a Realistic Budget

A lot of couples (myself and my fiance included) come to budgeting saying "we want to spend x amount on a x vendor," for example, "we want to spend less than $1000 on a photographer." This is an OK way to budget, but before you set those parameters, make sure you get some quotes and consult a few wedding cost guides! You may be surprised by how much core wedding services cost compared to when your parents or your friends got married! Be sure to consult multiple cost guides online and to make a list of vendors you love and their pricing information. Don't set a goal of $2000 for a venue only to find that the venues you're most interested in cost closer to $5000! The difference between our expectation for prices and the reality was one of the most stressful parts of planning for us. Don't be surprised! Do your research before setting your budget expectations.

3. Go to Bridal Shows

This is a wedding day budget hack I wish I'd known when I was planning my wedding: GO to the bridal shows! I was hesitant to go to bridal shows as a bride because I really don't like being "sold to." However, what I didn't realize about wedding shows is that vendors give EXCLUSIVE discounts at wedding shows that you can't get anywhere else! It's also an excellent time to ask lots of questions and get to know lots of vendors in your local area!

When I'm at a wedding show as a vendor, it's not my goal to sell you a videography package that same day. I try to help couples discover if a wedding video is the right fit for them, then help them understand some key things to look for in a videographer. We love to answer questions and show samples! You can check out our Ultimate Guide to Bridal Shows to learn more about what to expect and how to prep for a show!

4. Ask ALL of the Questions!

This is a tip I felt uncomfortable about as a bride that I've learned a LOT about as a vendor. I can't speak for all vendors, but I know that for me, it genuinely makes my day better when I get to answer questions for a couple, and there are NO dumb questions. Whether it's over email, in person at a show, or on a call, most vendors are open to answering your questions. If you're unsure about something, or even if you just want some advice from an industry professional, just ask! You can learn a lot that way.

5. Map Out Payments

This one threw us for a loop back in the day! Some vendors want your payment in-full up-front, some are willing to take payments, and others even work with afterpay services to help break things down further. Consider your budget as you have it saved, but also as you will have it saved. Most importantly: don’t get surprised by a bill for $2,000 the month of the wedding—and don’t say no to something you had your heart set on because you don’t have it paid in-full today. Know your budget now and in the future, and map out how each vendor wants you to pay for their services. Again, I can't speak for all vendors, but we do our best to create custom payment options for couples that need it.

6. Be Open to Gifts

Not every couple is fortunate enough to receive gifts from loved ones. I know that during our wedding, I was honestly surprised by how much our loved ones wanted to help out! If you have that experience, we all know those gifts can come with strings attached. But if it helps you to build the wedding of your dreams—without sacrificing too much of your ideal wedding—I’d say go for it. If Mom wants to pay for a wedding video, let her! She can pick a package as long as you can choose the music 😉

7. Network with Friends and Family

Friends—married and not married—will have referrals for you. Sometimes referrals can unlock discounts, or get you started off on the right foot with a vendor! Your friends can also give helpful reviews and may have connections you don’t expect. At the risk of sounding repetitive, when you're looking for a service, start by asking! You never know who in your network might be able to help you along your way.

8. Network with Vendors

This one I certainly didn't expect when planning my wedding! If you find a vendor you love, check out their preferred vendor lists! You can also ask them for recommendations. Sometimes there are little discounts built in here, too—and if not, you already trust the vendors you’ve hired—you might also love the vendors that they enjoy working with. In my work as an event coordinator, I love nothing more than giving or receiving a referral! Just like answering questions, giving a referral genuinely makes my day better.

9. Consult a Professional

We didn’t use a wedding planner for our wedding, and as I’ve continued to get further into the wedding industry, I’m beginning to regret some of the late nights and stressful conversations! If you think you can include it in your budget, talk to a wedding planner! See if they’ve got the low-down on some cheap rentals, a good (but affordable) florist, or a stationary option that won’t break the bank! So much goes into a wedding. Letting someone help you manage that budget can take you a long way, and most planners have deep referral lists to fit every aesthetic and budget. Not sure where to start looking for a planner? Message us! We've worked with some excellent wedding planners who we'd be honored to connect you with.

10. Consider Your Future

When you're in the weeds of planning, the wedding may start to seem like a great big finish line. In reality, your wedding day is actually a starting line! Remember that your wedding is a day—the biggest day—but that you have to wake up the next day and start your new life together! Let the day after be a celebration, too. Make smart financial decisions with the day, month, and year after your wedding in mind.

11. Bonus: Remember What’s Important

There’s a reason multiple items in my list come back to priorities, and that’s because when things get stressful, remembering why you’re getting married in the first place can change everything. You’re in this for love. You are excited to plan a celebration with the person you've chosen as your life partner. You are bigger than linen colors and guest counts. Your relationship is what’s most important! So as you plan, stay connected. Communicate often. Practice patience. And focus on what’s most important: your partner and your future together.

When in doubt, reach out! We'd be happy to hear from you as you plan your wedding, and elated to help you figure out if wedding videography is right for you.