The Top 10 Wedding Planning Mistakes That Cost Couples Thousands of Dollars

Weddings are elaborate events that need a considerable amount of planning, designing, and producing from an entire team of people to pull off. From focusing on big-picture elements like the venue and hotel block to more minute aspects like cocktail napkins and flatware, hosting nuptials requires attending to countless details—most of which cost money. While some components are more expensive than others, all of the big-day purchases quickly add up. The average price couples are paying to throw this grand celebration? $33,000, according to a report from Forbes.

While planning a wedding is a huge financial undertaking, a portion of the overall bill often comprises unnecessary costs. Heather Balliet, founder and lead wedding planner of Amorology, estimates that couples spend eight to 10 percent more money than they need to on their special day. For the average wedding (the aforementioned $33,000), that’s an extra $2,640 to $3,300 that you could put toward other significant investments, such as a honeymoon to an exotic place or the down payment on your new home. 

Since orchestrating your nuptials is an unfamiliar process with many moving parts, future newlyweds tend to throw money at items they think they need. Some, according to Amy Abbott, the owner of Amy Abbott Events, want to go all out for this once-in-a-lifetime affair, causing them to overspend on extravagant floral arrangements, invitations, favors, and other details. Plus, given the number of costly planning decisions pairs need to make, many lose track of the amount of money they’ve already spent, creating a bigger bill. Indecision is also to blame, according to Lea Stafford, the founder and director of Stafford Creative Co.

Fortunately, it’s entirely possible to throw your dream event without wasting your money. We asked three professional wedding planners to reveal the top wedding planning mistakes that cost couples thousands of dollars. Keep scrolling to learn about these costly blunders.

Forgoing a Wedding Planner

One of the biggest mistakes that racks up the bill? Executing your vision without a wedding planner by your side, per Balliet. Since these professionals are experts in the industry with years of experience under their belts, they have a wealth of knowledge about the planning expenses that are both worthwhile and futile. 

Even though hiring a wedding planner costs about $2,000, you’ll end up saving more money in the long run because the vendor will steer you away from costly decisions that have a negligible or counterproductive impact on your big day. Although you might think you’re making a financially sound choice by forgoing a planner, taking on the venture solo—without the same level of knowledge about wedding-related expenses—will likely hurt your budget.

Making Costly Decisions Without Hiring a Planner First

Even if you do enlist a wedding planner’s services, it’s still possible to spend unneeded money on your soirée. That’s because, oftentimes, couples will make other costly decisions, such as securing their venue, choosing entertainment, and hiring other members of their vendor team, before booking their planner, Abbott explains. 

Selecting a planner should be one of the first wedding-planning items on your checklist for many reasons, but since they guide you toward cost-effective choices, provide information on additional fees you may be unfamiliar with, and help you translate jargon before signing contracts, booking them right off the bat will end up saving you a lot of money down the road. “Couples should seek a planner’s guidance to understand all potential costs before making commitments,” Abbott advises.

Failing to Establish a Budget

Another mistake couples tend to make that breaks the bank? Charging their card without setting aside a budget. Having a financial plan is essential to keep your spending on track, so you prioritize your wedding expenses and avoid overspending. Without a budget set in place or a budget-management system, splurging on extravagant items or dropping money on useless ones can happen without you realizing it. A year before you tie the knot, figure out your priorities and decide who’s paying for what before allocating your funds. 

Forgetting to Identify Your Priorities

On that same note, couples often forget to identify their priorities, so they end up spending an exorbitant amount of money on things that don’t matter much to them. By figuring out the most important elements that are worth splurging on, you’ll stay within budget and throw a wedding that reflects who you are. For instance, if music is a significant part of your relationship, invest in a killer band. Then, to offset the costs, scale back on other components that are less important to you like the menu or flowers. 

Stafford stresses the importance of deciding on your non-negotiables in the beginning of the planning process. “By being confident in your decisions sooner rather than later, you'll not only eliminate the chance of missing out but also streamline the planning process and avoid any unnecessary expenses,” she says.

Inviting Too Many Guests

If you have a large extended family or a big group of friends, it might be tempting to invite everyone within your circle. However, since you’ll have to pay for each guest’s food and drinks, a sizable group usually translates to a more expensive wedding or one that forces you to scale back on other noteworthy details. “People are saying ‘yes’ in volumes, and you do not want to cut important wedding elements or choose a lower-level beverage package because your guest list has gotten out of hand,” Abbott points out. Instead, she suggests taking the time to carefully curate and cap your guest list, so your bill is manageable.

Splurging on an Excessive Number of Outfits

Choosing a wedding wardrobe is arguably one of the most fun parts of the wedding-planning process. While many brides include multiple outfit changes throughout their celebration, especially for multi-day affairs, Abbott says buying an excessive number of bridal getups is elevating the price of your event. “These days, clients are, in some cases, spending more money on their wedding attire for the weekend than the national average for the entire wedding,” Abbott reveals.

To avoid this potential blunder, Abbott recommends limiting the number of garments to two, whether it’s an outfit for the ceremony and reception for a single-day affair or one for the rehearsal dinner and the main event for several days of events. She also suggests identifying a budget for each festivity or each day of your wedding weekend and staying true to that.

Including Floral Installations That Exceed Your Budget

For most couples, flowers are the main decoration that will appear at their wedding. One floral arrangement that has the ability to transform a space, whether suspended from the ceiling or intricately positioned on the ground, is a floral installation. Although these floral components are striking, they will quickly add thousands of dollars to your bill. “These elements typically do not offer cost-saving shortcuts,” Abbott notes.

If these lush, meticulous decorative items fit your budget and are a priority of yours, go ahead and invest. Otherwise, you’re better off skipping this floral-filled decoration altogether. “Instead, focus on simpler-yet-elegant décor options to maintain a beautiful atmosphere without overspending and still providing an elegant, curated ambiance,” Abbott says.

Replicating an Expensive Décor Element for Less

Whether you’re inspired by a friend’s nuptials or a post on social media, you may want to replicate a decoration or detail that caught your eye. However, if the masterminds behind the original creation had a larger budget to work with, it might not have the same effect at your wedding—so you’ll end up spending a lot of cash without the payoff. “Without the same resources, it falls short of expectations, and a solution will have to be exercised which comes with a cost,” Stafford mentions. Talk to your planner about your vision, and they’ll help you orchestrate something else that aligns with your financial plan. 

Choosing a Large Band

One of the most common mistakes that cost you thousands, according to Balliet, is booking a large band. She notes that by going with a big musical ensemble, you’ll have to cover the ensuing expenses of extra equipment, additional power, more space, a green room, and other fees.  

If music is one of your primary concerns and your budget allows for a multi-piece group, then splurging on this element is completely fine. If not, to keep costs down, you might be better off hiring a smaller band or selecting a DJ, Balliet says.

Serving Unnecessary Late-Night Snacks

For those who are throwing an after-party, Balliet notes that adding an extensive menu is a frequent error that couples commit. At this late-night party, your guests will probably be full from the countless appetizers and multi-course meal they just ate, so a lot of the food that you serve at the final phase of festivities will go to waste. Providing just a couple of culinary choices, if that, is more than enough.