Polka Dot Bride

Your wedding vendors are not ripping you off.⁠ ⁠ I saw an Instagrammer get engaged recently and ask for advice, One of the "tips" was "don't tell anyone it's a wedding!"⁠ The dialogue around the costs of weddings has gotten confused. "The word wedding triples the price," they say "wedding vendors overcharge," they say. Yes, a wedding can cost more than a party, no it's not because vendors are trying to rip you off. It's because vendors need to support themselves & their businesses to pull off that cake, that gown, those flowers with staff, tools & quality to make sure you have the best day. Wedding photography, for instance, includes extra meetings, coordination with other vendors, twelve+ hour days w/ locations, downloading cards & backing up, post-processing, album design, If you break down the hours vs what you pay, the actual pay rate is, well, little. ⁠ Then there are the expenses of running a business- tools (like lenses & coolrooms), staff so your day goes to plan, transport, insurance. Training to further their skills, websites & credit facilities. As a business owner, that list? It's incredibly long & invisible to the outside world.⁠ ⁠ Amazing vendors can do SO much to help you. Not only do they bring their A+ game, but also advocate for you, support you, give you advice and even become friends. To pretend you're having anything less than a wedding is such a yucky way to begin married life.⁠ ⁠ There are always dodgy vendors & those that do the wrong thing, but the majority are awesome, They're living their passion, they're working on weekends away from family, they're awake at night trying to think of how to make your dream happen. If you feel surprised by the costs, ask the vendor why and let them chat to you about it, let them suggest alternatives, or ask them to recommend someone suited to your budget.⁠ ⁠ Your vendors deserve to be paid and you deserve an amazing wedding. Search "wedding roundtable" for a chat we had moons ago with vendors and Choice that remains on point today.⁠ ⁠ Photo by @louisajonesphotography Link in bio!⁠ ⁠ x Ms Polka⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #polkadotbride #weddingthoughts #greenweddingdress #therisingtidesociety ⁠#abmhappylife