Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast #184: Cut Costs, Not Dreams: Top Wedding Budgeting Strategies!
Are you worried about cutting costs that could blow your wedding budget?
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Meet Sal and Sam, your hosts for The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast. Additionally, this podcast is for engaged couples who feel overwhelmed with wedding planning and family expectations but want a memorable and fun wedding day.
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Sal and Sam are your hosts, two professional DJs with over 80 years of combined wedding expertise and thousands of happy couples. Furthermore, they’ll guide you through planning your wedding. As a result, taking you from concern and being overwhelmed, to a memorable, fun, and stress-free wedding.
Also, listen for engaging interviews from event professionals and insightful topics.
In This Edition
In this week’s edition, what are the smartest ways to cut costs without sacrificing the wedding you want?
Firstly, we address the many ways to cut costs of a wedding. Most importantly, common wedding pitfalls like hidden costs are discussed. Furthermore, we offer practical advice such as creating a spreadsheet, setting aside a budget buffer, and considering off-peak wedding dates.
Additionally, we emphasize understanding where the money goes, identifying top priorities, and using smart spending strategies to cut costs.
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Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast #184: Cut Costs, Not Dreams: Top Wedding Budgeting Strategies!
Host: Sal & Sam
Music: “Sam’s Tune” by Rick Anthony
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Produced by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England
Transcript
Cut Costs, Not Dreams: Top Wedding Budgeting Strategies!
184 – how to cut cost not dreams with our top wedding budgeting strategies
DJ Sal: Whether you’re surrounded by inspiration boards or knee deep in spreadsheets, today’s edition is one you don’t wanna miss. Cut Cost Not Dreams Our Top Wedding Budgeting Strategies.
DJ Sam: Managing your wedding budget isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about balancing the dreams with dollars, navigating tough choices, and finding ways to make your big day unforgettable without the stress of overspending.
DJ Sal: Maybe you’re worried. What are hidden wedding costs that can blow my budget, or how can I avoid the common pitfalls that lead to overspending on the wedding day? We’ll answer these questions and more in today’s edition of the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast.
DJ Sam: Thanks for joining us. Hi, I am Sam from Atmosphere Productions. Atmosphere hyphen Productions dot com.
DJ Sal: I’m Sal from After Hours Events of New England. That’s After Hours Events Of N.E. dot com. [00:01:00] Learn more about our experience and the journey to help with stress-free wedding planning in the trailer or pilot of this podcast.
DJ Sam: So here’s what you do. Grab your favorite planning notebook, settle in, and let’s get honest about wedding budgets. Your dream day really can be both beautiful and financially smart, if you apply these three principles.
DJ Sal: Firstly, you need to understand where the money goes.
DJ Sam: Secondly, spotting common budget concerns and how to handle them.
DJ Sal: Finally apply smart spending strategies.
DJ Sam: Today, then we’ll explain the smartest ways to save without sacrificing the wedding you want. One of the most emotional parts of wedding planning isn’t choosing the dress or the venue, it’s setting and managing the budget. You’re probably wondering which budget mistakes should I avoid when planning my wedding?
DJ Sal: Or maybe you’ve wondered how to avoid those sneaky hidden costs, how to talk finances with family, or best [00:02:00] ways to get more out of every dollar. You are in the right place.
DJ Sam: Whether you’re planning a grand celebration or something intimate and simple, understanding your priorities and spending habits early on helps prevent unnecessary financial tension down the road.
DJ Sal: Look, you need to understand where your money is going. Money conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they’re crucial to keeping both partners aligned and stress levels low. That’s where understanding where the money goes is so important.
DJ Sam: The average wedding today can easily climb into tens of thousands, but that doesn’t mean every couple needs to spend that much. The average cost of a wedding in 2025 was approximately 36,000, but this can vary significantly based on location, guest count, and personal preferences. So that’s why asking “what’s the price?” Is not necessarily your best questions.
DJ Sal: The key is knowing your comfort zone. Start by [00:03:00] identifying your top three priorities. For some, it’s the DJ, the music and guest experience. For others it’s the photography, the food, or attire. Once you know what matters most, you can allocate funds accordingly, instead of trying to stretch the budget across every detail.
DJ Sam: For example, the custom cocktail napkins are cute, they rarely outweigh professional photography in terms of long-term value. And we’ve seen this, Sal. Napkins are really not something we suggest you spend your budget on.
