Every couple planning a wedding faces the same impossible question: where do you actually spend your money, and where can you pull back without anyone noticing?
We’re Caitlyn and Kalee – wedding photographers, videographers, and the hosts of Shoot the Vows – and in Episode 34 we went category by category, calling our honest verdict: splurge or save. Spoiler: we disagreed more than we agreed. Here’s everything we covered, with the reasoning behind each call.
Disclaimer: these are our personal opinions. What matters most on your wedding day is what matters most to you.
Photography – Splurge
We’re biased (yes, we’re photographers), but we’ve also heard the horror stories: the bride who hired a family friend and hated every photo she got back, the “budget-friendly professional” whose results just weren’t there. Here’s the truth – at the end of your wedding day, you take away two things: your marriage and your photos. The cake is eaten. The flowers die. The music stops. But your photos are eternal.
If you need to keep costs down, consider booking fewer hours of coverage rather than hiring a cheaper photographer. Let Aunt Kathy cover the late-night dancing if you don’t care about those shots – but invest in a professional for the moments that matter. And always ask to see full galleries, not just their best portfolio shots. Everyone has a few great images. What you want to know is whether the whole gallery holds up.
Videography – Depends
Some couples watch their wedding video every anniversary. Others never press play. If you’re on a $10k budget, videography likely has to go. Don’t be the person in a Facebook group asking for 8 hours of photo and video for $1,500 – the quality won’t be there. Great video requires proper equipment, audio backup systems, and real editing skill. A shaky, poorly-mixed video is almost worse than no video at all. If budget is tight, prioritize photos. If you can afford quality videography, it’s worth it – and ceremony-only packages are worth asking about.
Second Shooter – Depends
One of us votes splurge, the other save. The case for splurging: it’s genuinely hard for one photographer to be in two places at once. Someone needs to capture him getting ready while she’s with the bride. Batteries need changing. SD cards need swapping. The photographer needs to eat something at some point. A second shooter fills those gaps. The case for saving: if you’re already paying for great photography and great videography, you may not feel you need one. It really comes down to your coverage priorities and your budget.
Venue – Depends on What’s Included
One of us says save, the other says splurge all day long. Here’s where we actually land: it depends entirely on what’s included. A venue charging $30k that includes nothing isn’t the same as one charging $12–15k that bundles tables, chairs, linens, cutlery, and décor. Always compare total cost of ownership.
The other thing: stay true to your style. Don’t pick a venue that’s completely off-brand from your vision just because it’s cheaper – you’ll spend more trying to transform it. A county park with a lodge-style building can achieve a similar feel at a fraction of the price, especially for a smaller, more intimate wedding.
And one of our favorite trends right now: couples who get married on family land or in their own backyard, with wildflowers they planted themselves, picking blooms for their own bouquets. Beautiful, personal, and budget-smart.
Décor & Centerpieces – Balance It With Your Venue
Here’s a practical formula: if you splurge on your venue, save on décor. If you save on the venue, invest in your décor to elevate the space. Good lighting in particular can make you feel like you barely need decorations at all. On lighting specifically – see if your DJ offers uplighting as part of their package, or if your venue already has it. That’s money you don’t need to spend separately.
Florals – Strategic Splurge
One of us (the former florist) votes splurge; the other votes save. The middle ground: be intentional. Invest in a beautiful bridal bouquet, bridesmaid bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages for close family. Beyond that, get strategic. You can move your ceremony aisle flowers to the reception and use them as centerpieces – you’re not doubling your spend, you’re double-using your investment. Simple bud vases with two or three stems each are inexpensive, easy to DIY, and genuinely lovely on a table.
On fake flowers: they’re not as cheap as people expect, and then you have to store or resell them afterward. If you go faux, factor in the logistics. If you go real, preserve your bouquet and let guests take the centerpiece vases home.
Catering & Food – Depends on Your Priorities
Chances are you won’t eat much on your wedding day. Nerves and running around have a way of killing your appetite – one of us had to assign someone to literally force-feed her at the reception. That said, your guests will eat, and a hungry crowd is hard to hide. If food matters to you and your people, invest accordingly. If not, there are ways to do it well on a budget.
