Secrets to Stretching Your Budget - Part 3
Secret Three | DON’T START FROM SCRATCH, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHAT IS ALREADY INCLUDED
To be quite honest with you, there are so many secrets to be successful at planning your destination wedding while stretching your budget! In Part 3, we share some of our top little secrets that all have to do with taking advantage of what’s already included! Let’s get to it!
Tip 1 - Leverage what comes included, then upgrade: Most resorts will offer you a complimentary basic setup. Round dining tables, high cocktail tables, white linens, silverware, a variety of glasses, chairs (sometimes even Tiffany ones), a cake table, buffet line themed decor based on the cuisine served, and more… they might not be as pretty as you imagined, but here’s the thing. The secret when planning on a tighter budget is to enhance the beauty that’s already there! Instead of renting 15 tables for say $250 each, mix and match your tables in an elegant manner. For example, take 8 of the included tables and spend an extra $50 on nicer centerpieces for those tables. Then upgrade with 7 specialty tables (perhaps mirror top squares or wooden swing tables that don’t even require extra spend on tablecloths) and go lighter on centerpieces for those tables. It’s all about taking advantage of what you already have.
Tip 2 - Speaking of taking advantage of what comes included, please don’t forget that even if you had the same budget on decor for an event in the US vs an event in Puerto Vallarta, for example, your money goes a lot further in Puerto Vallarta. Not only because each line item will be cheaper, but most importantly your event in the US will likely not have the same beautiful backdrops. Your event in destination can be in an outdoor location that is already naturally beautiful and the amount you need to spend to make paradise look stunning is just not as high! Take the win and keep your events in beautiful places!
Tip 3 - It even applies to activities for your guests. Many couples who come to us are insistent on having a sunset cruise excursion for their guests or some type of activity to keep their guests busy. While these are fun experiences and can be worth it, the costs can add up fast when trying to accommodate all your guests. Many of the resorts we recommend have so many activities included to keep guests entertained throughout their stay. From tequila tasting, bike tours, cooking classes, dance lessons, and so much more. There will be no shortage of things to do around the resort for guests when they have downtime between events. We also partner with resorts that offer deeply discounted tours and excursions for guests. We are here to help you prioritize what is right for you and your guests.
Tip 3 - Private rehearsal dinners are luxury but definitely not a necessity! We say it almost everyday when we are onboarding new clients. We know you are used to hosting rehearsal dinners back home. The difference is that back home, you are trying to host and get your closest friends and family together for a meal before the event. In paradise, the good news is that your hosting duties are shared with the resort! With lunch and dinner included at so many resorts at various restaurants, by the beach, by the pool, and with room service, why keep people in a boring venue eating when you can meet up at one of the restaurants that happens to have a stunning view! Beachy Vows partners with resorts that also allow you to make large semi-private dinner reservations at no cost or at resorts we have negotiated with for a private buy-out of one of the specialty dining restaurants as it will be far cheaper and you won’t need to spend a dollar on decor!
Okay friends, this is all we have time for today. We promise we will be back with more! Remember you are not alone in this when you partner with Beachy Vows. We are here to walk this planning journey with you and hopefully make things a little easier, not only with our travel agency services but with our planning consultation program and our matchmaking process to help you find the perfect paid planner if your budget allows for it - don’t underestimate the value of a true professional not only for planning but also for on-site execution!
Beachy Vows is the premier, award winning, modern-day destination wedding travel agency for couples seeking a streamlined process, incredible experiences, and a party friends and family will never forget! We save our couples thousands of dollars while throwing them the wedding festivities dreams are made of.
Our team is 100% former destination wedding couples, wedding directors, decor designers, and resort wedding planners. We live and breathe destination weddings - with just one consultation, you will be light years ahead in your destination wedding planning process. In less than one week, Beachy Vows will find you the most perfect resort that meets your needs, your budget, and your desires. With our vendor relationships and pre-negotiated exclusive perks at resorts across Mexico and the Caribbean, we are confident we can find exactly what you are looking for. You'll find we have the best rates, best incentives, and best booking experience.
