What do you consider a waste of money?

I think favors and programs are a waste of money, but guess what...we’re doing both! 🤦🏼‍♀️

Your photographer, gifts for the wedding party and providing comfort, good food and an open bar at the wedding are really the only important things everything else goes into the if you can fit into your budget category.

I think that favors are a waste of money and then the menu at the reception is a waste of money so we will not be doing either of those

View Quoted Comment Girl YES to both of these lmao. We are doing favors but I reallly don’t want to. Ours are cookies so at least it’s something the guests can eat

For me the big ones are favors (if they’re not edible), programs, guestbook and photo booth

We went cheap on our invitations(template from Etsy and printed through vistaprint). 120 invitations for about $70. I just couldn’t justify spending $2+ per invitation especially when they’ll just end up in the trash.

Also we’re not doing menus, programs, or real dishes. All a waste of money IMO.

Favors, programs, over-using signage, flowers (to an extent... I mean, having flowers is nice but when it's at the point of spending thousands of $ on them, I think that is), centerpieces

Flowers and programs are a waste of money in my opinion.

Buying an expensive dress for a one-day event is a waste to me. I found my wedding dress for $108 and it's still just as beautiful and it fits my wedding better. I just can't justify spending thousands of dollars on a dress.

View Quoted Comment Look I’m making a welcome and order of service sign for our wedding because I hate seeing money wasted.

At it’ll only cost me less than $20 for the win

We didn't send put STD, buying invitation template and printing ourselves, only flowers are 2 bouquets, 3 boutonnieres, 2 corsages from a little flower shop for less than $200 and no favors

I think favors are a huge waste of money!!! Who has ever used a favor from a wedding? Unless it’s food lol!
I know a lot of people think programs are a huge waste but I love programs and am getting them! But mine will also be fans since I am having an outdoor ceremony.

One word: favors! Edible or not, it's a expensive time waster that isn't worth it in the end.

Favors, programs, guestbook, elaborate invitations (the ones that cost several dollars per invite), matching getting ready outfits, crazy expensive veils (why spend $300 on a piece of tulle?), and menus.

I love how everyone is saying favors—could not agree more 😂 menu cards, programs, etc too. Invitations to an extent, I think you can still get something really beautiful without spending g a fortune. Getting ready robes.

I know this isn't popular opinion, but engagement photo sessions. When photographers say "free engagement session included with package" it really means that the cost of the engagement session has already been factored into the price. When you tell them you don't want an engagement photo session, the price drops significantly. It's clever marketing and I'd guess at least 90% of couples fall for it.

Also related to this are custom super adorned stationary and/or magnets with photos of the couple on them. The only exception I see would be for the "Thank You" cards, as a nice wedding day portrait would be sweet. Even then though, they're going in the garbage, so why spend more money when there are so many stock designs for a fraction of the cost?

There's a lot of areas where we saved a ton, but those two are my top and we're talking savings of thousands with the photography and hundreds with stationary. I agree that it is so easy to get wrapped up in the details and one could easily get carried away. I've always been a saver though, so I got the best deals I could with every aspect.

View Quoted Comment Just wanna offer a counterpoint for the engagement photos. For us we aren’t used to being photographed professionally and my fiancé in particular was so uncomfortable and stiff in front of the camera. Getting engagement photos was so so helpful in getting more comfortable in front of the camera and with our photographer as well as learning how to pose. On our wedding day our photographer couldn’t stop commenting on how much more comfortable we seemed! I agree that it’s not for everyone but for us it made a big difference.

For me it was a wedding planner because our venue has a coordinator that helps the day of and I was able to do most of the planning on my own and with my MOH. Also, real flowers. We opted for foam ones and I love them.

I don't know that I see anything as a waste of money so much as optional depending on your budget. Like we're skipping programs but not because they're a waste, just because they're not in the budget. We are doing favors but they're edible so hopefully not wasted. Shoot I'll eat the cookies if they're left behind! Lol.