Ideating Insta-worthy décor and design, putting together a dreamy wedding wardrobe, curating a delicious menu, finding the perfect favours… planning your big day and other wedding-related events is undeniably exciting. But with the endless components and to-do lists that celebrations come with; weddings can cost a pretty penny. Its why budgeting is crucial, even if it may take extra time and planning. Timmy Kader, the co-founder of the UK-based 360-degree service event design and planning company 1SW Events, agrees. It's all about strategy, she says.
For the very best wedding planning budget tips, we speak with the pro about the importance of setting a budget and how to go about it.
Step One
“Our whole process starts with an initial discovery call, which is a complimentary one. This is why we allot a lot of time to understand your requirements, the space you are booking and any ideas that you have, and you’d like to see in your décor. The idea to keep the first consultation free is so that it gives the bride or groom the opportunity to off load all the questions they have. Budgets and pricing are also discussed on this call because it’s important to establish whether we, as an event planning team, are the right fit or not. This process is the same for the wedding planning or styling,” shares Timmy.
Don’t Spiral
There’s a lot that goes into planning a wedding, from finding a venue to finalizing vendors. Whether money is the criteria for you or not, it’s easy for couples to get down the rabbit hole of overspending if you don’t set a budget and follow it. Budgeting helps to have a bottomline so you know if you’d like to go overboard or not.
Get Real
“We often get asked about our price packages, and it is probably one of the worst questions to ask us. We don’t have fixed packages—we are here to design your wedding. This is why we design renders, based on your original references and all. These work great to have an idea, and every couple wants something bespoke and doing things differently. But I always insist on being realist about budgets to work along the side,” says Timmy.
Meet The Parents
Timmy says planning weddings can be extremely stressful. And money can often become a major reason of a fight not just between couples, but also the families involved. She suggests having the difficult conversation about ‘who is paying how much and for what’ with all parties involved before even reaching out to the planner. This will ensure that the entire planning and celebration time is smooth and joyful.
For more information, visit:
1SW Events
www.1SWEvents.com
+44 (0)203 468 9394
Instagram: @1SWEvents
Venue: The Waldorf Hilton London
Lighting: Premier Hire