DJ Sal: So, you know, all those little things you put on your table that cost a dollar there, a few dollars there, it adds up, and you could have saved that money and put it on something that was more of a priority to you.
And here’s another pro Tip, because you know, we like to throw those at you. Create a spreadsheet that shows what your income is and your expenses, so you’re keeping a straight eye on that, so you don’t [00:04:00] veer off and keep focused on a budget planning that works for you.
DJ Sam: That’s right, Sal, you need to figure out what’s coming in and what’s coming out. Now, common budget concerns and how you should handle them. One of the biggest spending wars, couples, faces, underestimating those hidden costs. You know, like taxes, service fees, delivery charges, and tips. These can add up real fast.
DJ Sal: So look, the best advice I could give you is to put another 10, 15% of your budget to the side. So when these extra expenses happen to you, you are set and you don’t have to worry about, less stress.
DJ Sam: Another common pitfall is forgetting about little things like alterations or beauty prep or travel arrangement costs for the wedding party. These smaller costs tend to sneak in as the day approaches. It can quietly push your budget over the limit.
DJ Sal: One of the other big things is family contributions and how they feel that you should spend the [00:05:00] money in a certain way. So you wanna stop, not have any conflict by talking all this out and kind of setting ground rules, letting them know that you two are in charge and you wanna have it a certain way.
DJ Sam: That’s right. Sal. Transparency is the key. Discuss with each contributor and what it’s going to cover. Perhaps parents are paying for catering while the couple handles the entertainment to avoid any misunderstandings later. That’s exactly what my wife and I did.
Uh, because I didn’t have much family coming from England. My wife’s parents decided to pay for the food. Very simple. We discussed it and everything worked out perfectly. That’s what you have to do. Transparency is the key.
DJ Sal: Do you have a question or concern? Go now to Facebook and join us on a Stress-Free Wedding Planning community and now in the Connecticut Wedding Advice community. You can also join us on our YouTube channel. Just search for Stress-Free Wedding Planning Podcast with Sal and Sam. Like, comment, subscribe, and get it [00:06:00] first.
We would like to thank you for listening and because of you we’re now ranked number 13 in the Top 60 Wedding Planning podcast by a million podcasts dot com.
Vanessa: This is the Stress Free Wedding Plan podcast with Sal and Sam. A podcast for engaged couples concerned about wedding planning and family expectations, but who wanna have a stress-free, fun and unforgettable wedding.
DJ Sal: And now it’s time for your favorite segment, Wedding Tip Wednesday on today’s Wedding Tip Wednesday, write a note. Get a little gift, and write a short note for someone to give to your partner the morning of the wedding. Not only is this a romantic surprise to your partner, but a photo worthy moment for your photographer.
And that’s another wedding tip from Sal and Sam.
JR: You are not the same as the person next to you. You dress to reflect your personality. You enjoy customizing your drink at the coffee shop. Even your pet’s collars match at least two pairs of your pants. It’s only natural that your wedding would [00:07:00] showcase your unique touch After Hours Events of New England gets this, they like to give their clients full artistic control.
If you find yourself lost, their team of event specialists can help. They handle everything from DJs, photo booths, event lighting. photography, videography, even Officiants. Give them a visit on the web and call today. Let’s get planning After Hours Events of New England. After Hours Events Of N.E. dot com. Don’t forget to like and follow on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and be sure to subscribe to their YouTube channel. All at After Hours Events Of N.E. That’s After Hours Events Of N.E.
Bradley: And now back to the Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast.
DJ Sam: Thanks for staying with us for the second part of Cutting Costs Not Dreams, Our Top Wedding Budgeting Strategies. We’ve already explained, understanding where the money goes and the common budget concerns and how to handle them. I’m Sam from Atmosphere Productions.
DJ Sal: And I’m Sal from After Hours Events of New England.
DJ Sam: Now let’s tackle some smart spending strategies. Budgeting [00:08:00] doesn’t always mean cutting corners. It means spending intentionally.
DJ Sal: You’re absolutely right, Sam. Look, when you’re looking for vendors, you want someone that aligns with your vision and your values, and simply choosing the lowest price is not gonna get you there.
You need to interview and find the person that matches what you were looking for, and that might mean spending a few more dollars, but let me tell you, spending that few more dollars, you usually get the better product, and you get someone who helps your wedding be stress-free.
