There are millions of articles all over the internet listing the wedding deets you can cut costs on. This isn’t one of them because, well, a wedding is a luxury. You can totally get married without one – think signing all the paperwork with a celebrant at your favourite park, or if you’re into fancy government buildings, getting hitched at the registry office. Really, you can elope and escape the wedding planning fiesta all together.

All good options.

But if you are into having a wedding, we’re definite that you’re planning a good, or even great one with all the bells and whistles. With that in mind, here are 8 things you should empty your wallets, or, scrape the final dollars for, at your oh-so-grand wedding.

Music

Charger plates and copper cutlery won’t save your big day if the music doesn’t complement your wedding vibes. The worst thing you can have is an empty dance floor. Depending on your preference, live music or a DJ is the perfect musical touch, even though they bring different things to a wedding. Make sure you communicate your must-plays, definitely-don’t-play and first dance tunes. It really will set the mood at your reception. Also, for the love of God, don’t go the iPod route or play Gangnam Style.

Siempre Wedding Photgraphy via Wedded Wonderland

Photography And Videography

If you want the best possible images and videos captured on your wedding day, you know, those single moments in time that will never be repeated – you will undoubtedly need to secure the creme de la creme of the industry. And by that, we mean investing in knowledgeable photographers and videographers that shoot, and suit, your style. Your wedding album is tangible nostalgia until you’re old and grey, so we know you don’t want sub-par captures. These memories last a lifetime, which is why you should be down to splurge. Plus, you want your future grandkids to tell you what a hotshot you were during your time – blurry pics and a shaky video won’t do that.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bke-T2wgejN/?taken-by=weddedwonderland

Late Night Snacks

Your guests have most likely had a few drinks and dined on a tasty steak or chicken, or salmon, for dinner. But now it’s 10PM and they’re feeling s’moreish. If they were out of town, they’d be going for a Maccas run. So more food later in the night is a clever idea. It might be a grazing table, dessert bar or sandwich truck at the ready. When we talk hors d’oeuvres, we’re not expecting a life-size ice sculpture by the lobster canapes. You just need some good quality food to go around. All this partying will need the extra energy.

Glam Squad

We all need a Mario and Jen Atkin on our wedding day. We deserve to say we had a glam team at least once in our lives, right? Although you may not be able to fly them in from Los Angeles, you can definitely find the perfect duo that understands how you want to look as a bride. Spending the extra dollars is okay if they’re top notch. After all, you want to look and feel a million bucks on your wedding day, and HMU can play a major role in that. Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean you need to look unrecognisable on the day. Soft bridal glam and a clever up-do can go a long way for your perfect princess moment.

Wedding Dress

Now now, this isn’t a call to remortgage your home, but your dress, the dress, is something to splurge on when it comes to your budget. Whether your range is $1,000 or $10,000, you’re not settling, you are wearing something you love. The extra bucks on beading, lace or fabric will up the ante on your dream dress. This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance. Also, don’t skimp on alterations. From hem to bodice and everything in between, the tailoring should be impeccable. Because you know, dress details are the most important thing in life, followed closely by marring your life partner.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BkySESXATpp/?taken-by=signor_mont

Lighting

The whole lot of it. Waves of hanging lanterns, blankets of twinkling string lights, burning candles, dramatic chandeliers, illuminated dance floors, neon signs, glowing florals, light-up letters. We will not judge if you include all of these ideas. Whatever your wedding theme, the right lighting is the perfect accent to your celebration. The mood and ambience it creates certainly makes for a romantic and memorable celebration.

An Awesome Wedding Planner

This might mean a full-service wedding planner or on-the-day coordinator. Whether you’re a bridezilla, perfectionist, stress-head, or all of these things combined, hiring someone can really offload the pressure. They’ve got  the skills to take the reins when you’re drowning in details, rescue you from totally normal bridal meltdowns, and run things smoothly in the lead up to, and on the day of the wedding. If you have a demanding schedule or are easily overwhelmed, this is a great investment to make. You want to be present at your wedding, so considering a planner that suits your budget might be right up your alley.

Your Dream Honeymoon

Don’t forget about this after-party. We think you deserve some R&R post all that wedding kerfuffle. This is supposed to be a vacation of a lifetime. Whether you’re dreaming of sunbaking on some French Riviera yacht, embracing the all-white-blue-domed dream that is Santorini or strolling through a twinkling tunnel of mosaic lamps in Turkey, you’ll need to set a budget aside. Keep in mind, if you can’t afford to splurge right away, you can always postpone your honeymoon for a little while. Because you know, caviar canapes and french yachts aren’t your average keeping up with the Joneses. But, whatever.

Written by Shaymah Alkhair