Are you a Connecticut local in search of checking some things off your wedding planning list? Well, that's exactly what this article will help you do! Planning on a budget can be hard, especially with so many aspects to creating the perfect wedding, but Wedding Realm has resources, vendors, and expertise to help you find everything you need- while keeping in mind the budget you want! Visualizing your perfect Connecticut Wedding has never been easier.
There's so much that goes into a wedding: the dress, the tuxes, the venue, catering, flowers, and so much more! If you are someone who has the time to plan, you'll be able to conquer all these tasks on your own. Some couples have busy schedules and may only be able to handle a few tasks independently, but that's when a wedding planner can step in and help!
Even though it might seem costly to include a wedding planner on your big day, the help and knowledge can be very worth it- not to mention the time it will save! Instead of taking off days at work, you can hire someone to handle all the nitty gritty details and save the important decisions for you.
Affordable Wedding Planners in CT
Wedding Planners are the experts in the wedding experience. They know everything you need to know about organizing an event. Most importantly, they often know many local vendors that fit the needs of your wedding. Putting together so many events means they often meet vendors and network with them, allowing them to have many ties to different types of services that can best fit your needs. You can find Wedding Planners easily on Wedding Realm, Connecticut Wedding Planners.
You might wonder what Wedding Planners can do for you- and that's a great question. Wedding Planners assist in the entire wedding process. They can help discuss your vision, draft contracts for the vendors you choose, and even coordinate the big day. They can help either throughout the whole process or pick up the slack where it's needed. Some prefer to be a part of the whole process, so that is something you might have to discuss with your prospective planner.
Wedding Planners can help set up meetings with vendors and draft their contracts if you choose them. They also will meet with you frequently to help you stay on track with your budget. They can also schedule tours for locations and ensure your invites are sent out on time. Wedding planners are people who are detail-oriented, creative, and very organized.
When you meet with a prospective planner, ensure you have a general idea of what you need from them. This will help set expectations and, more importantly, help figure out how much they will need from you. According to many studies, couples will spend $1,000-2,500 on a wedding planner, but they can range anywhere from $1,000-4,500+. Pricing depends on the planner's experience and involvement in your big day.
If you're ready to say yes to a planner, ensure you have all your questions and must-haves ready. Set your budget, and prepare what you want to ask and say to your planner before meeting them. Make sure they can answer all your questions and ease your worries before signing any contracts!
Here is a starter list of questions that might come in handy:
How many weddings have you planned?
Do you have testimonials/photos of previous clients and their events?
How often would we need to meet and communicate?
Do you work with a team or run these events alone?
Can we view your contract?
Inexpensive Wedding Venues in CT
Finding Wedding Vendors in Connecticut used to be tricky, but now Wedding Realm makes it easy to search venues all in one place. You can search and look at wedding venues in Connecticut and see if they fit your needs and theme. The venue's price may be different depending on what you need out of your venue. Do you need an indoor and outdoor location? An all-inclusive package? Space for many guests? There are many factors to keep in mind.
Before deciding on venues, think about the size of your wedding party and what you want for your ceremony & reception. Some wedding venues even include catering, which also factors into the price. There are many local Connecticut venues to explore, like Branford House, Villa Bianca, and Wright's Mill Farm Inc. Depending on what you are looking for with your wedding and the packages you choose will decide how much you will have to pay for your event.
According to studies, Connecticut is one of the top 5 most expensive states to get married in. In 2020 the average cost per guest was around $447. Keep that cost in mind when planning your wedding and how many guests you'd like to invite. The average cost for venues in Connecticut can range from $1,000-10,000 plus. Save a large portion of your budget for your venue. You can save a lot from having your ceremony at a religious venue and move to a hall for the reception.
Affordable Religious Venues in CT
If you're looking for Religious Venues in Connecticut, look no further than Wedding Realm to help connect you with these locations. There are a few religious locations to say "I do" in Connecticut. If you or your future partner attend religious services, you may have your own venue in mind. Some religious venues might not host weddings, but it never hurts to ask and allow your place of worship to be a part of your big day!
Depending on the size of the building, you can expect to pay anywhere from $500-3,000. If you choose to have your ceremony in a religious venue, you won't have to worry about finding an officiant; most will have someone who leads the ceremony.
Affordable Wedding Salons in CT
Finding a store that fits your budget and captures everything you want can be hard. Searching and searching, finding the styles you might like to try on, can be a difficult task. Wedding Realm has a whole database of Bridal Salons in Connecticut.
The first thing to do is narrow down a style you think you might like. There are a few general silhouettes to wedding dresses: mermaid, fit n' flare, a-line, ballgown, and sheath. Research each silhouette to see what fits you and will work in your venue. Doing all the proper exploring before shopping is important! Try to create a compilation of styles by searching on social media, browsing bridal magazines, and visiting designer's websites.
Once you know your general style (or at least have an idea of what you like), now is a good time to book some appointments! It might seem fun to get crazy and book five or six appointments at shops all over the state, but that can do you more harm than good. When faced with too many options, many brides can get overwhelmed and not realize what dress is "the one". To avoid that, choose a few bridal store locations to visit based on the styles you like.
