Over the past few weeks, I have had to take my wife to have some procedures done on her back. During one of these visits, the Doctors Physician struck up a conversation with us which started to be general. After the initial what do you do for a living, and I told her a little of my background in education and now Co-owner of my own DJ/MC company, she mentioned how her DJ ruined her wedding. After I initially apologized to her on behalf of all professional DJ’s, I followed up by asking what did he do?
It started when he “lost” almost all of his music, and continued with not playing the songs that they requested and playing the music that he wanted when he wanted to play them. In fairness, he did play the one song they wanted to begin open dancing, but other than that it wasn’t what she was expecting. When I continued about how was he able to play music if he lost all of his, she said the manager of the venue said he was downloading them or using YouTube (which is illegal).
The next logical question was of course what were the reasons you hired this DJ? She explained that she had seen him at a wedding that she attended and thought that he did a good job, and because it was a friend of a friend she was able to get him at a cheap price. She paused for a moment and said I should have spent more money and hired someone a little more professional.
Truth be told, whatever price she did pay for him wasn’t really a discount. Instead, it was the price she paid for the service he delivered. She cut a corner to try and save some money. She paid a cheap price; she received cheap service. Please note, that even when cutting corners there should be a basic level of commitment from your vendor, for instance showing up with a backup music library in case your primary music library fails. Also, keep in mind that if you are looking to cut corners, you will probably attract vendors that are looking to cut corners as well. Such as DJ’s who illegally download, or use YouTube as their primary source of music instead of personally purchasing every single track they own or subscribing into a licensed music pool. I won’t even go into the topic of insurance (another blog entry for another time). Here is an example of what I minimally provide to my clients on basic wedding needs.
Here’s the thing, when it comes to cutting corners for your wedding is it worth it? Trust me, I understand, and I am aware of the financial stresses the Americans face. Let alone those who are planning a wedding. I know most couples planning a wedding are paying for a majority of things themselves and are trying to be as cost-efficient as possible, so while cutting corners on all things might seem like a good, practical idea will you look back years from now with sadness and regret rather than fondness and love? If you are cutting corners, think about these ideas.
Prioritize your wedding with your vision. With your fiancé determine what are the most important aspects of your wedding. Would you rather spend more money towards flowers than a photographer or a DJ? Is a crowded dancefloor with people laughing and having a wonderful time the memories you want to create with your guests or is it the flavor of the cake that you want them to remember the most? Establish your vision. Then, create a list of a few vendors in each area to contact. It does help to ask for and receive referrals from friends and family, but it is ultimately up to you to decide the best fit.
Meet your Vendors. Instead of just texting, emailing, or talking on the phone with your vendors meet with them in person before signing a contract. It makes a difference when you can look a person in the eyes and see if they are honest and truly how passionate they are about the services they provide. For instance, I’d love to meet with you and share my passion for working with you here.
Ask for specials. Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors if their pricing is flexible. Find out if there is a way to bargain for a reduced cost possibly. Ask what their price would be if you allowed them to advertise in the program, put business cards on the tables, or even have a link on your wedding webpage. Some vendors might also offer seasonal discounts.
Be creative. We all have at least one friend or family member who is incredibly crafty. You can create centerpieces or floral arrangements. Dancefloors can be built. You can recreate almost anything wedding related, for somewhat a minimal cost. The big question is will it be worth your time, the time of your friends and family, versus the cost of materials? This is probably the most overlooked aspect of DIY weddings. It takes a lot of time, energy, patience, and creative resources to pull off a DIY wedding, but the results can be astonishing.
There are many ways to cut corners to help save some finances on your wedding, however always think if cutting corners now will be worth it in the end. As always, I am here for you if you have any questions about the wedding planning process and if you’d like to find out how I can best help make your vision a reality reach me here. Have a great day and enjoy the wedding planning process!!!
