The rise in prices for literally all products and services has certainly forced many people to rethink their spending habits. A certain effect of inflation is also felt in the wedding industry, as several positions are estimated to have increased in price by up to 30% or more. How to plan an event in such conditions and whether it is possible to organize a dream wedding without a cosmic budget, says Jūlija Pumpe, event and wedding organizer, head of the agency Caramel Events Riga .

Julia Pumpe

Prices have increased for literally all wedding service providers. Of course, the most noticeable price increase is in venue rentals and meal prices. The prices of some locations have almost doubled, for example, renting a guest house with accommodation in November could cost 2,000 euros, but in January the price for the same dates has already jumped up to 4,000 euros, which naturally scares customers.

Therefore, we have to check our entire database and give preference to those whose prices have not increased so rapidly, or see if there are any new services on offer that make the price increase more reasonable. Unfortunately, some sellers set new prices randomly, without any calculations, just because everyone else is raising their prices. This is wrong and such a decision is not effective in the long run. The preparation and estimation of the offer now also takes more time, because the price of each item must be checked - whether there is a change or not.

How can you save when choosing a location?

It has already been talked about a lot, but I will repeat it - choose the less popular months for your wedding, because in May and September the rental prices can decrease by 1000-1500 euros. Thursday or Sunday weddings will also be cheaper. If guests are notified in advance, they will have time to take a couple of extra days off.

Consider less popular places, they will also have lower prices. But if you and most of the guests are from Riga, it is also worth considering a wedding in a restaurant without overnight stay, so by saving on rent and transport expenses for guests and all contractors, you will reduce the final amount. There are good deals on hotels, banquet room rent is often symbolic and you'll get a discount on honeymoon and guest rooms, as well as other bonuses.

Discounts: are they possible?

Yes, you can ask for a discount, especially if you have an off-season or weekday wedding, but don't take the discount for granted. It's a nice gesture on the part of the contractor, but you shouldn't force it. Those working in the events industry have had a hard time in recent years and it is not always possible to grant this discount. As practice shows, customer-oriented companies, in cases where they cannot give a cash discount, offer some other bonus. Also in this case we are talking about the low season. Asking for a discount if the wedding is on a Saturday in July or on a beautiful date is not appropriate, you can only do this if your event lasts more than one day.

Format: shorter weddings do not mean more boring

Don't be afraid of weddings in daytime format! You can plan the day's program so that there is time to communicate with guests, dance and have fun. Pros: saving on rent and staff (often after 23.00 or 00.00 you have to pay for night hours), in the evening you don't collapse from fatigue after a long day. Ideal if you have a trip the next day. a wedding like this can be done buffet-style: appetizers, a grill station, an aperol or gin station where guests can make their own cocktails, and some interactive activities and you have a great 4-5 hour party. And as guests with children will be grateful to you! They will either be able to take the children with them without worrying about where and how to put the offspring to sleep, or it will be easier to organize babysitting.

Decorations

Another item that often makes up a large portion of our couples budget is decorations . The prices of flowers have increased rapidly, this is related both to logistics costs and to the fact that not all nurseries have survived the pandemic period. In the summer, you can still try to save money by using local flowers, but if you dream of lush compositions of roses and hydrangeas, in any case, the flowers will be sent from Holland, because specific varieties are needed, the quality and durability of the flowers are important. Many people mistakenly think that using greenery will help reduce the price of decorations, but this is no longer the case. Eucalyptus, a favorite of many, now costs even more than flowers, but forest greens tend to wither quickly. Also candles remained more expensive by 30%.

What to do? Do we have to forget all the saved images from Pinterest?

Of course not. Decor is still an important part of the celebration to which we pay a lot of attention. Give a higher priority to a certain position of decorations, for example, your table and ceremony area should be decorated as brightly as possible, but there can be small compositions on the guest tables, the emphasis can be placed on colored glasses, a stylish vase, textiles. Flowers on thin stalks standing one by one look very stylish and minimalistic.

Tables can also be decorated with figures and other decorative elements. The ceiling can be decorated with strings of lights and artificial greenery. Good lighting, both with light bulbs and spotlights, already provides a cool atmosphere.

Contractors

this season I have also encountered the fact that it is difficult to find out the exact price in advance. Everyone has been so scared and financially affected by the pandemic and the past year that some are willing to offer a more accurate price for the service just a few months before the wedding. The logic is understandable, but this approach makes it very difficult for couples and organizers to plan a wedding budget and sometimes even choose a contractor, because the price is not clear. However, 6-8 months before the wedding, you want to understand at least the price interval, if for objective reasons it is difficult to give an exact figure.

today it is very important to save human relations, so I invite you to be sensitive and respect each other.

In conclusion, I would like to say that when trying to reduce the costs of organizing a wedding, it is not necessary to give up the services of the organizer. Our knowledge and experience can help you avoid financial mistakes, optimize your budget and recommend a more economical service provider.

Article author: Caramel Events