Look up stores you want to visit and see if you can view any of their inventory. Do they carry the designer you like? The styles do you like? Are they easy to travel to? How are their reviews? Do you have friends who visited the stores previously? Use some research skills to find the perfect bridal salons to try on gowns. Once you find 1-3 places to visit, book those appointments, and gather, your "I do" crew! That leads you finally to try on wedding gowns!
Bridal Gowns in CT
Many brides are familiar with the show "Say Yes to the Dress"; they see the drama, the excitement, and the bridal appointment experience. But it's not always like that! Depending on the store, they might have other ways they like to navigate appointments. Some bridal stores prefer you to look around and pull out dresses, while others will hear or see the styles you like and bring them out to you. Have an open mindset in your gown shopping experience.
While shopping, remember that this will be a gown for you, not your guests. Try on a few gowns, but not too many at one appointment; you don't want to get overwhelmed. Try to stick to your selected style, but also, just to see, try one completely out of your comfort zone; it may surprise you! In the end, stick to your guns and go with your gut. If you feel like a certain dress might be the one, go for it!
Wedding Dresses in CT
The average cost for luxury wedding dresses nowadays is $2,000-4,000, not including accessories or alterations. Previously, brides would spend about $1,700 on a gown, but more affordable options are below $1,000. Adjust your budget and expectations for the cost of a gown. If you are a luxury bride and want all the glitz and glam, $1,000 for a dress might be too little.
It's important to remember that many Bridal Salons in Connecticut don't include alterations in the cost of the gown. You may have to pay extra for alterations. Depending on what needs to be done to alter your dress, you can expect to pay anywhere between $150-700. You may have to pay more if you plan on customizing your gown (adding or taking away great details). If you have questions about alterations, it's never a bad idea to ask bridal store stylists.
Bartending Services in CT
If you're planning on having Bartender Services at your wedding, there can be some deciding factors on cost. Whether you plan to host an open bar or have the guests purchase their drinks can determine the price. Some Catering Vendors in Connecticut or venues have their own bartenders to hire, but if you aren't going with an established wedding venue, you might have to find your own.
The average cost for an open bar with a bartender fee is around $3,000. On average, if you allow any kinds of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, you can expect to pay around $35 a person. We advise if you're working on a smaller budget to only allow wine and beer, bringing the cost down to nearly $20 per person. You can sometimes expect to pay more depending on location- whether in a large city or a small town.
If you are just planning on hiring a bartender to make the drinks and serve them, you can expect to pay anywhere between $50-230 an hour, depending on the size of your event. Be sure to also include a tip for your bartender when paying them. This is important for the bartender to also pass out tips to the other bar staff for their service. A tip can be anywhere from 10-20%, or you can include a tip jar at the bar.
How to Choose Wedding Cake Vendors in CT
You've said "I do", you've eaten dinner, and now it's time to cut the cake! What kind of cake do you imagine for your event? 3-tiers with chocolate ganache? One-tier vanilla with flowers all over? A personalized fun cake? We're sure whatever you choose will be delicious! But before you get to that moment, you must find the perfect Cake Vendor in Connecticut.
If you are on a tight budget and want an extravagant cake, you might have to set aside more money than you think. Smaller budgets often mean simpler cakes. You want to think about how many guests you have to help decide how much cake you need to order. You can consult with your cake vendor and see what they recommend.
Discussing options and pricing is never a bad idea. An average price for a cake would be nearly $500, but some vary depending on size and detail. Some cakes can even be near the $1,000 mark if you want a large, detailed cake. Set your expectations based on your budget and contact your local wedding cake vendors to discuss quotes.
How to Choose Affordable Wedding Florists in CT
Flowers can be a very important aspect of a wedding. The bride and bridesmaids need bouquets, the tables need decorations, and sometimes just beautiful floral displays around the venue. Preparing your budget for florals is necessary; many brides do not realize the actual cost of florals can be. Depending on if your flowers are in season, the time of year, or the number of flowers, it can be costly. You can find the Best Wedding Florists in Connecticut on Wedding Realm.
When pricing your budget for florals, you'll want to set aside at least 10% of your budget. Yes, really, 10%. Flowers range from anywhere to $1,000-$4,000+ depending on the size of your wedding. Larger weddings will cost more to supply all the flowers, but smaller weddings can get away with a better price. Think about the size of your wedding and how many people are in your bridal party.
As mentioned previously, the time of year can be a huge part of your pricing regarding flowers. For example, lilies are a beautiful summer flower, but if you want them to be a part of your fall wedding, the cost can exponentially grow the further you get away from their bloom times. Look at the season your wedding is in and the flowers that bloom during that time; this might help save you some money when it comes to florists. Sometimes to cater to all of these worries about flowers your local florist could be helpful.
Final Note
After reading this blog, you are finally ready to start your planning. With knowledge in hand, you now know about your many options. Did this article inspire you to hire a wedding planner? Did it help you set expectations for budgets? We hope so! Wedding Realm is committed to helping couples visualize their dream wedding, making it stress-free and exciting! Hang onto this article any time you have questions about certain vendors, or use it as a guide when saying yes to items on your to-do list.