DJ Sam: Well said Sal. Couldn’t have said it better myself. Another thing to consider is reading those contracts carefully and asking questions before you sign them. Research each vendor and know exactly what they do. Every DJ is not the same. You might have a radio DJ, who’s very good at speaking, but, doesn’t know how to read a crowd at a wedding. You might have a nightclub DJ who’s perfect at [00:09:00] mixing songs, but he doesn’t know how to spread the music through different generations and getting everybody up to dance. Very important that you know exactly what every one of your vendors are doing. Don’t just assume.
DJ Sal: Assuming never works out. I’ll tell you right now, there’s a lot of people who’ve hired DJs who assumed that they’re also the MC, and when it comes time for their wedding they find out that DJ doesn’t say anything in the mic. He tries to hand it off to the manager of the facility. So you need to go over everything.
You wanna know if they’re gonna speak, are they gonna handle all the important, uh, events in the wedding? And also, what are the segues? You don’t want anything rough. You want things that are run smooth. Uh, you just want things flowing from one to another, very smoothly and very stress-free.
DJ Sam: Also, another thing to consider is those DIY projects that are very popular. They can be a two-edged sword. If you’re not very handy, don’t even go there. Creating your own [00:10:00] centerpieces or favors can save you money, but only if you realistically have time and the skill to do them. Sometimes a professional is the best way to go.
DJ Sal: So many people don’t realize when it comes to DIY, this is gonna take your time, time away from other things that you need to do in the planning process of your wedding. So do you really have the time or do you even have the support to make this happen? And I gotta tell you, sometimes leaving to a professional’s better this way too, because sometimes you kind of go overboard with what you do and you don’t get the look you were really looking for, where the professional could have nailed it and made it stress-free for you.
DJ Sam: That’s right. Last minute fixes and material costs can quickly erase any savings that you’re likely to do. Choosing just one or two personal projects instead of trying to do it all is probably the best way to go.
DJ Sal: Another budget saving strategy is start after the engagement. Consider off-peak dates and smaller guest lists [00:11:00] to stretch your budget further. These are all things you wanna consider, if you have to worry about your budget and you don’t wanna overspend.
DJ Sam: Sunday brunch wedding or a Friday evening celebration can often reduce the venue and catering costs without sacrificing your style.
DJ Sal: That’s absolutely correct. I gotta tell you, there’s difference in pricing for every day of the week. Friday night. Sometimes you get a bit of a discount. Saturday morning you get a bit of discount. Saturday night, that’s prime time. And Sunday, sometimes again, another discount or even during the week. People get married on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, and there’s a reason for it. It’s cheaper and it saves you some money.
DJ Sam: Yes. That’s so true. So the bottom line is that your wedding budget should reflect your priorities as a couple. It’s not about keeping up with the trends or keeping up with the Joneses or meeting other people’s expectations; it’s about creating a day that feels authentic to the two of you.
DJ Sal: Be [00:12:00] honest with yourselves. You need to communicate. Be honest at all times. Be thoughtful through the planning process and managing spending doesn’t have to be the most stressful part of your wedding. It can actually bring you closer together.
DJ Sam: So there you have it. Cutting Costs, Not Dreams: our Top Wedding Budget Strategies. Again, make sure you have a smart spending strategy. You don’t have to be lavish, if you have caviar tastes with a tuna fish budget! Another strategy is to add 10 to 50% buffer in your budget for those unexpected expenses. And finally understand where your money goes.
DJ Sal Fusco: Now as you spend the next week planning your wedding, if you want me, Sam, or our community of stress-free engaged couples and wedding experts to answer any wedding-related questions, join us over in the Stress-Free Wedding Planning Facebook group.
DJ Sam: Once you’re in, go ahead and share your concerns and worries, and we’ll let you know if you are on the right track or if there’s something we [00:13:00] need to work on.
The link to join us is in the show notes of this edition, or go to Facebook and search for the Stress-Free Wedding Planning community.
DJ Sal: A new edition is released every Wednesday. Subscribe and get it first. Remember to do something nice for someone today, and if you can’t do something nice for yourself. We’ll catch you then. CAOI!!
DJ Sam: Thank you for listening to this edition. If you’ve enjoyed what you’ve just heard, leave a review and share it with a friend or someone who would benefit from this information. Until next time, it’s TTFN, Tah Tah For Now.
Wayne: The Stress-free Wedding Planning Podcast is produced and copyrighted by Atmosphere Productions in association with After Hours Events of New England.
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