You can still have the dream wedding you want within a budget
Just like Stacey McSwine’s engagement in Las Vegas, she said it was a dream come true and it was also on New Year’s Eve. They started planning their special day, but once they started looking for venues, they realized it was time to go on a budget. “What I came to realize shortly after being engaged and over a few weeks of exploring is that [for] even an intimate wedding with close family and friends you could still easily spend $25,000 or $30,000,” said McSwine, who lives in Homewood Illinois.
The average cost for a wedding in Chicago is $56,000 including the ceremony and other stuff too. Chicago is ranked Number 2, behind New York where the cost of a wedding is $63,000 “Overall, things are costing more for people getting married. There’s been a change since the pandemic,” said Susan Cordogan, owner of Big City Bride, a Chicago wedding planning agency. “One surprisingly expensive thing is the cost of labor. The cost of labor has gone up because the cost of living goes up. So it’s kind of a domino effect.”
McSwine and her husband are the true definition of keeping this day on a budget. They had their ceremony at their neighborhood French restaurant, they spent under $10,000.
A Good Date
The day you have your wedding is very important. If you have your wedding on a very busy day, it could increase prices.
“In Chicago, we have plenty of conventions and citywide events, ranging from Lollapalooza to NASCAR and this year, the Democratic National Convention,” Cordogan said. “And boy, oh, boy, if you pick one of those weekends, you’re going to pay more for almost everything.”
Make sure this day is not on any local event or holiday. If its on local holiday or any of that sort of nature there may be traffic. Also guest may need to get in a hotel overnight, and if its a holiday
Inexpensive Venues
Here’s a selection of venues that are affordable and adorable
- Osteria Via Stato.
- River Room at Burning Bush Brewery.
Courtesy of Vincent Miao (Flickr CC0) - River Roast Private Events.
- Lake Shore at Loyola University
- Trigger.
- Lost Never Found.
- Midwest Conference Center.
Guess List
Your guests come first. It is something you have to sit down and figure out about how many people you want too come to your ceremony. Sometimes cutting back on the people on the guest list is a good thing. If your guest list is too large, how high the prices will be? “When you first get engaged, before you do anything else, sit down with your fiancé and parents and write down a complete guest list,” says planner Samantha Leenheer of House of Joy in Ohio. You don’t want to get stuck in a situation where you have to switch your venue because there’s not enough space for the guest. Remember per person attending this wedding is like $100 and eliminating a couple of people would save extra money.
Get a wedding planner
A planner may sound expensive but it is very worth it. You don’t have to worry about having the stress all over you when planning. A planner also helps you stay on budget, make sure your guest list and venue are intact, and also make sure your dream wedding goes exactly as planned. “Don’t be afraid to treat wedding planning like consulting,” says Julian Leaver of Julian Leaver Events in Texas. “You don’t always have to jump right in with a planner when you don’t know your plans yet. Ask if they have an hourly beginner package that helps you construct a budget and find a venue and then move into a larger planning package if they are a good fit.”
Check the weather
Thoroughly checking the weather to make sure Mother Nature doesn’t take over your wedding is a must. In overly heated conditions, guests usually decide to stay at home, or even in below cold weather. In hot weather, bugs tend to be around so make sure you have bug repellent around so they could go away.
Kids policy
Sometimes a no-kids policy is the best way to go, but it’s up to you. You can invite all the kids, only family, or just the ones that are going to be at the wedding. However, to prevent having hard feelings, it’s best to just avoid inviting the kids altogether.
By Samaria Payton
Sources:
Chicago Sun-Times: $56k for a wedding? It is the average cost in Chicago – but not for these creative couples
The Knot: 42 Essential Wedding Planning Tips and Tricks
Here comes the guide: You asked…We answered! 13 Affordable Chicago Wedding Venues you’ll love.
Featured and Top Image Courtesy of JEDM Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
Inset Image #1 Courtesy of Vincent Miao Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
