Saving Money

We're on a tight budget for this wedding. I have been doing my best to bargain hunt, sending out scores of emails and checking out hundreds of websites for reception venues, caterers, photographers, cakes, bridesmaid dresses, etc. I have enlisted the assistance of my mom in the quest to have a relatively inexpensive wedding, while still trying to pull together something classy. Most of the vendors have been very nice when I've politiely informed them that their particular service doesn't fit into our budget. However, there have been a couple of rude people, that kind of make me want to tell everyone their names so no one who I know or who reads this blog will use them. Even though I'm strapped for cash, that's no reason to be rude to me.

Rule Number 1: Generally, if the reception venue/caterer doesn't list their prices, that means I can't afford it.

So about a month ago I called this one venue that actually seemed to have decent prices online. I got on the phone with on of the venue's wedding coordinator. We discussed the packages and it became clear that I could not afford them. She asked me what my budget was and then gave a snort and told me that I was crazy if I thought I could have a reception for under $10,000.

She was wrong. And a snot. And if you're planning a wedding in Boston I will tell you who it was.

Rule Number 2: Surprisingly, even if a photographer doesn't list their prices, they might be affordable.

The photographers have generally been very nice. However, the other day I shot off a form email to a photographer asking for her wedding rates and I mentioned my budget for photography just to put it out there so we would both know if we were even in the same ballpark. This is the response I got back:

Thank you for inquiring about our wedding photography. Unfortunetly we are
unavailale on that date. Our wedding photography priceing starts at
$3000.00. I wouldn't know where to direct you in relation to your budget. Keep
in mind, that the photography is all you will have left after the wedding.
Everything else is just for the moment. You should porbably give your priorities
anohter thought.

Um, I think my priorities are fine, thank you. They include not going into massive debt for what is basically a one-day party. I have found several photographers with packages starting at half the price of yours and whose websites are just as pretty as yours. I also think that you should invest in a spell checker for your email program. Or at least proofread.


I have my own Rule Number 1 for photographers: GET A WEBSITE. Seriously. It's 2007. No really, it is. The brides of today will be surfing the internet looking for their vendors and you are missing out because I guarantee the majority of my generation has an aversion to making phone calls and listening to sales pitches over and over and over again.