All-inclusive or Bare Bones?

I honestly think it all depends and to me it wasn't worth coordinating everything for the possibility of not even saving any money. I found an amazing inclusive venue that includes a DOC, flowers, cake, linens, chairs, catering and alcohol. taxes and gratuity included. We literally just have to multiply the per plate times the number of guests we're having. Since I'm the last born and last to have a wedding in my family, I lucked out with finding an awesome photographer and DJ who are giving me a discount since they've done so many of our family's weddings. So i guess i'm somewhere in the the middle. Most was included in my venue and few others I "found" on my own. If you have the time to crunch the numbers, then try it out- to me it just wasn't worth it. I find the all inclusive deals to be much better & easier!

Thank you everyone for your input! While it seems that a lot of you went with venues that included all the food, linens, chairs, tables etc. I am finding the price per person at these venues to be as much (if not more) than the price per person at the all inclusive venue I'm looking at (with it including pretty much EVERYTHING). Aside from the things I already listed (Catering, open bar, DJ, Photography, Limo, Floral Centerpieces, Cake) valet parking, the ceremony space, the officiant, ceremony bubbles, the runner, the arch decorated, a bridal attendant and Maitre D' are all things that are included too. SO it is a very inclusive package but I would have to add ceremony music or musician to the DJ package and the bridal flowers to the Florist package. Still, there is so much included that it is probably still worth it. It's probably also the only way I can afford a waterfront venue on the island.

My venue includes catering, cake and liquor. That left us free to pick out other vendors. Is there a way not to use their dj, photographer?

I heard that usually if you chose not to use a certain vendor you get X amount of money off and can find your own. Now that you mention it, that might be a possibility for the DJ bc FH knows a DJ personally that would definitely give us a deal.

My first wedding was all inclusive, and I found the time and stress saved to be WELL worth the price. We visited three times: once for a tour, once to taste the food, and once to pick linens and centerpieces, and that was it. It was perfect for me.

I'm doing semi-all inclusive (doesn't include florist, DJ, or photographer). I LOVE it! It allows me to sit back and relax on the main vendors and focus solely on the ones they don't include. My venue makes it worth it by allowing you to create your own package. If I don't want champagne, I can sub that money for something I do want or just not pay that money at all. It's great!

I definitely see what all the bare bones commenters are saying about it feeling more personalized, but there is definitely some little decor things that will be additional that I think will add that personal flair. We are doing a London inspired wedding (since we got engaged there) and the florist already had some great ideas about incorporating that theme. I do think there is something really special about bare bones venues and brides that put all that work and personal attention into every detail too though! Makes it seem more intimate in the most authentic, natural way.

We went AI. The place we booked though has a number of photographers, DJ, florists, etc we can choose from. Since we are doing a DW with a sibling meet and greet, welcome party and morning after breakfast it was one less stress point.

To be honest, I don't think all inclusive is not good or not personalized etc. For me, I just found the venues that I liked, were not all inclusive and the ones that were in my area were just not venues I was interested or looked a tad generic in space.

And anything that you had to do it all were some of the most gorgeous spaces but yeah, I was going to stay away from all the vendors and rentals since many of them are based on head count and you rarely know this stuff until late in the planning stage; necessary stress for me. So you might as well get a wedding planner to do it all lol.

Things to consider:


Do you have people who could come, help set up and tear down and do clean up?Do you know people who could help or it's their specialty and they don't mind doing it at a discounted price?Are you DIY savvy? Is someone you know?How many people do you have?Could you pull off your vision and be 100% satisfied with it?Do you know someone really good at events and/or planning/coordinating and all the things like that?
Think of all that goes into the wedding and if you want to be *concerned with* the details on your day or if you wanna be free. Then ask yourself how much you would want to pay for those services and if you are willing to do them? That's how I decided that something's aren't worth skimping for and some things are. 🤷‍♀️