I'm a wedding planner – here's the five things I'd skip on my own big day, it could save you thousands
GETTING married is one of the happiest times of your life - but planning a wedding can be as stressful and expensive.
Your dream big day can cost thousands of pounds, and wedding budgets can very quickly start to spiral out of control.
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There are so many different things to consider - from the venue and the guest lists to the menus, cars, flowers, and much more.
So it's no wonder that brides and grooms can quickly find it becoming overwhelming - both financially and mentally.
Luckily, one expert is on hand to help engaged couples celebrate their special day in style, but without breaking the bank.
Nick Bramer from Country House Weddings has urged couples not to include every trend they see on social media, no matter how tempting.
The wedding planner has spent years helping couples create their perfect day and has learned what elements truly matter and which ones simply aren't worth the investment (or should just be outright avoided).
And he even revealed the five things he would never do for his own wedding - and why other couples should think twice before adding them to their plans.
Nick said: 'After organising hundreds of weddings, I've learned that the most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive ones.
"They're the weddings where couples focused on what truly mattered to them and their guests, rather than trying to tick every box they'd seen on Pinterest.
'The wedding industry is brilliant at making couples feel like they need everything to be perfect, but perfection often comes at the cost of personality and genuine enjoyment.
"Some of my favourite weddings have been the ones where couples said no to half the extras and instead invested in great food, good music, and making sure their guests felt welcome. Your wedding should reflect who you are as a couple, not what magazines tell you it should look like."
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1. Hiring an expensive photographer without seeing their full portfolio
It's a common belief that the best suppliers are the most expensive, but this isn't always the case.
Just because a photographer charges premium rates, it doesn't necessarily mean that they will deliver the best results.
Wedding photography can cost anywhere from £1,000 to £5,000, but those on the higher end of the scale could be basing their price on their marketing rather than their actual skill.
Nick explains: 'I've seen couples spend £4,000 on a photographer who promised the world, only to receive bland, cookie-cutter shots that looked identical to every other wedding they'd shot that year.
"Price doesn't guarantee creativity or the ability to capture your unique story."
Instead, he suggests meeting potential photographers in person and reviewing complete wedding galleries, not just highlight reels.
The most memorable celebrations aren't necessarily the most expensive ones. They're the weddings where couples focused on what truly mattered to them and their guests
Nick Bramerfrom Country House Weddings
2. Booking entertainment that doesn't match the crowd
One of the biggest mistakes that Nick says couples make when planning their wedding is booking the wrong style of entertainment.
The wedding planner said he often sees too many couples choosing entertainment based on what looks impressive rather than what their guests will actually enjoy.
And this can actually throw off the whole vibe of the day.
He suggested considering the guest list carefully before booking any kind of evening entertainment.
For example, if most attendees are over 50, a classic covers band might work better than a DJ spinning the latest hits.
He said: "I once saw a couple hire a string quartet for a crowd that clearly wanted to party.
'By 9pm, half the guests had left because there was nothing to keep them engaged".
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3. Splurging on designer wedding favours
Wedding favours are, in theory, very sweet reminders of your big day and a lovely treat for your guests.
However, most guests actually leave them behind or throw them away within weeks.
And considering that couples often spend hours planning to get their perfect thing and often spend hundreds of pounds on them, Nick says they're just not worth it.
He explains that he has seen couples stress over personalised candles, miniature photo frames, and custom sweets that end up sadly forgotten on tables.
Instead, he suggests that couples opt for something they can enjoy on the day, like a high-quality treat like chocolate.
Or even put the money they'd spend on favours towards something else, like a couple of hundred pounds on better food or drinks at the bar.
Nick explains that this is something guests would probably appreciate more - and you'd get more value for money.
He explains: "Couples spend an average of £3-5 per guest on favours, which adds up to £300-500 for a typical wedding.
"I've never seen guests genuinely excited about taking home a miniature jam jar with the couple's names on it".
4. Choosing a venue based on Instagram photos
Social media doesn't often reflect real life, and something that might look magical online might not look that great in person.
As a result, Nick has warned couples against booking a venue based on their filtered photos on social media.
Lighting, angles, and editing can hide serious flaws that will all become obvious on your wedding day.
Instead, he suggests always visiting potential venues in person - preferably at the same time of day as your planned celebration.
Nick says: 'I've seen couples fall in love with venues online, only to arrive and discover the 'spacious' room is actually cramped.
'Photos rarely show practical issues like poor acoustics or limited parking.'
Expert's seven tips to keep wedding costs down
IN a bid to help couples save some cash, one expert has revealed their seven tips to keep costs down for the big day.
Claudia Postigo, founder and Head Wedding Planner at The Planner Co, reveals how couples can save significant money on wedding aspects that many go overboard on.
Choose off-season dates - "By choosing to have your wedding during the off-season, such as winter or early spring, when demand is lower, you can save a considerable amount of money on venues, caterers, and other services.'
Leverage DIY décor - "DIY projects help to add a personal touch to your wedding, while having the added bonus of saving you a lot of money."
Book non-traditional venues - "Non-traditional venues tend to be more affordable and provide a unique and memorable wedding experience."
Reduce the guest list - "This both cuts down on catering costs and creates a more intimate and meaningful atmosphere for your special day.'
Go digital - "In an era where most things are digital, it makes sense to go paperless for your wedding invitations and save-the-date cards."
Recycle, Reduce, Reuse - "When it comes to wedding décor, why not try recycling and reusing items from previous weddings or events?"
Consider a smaller wedding cake - "To save some money, opt for a smaller wedding cake for the ceremonial cutting and a larger sheet cake for guests to enjoy.2
5. Going overboard with unnecessary extras that add no real value
It's so easy to get carried away when planning a wedding and want to do everything and buy everything.
But Nick says that there are so many unnecessary extras that couples often spend a fortune on but don't add any real value.
Wedding vendors excel at selling add-ons that sound amazing but provide little actual benefit.
Things like chair covers, upgraded linens, and premium flower arrangements can quickly double your costs.
However, they don't significantly improve your guests' experience.
Nick has urged couples to think carefully about little extras and if they're really needed.
This might help keep costs down and give you fewer things to stress about on the big day.
He said: 'I've seen people spend £800 on chair covers when the venue's chairs were perfectly fine.
"Focus your budget on elements that directly impact your guests' comfort: good food, decent drinks, and reliable sound systems.'
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