Wedding budgets have a way of growing quietly, one upgrade at a time - until couples look back and wonder how things added up so fast.
In this episode, we’re digging into the most common wedding spending regrets couples share after the fact, and more importantly, how you can avoid making the same mistakes. This isn’t about cutting corners - it’s about spending with intention, protecting your time, and focusing on what actually matters when the day arrives.
1. Overspending on the Venue
One of the biggest regrets couples share is booking a venue they love without fully understanding the true cost.
Beyond the base rental fee, venues often come with:
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Service charges and administrative fees
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Overtime costs
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Required or exclusive vendors
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Furniture, staffing, or cleanup fees
A venue that looks affordable on paper can quickly balloon once all the add-ons are factored in. Before signing, make sure you understand the all-in cost and how the venue impacts the rest of your budget - especially catering, rentals, and décor.
2. Over-the-Top Flowers & Décor
Pinterest is powerful… and expensive.
Elaborate centerpieces, premium linens, specialty chairs, custom lighting, draping, and oversized ceremony installations are all common regret categories. They’re beautiful, but fleeting - and often not even noticed or appreciated by your guests.
Custom signage is another big one. Couples frequently share that:
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Signs were too small or overlooked
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They forgot to put them out
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They didn’t photograph well
A helpful rule of thumb: prioritize the spaces that will be photographed most.
Your ceremony space and portrait locations will live on in your photos far longer than reception table décor. Investing in one strong visual moment (like a ceremony backdrop) often brings more long-term satisfaction than spreading your décor budget thin.
3. Wedding Dress & Alterations
It’s easy to get swept up in “the dress” moment - but overspending here is a very common regret.
Many brides say they would have been just as happy in a less expensive, off-the-rack option. Alterations, in particular, can be shocking. One listener shared that after spending $1,500 in alterations on a $2,500 dress, she wished she had kept shopping for a better fit instead of trying to re-design the pricey gown.
And a quick personal note: dress preservation is a kind and generous gift - but it’s worth thinking through realistically. If your dress is likely to stay boxed for decades, alternatives like cleaning and reselling or donating may be a more meaningful (and cost-effective) choice.
4. Extravagant Invitations & Paper Goods
Luxury paper, foil printing, and fully custom designs add up quickly. Let's be real - most wedding invitations ultimately end up in the trash.
Couples often wish they had:
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Gone simpler with invitations
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Used online RSVPs to stay organized
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Skipped programs, menus, and custom napkins
Many paper goods are never taken, never used, or never even set out. If you’re looking for an easy place to save, this is it.
5. Expensive Shoes
This one comes up constantly.
Many brides spend hundreds on shoes they wear for an hour - then switch to flats or flip flops. Comfort matters, and your feet will thank you.
6. Too Many Extra Events
Welcome dinners, after-parties, farewell brunches - a full wedding weekend can be lovely, but it can also be exhausting and expensive.
One couple shared that after hosting a rehearsal dinner, they rented a lounge for a hosted welcome party with catered food and an open bar. Everyone had fun - but in hindsight, the extra food and formality weren’t necessary.
If your goal is simply more time together, consider simpler options:
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Meeting at a hotel suite
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Hosting drinks at a friend’s home or backyard
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Providing canned cocktails, beer, and wine
Same goal. Far less stress and cost.
7. Over-Catering
Couples frequently overestimate how much food is needed - especially for dessert tables and late-night snacks.
Upgrades like hand-passed hors d’oeuvres, elaborate charcuterie, or multiple dessert stations can drive costs way up without adding much guest value.
A cocktail hour, a solid dinner, and dessert are more than enough. Unless an upgrade is deeply meaningful to you, catering extras are often prime candidates for cutting.
8. Unnecessary Rentals
Chargers, specialty chairs, napkin rings, upgraded linens, lounge furniture - these items can quietly add $1,000 or more to your venue bill.
The hard truth?
99% of guests will never notice.
If an upgrade doesn’t meaningfully impact your experience, it’s usually safe to skip it.
9. Taking on Too Much DIY
For every spending regret, there’s an equally powerful time regret.
Just because you can DIY something doesn’t mean you should.
Too many couples spend the night before their wedding:
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Finishing centerpieces
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Assembling décor
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Stressing alone in a hotel room
Your time is precious - especially now. All the careful planning in the world doesn’t matter if you arrive at your wedding exhausted and overwhelmed.
Check in regularly with your:
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Budget
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Priorities
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Mental health and sanity
Protect your energy. Your future self will thank you!
To wrap up today's episode - I would LOVE to hear from you! Whether it’s about a planning challenge or question you’re facing, a post-wedding day recap that you’d like to share, or simply requests for upcoming show topics, you can be in touch any time - hit the green "Questions" button on the side of this screen.
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