Wedding Cake – Save
Wedding cakes are expensive, and the couple typically eats two bites. Nobody is going to know the difference between a gorgeous sheet cake from Costco and a $600 tiered creation. Do a small one-tier cake for the two of you to cut, and feed your guests from a sheet cake in the kitchen. Or do a small cake plus cupcakes – guests love the variety and it’s far more affordable. Just one caution: don’t hand the job to a close family member unless they genuinely want to take it on. The stress it adds to the people closest to you isn’t worth the savings.
Wedding Dress – Save on the Dress, Invest in the Tailoring
One of us says splurge; the other wouldn’t spend over $3k on something she’ll wear once. The compromise that actually matters: you can get a beautiful dress at any price point, but it absolutely must fit you perfectly. You’re in every single photo. A baggy, ill-fitting dress – even an otherwise gorgeous one – will show. Save on the dress itself (there are stunning options at every budget, including off-the-rack and online). Then spend real money on a seamstress to make it fit you like a glove. If you lose or gain weight before the wedding, get it re-fitted close to the date.
Bridesmaids Dresses – Save
Find something affordable that your bridesmaids won’t resent buying. A $100–200 dress is a fair ask; communicate with your girls about the cost before they commit. Order online, pick a color direction rather than an identical dress, and let everyone find something that works for their body.
The mismatched-but-coordinated trend is genuinely beautiful and takes the pressure off. Soft pinks, blues, lavenders, and greens work together naturally. So do warmer tones like yellows, oranges, and reds. Just make sure the palette is intentional – complementary, not random.
Hair & Makeup – Depends on Your Skill Level
Both of us feel confident doing our own hair and makeup, which is why we leaned toward save – but that caveat is huge. If you’re not sure you can achieve the look you want, this is not the day to find out. Professionally done hair and makeup photographs beautifully, holds longer, and takes one more thing off your plate. If you’re hiring a pro for one, you might as well do both.
DJ & Music – Splurge
Both of us agreed here, which doesn’t happen often. A bad DJ can ruin the vibe of an otherwise perfect wedding. When nobody’s on the dance floor because the DJ is playing the wrong music, your reception photos reflect that. A good DJ also means proper equipment – microphones for vows and speeches, clean sound from the ceremony through the last song of the night.
We’ve seen outdoor ceremonies where the groom was so quiet that people in the front row couldn’t hear his vows. Don’t let that happen. If you’re a softer-spoken person, consider private vows with a first look and keep the public exchange brief – or just make sure you have a DJ with microphones.
If your budget can stretch to a live band, that experience is hard to beat. Either way, the music and sound is worth investing in.
Day-of Coordinator – Non-Negotiable
Both of us said splurge, then immediately said this isn’t even a splurge – it’s a need. A day-of coordinator handles everything so you don’t have to. When vendors are running late, when the timeline slips, when something goes sideways – your coordinator deals with it and you never even know it happened. You should be getting ready, breathing through your nerves, and being present for one of the biggest days of your life. Not fielding calls from the florist. If you cut everything else from this list, keep this. And never assign a close family member to fill this role – they should be celebrating with you, not managing logistics.
Full Wedding Planner – Save (With Exceptions)
We love wedding planners. They are genuinely worth their weight in gold. But not every budget has gold, and if you’re a DIY person who enjoys the process, you can absolutely do it yourself. Pinterest for ideas, Canva for visualizing your tablescape and color palette, and plenty of planning resources online. One of us went to school for interior design and planned her entire wedding herself. The other freely admits she would hire a planner every time because she is not built for it.
Know which type of person you are. If you’re the type who needs to have your hands in everything – you’ll probably do fine. If you’re the type who will be stressed every time a decision lands in your lap – budget for a planner. Either way, the day-of coordinator remains non-negotiable.
The Budget Reality Check
Before any of this, take a real, honest look at your number – and then add a buffer. If your budget is $15,000, hold $5,000 in reserve. Something always comes up. “Budget wedding” means something different to everyone: for some it’s $10k, for others it’s $40k. Venues alone can run $20k at the bare minimum in many markets. Know what’s actually achievable where you live.
Most importantly: this day is about getting married. It shouldn’t feel like producing a Broadway show. The goal is to be present, joyful, and surrounded by people you love – without starting your marriage under financial stress.
