Does the W word really = more ££££’s - Answering Brides Questions
I have so often overheard people say, “it always costs more if it is for a wedding than it would normally” and so I wanted to investigate whether there are any truths in this wedding myth and if so why does it cost more?
This sketch from Man Stroke Woman, sums up what we all assume happens when you tell the supplier it is for a wedding, but in reality is this perception that they have tripled the price because it’s for a Wedding true?
There are two sides to this argument – Those who say wedding professionals are just out to cash in on unsupecting couples because they can, and then there are the wedding professionals who say that their prices are high because of all the extra work involved and the creativity and expertise needed.
When it comes to planning a wedding many brides and grooms have never organised anything on this scale before. They start with a blank canvas of “expected” prices based on whatever they assume these things cost!
Then they have a nasty shock when they actually start asking vendors how much things are and sadly the blame gets lumbered as “they are just charging me more because it is for a wedding.” and this is bad for everyone!
Whilst yes I suppose some vendors are guilty of adding on a few pounds for weddings there are many who really don’t. We all spend a lot of time working on our fees and many of us aren’t sales people, we are creative spirits and are just as uncomfortable giving you our prices as you may be hearing them.
So I was having a good read of this article “Does wedding photography seem expensive to you? | English Wedding Blog” and along with the video above, it really summarised up for me that perhaps we often fail to really educate on what our true value is and why sometimes prices are more than expected.
From my own point of view, I started off in business charging what I felt people would be prepared to pay, and finding that I worked every hour under the sun and made no money! I really had to look closely at my prices and how they were worked out to take into consideration, costs of quality materials, time taken to make a piece, time spent working with brides, time spent in design, wrapping and packing time and follow ups. Marketing the business is time consuming, then there are meetings with brides including those who don’t book which equals wasted time, time spent perfecting techniques, taking courses to develop new skills, and the cost of equipment. I also have a beautiful studio which has to be furnished and presentable to brides, these are all hidden but very necessary costs that many wedding business have. In a perfect world I could easily spend 4 hours everyday on marketing alone – then when would I have time to create anything? After all I haven’t got masses of ready made stock to just pack up and post, each piece is made to order personally by me. I can’t do it all alone, I have to have a team to help me, who too have to be paid. I also have a young family and I had to balance what the cost of me working so much was to them. Whilst it is lovely to earn a living doing what I love, having time with my family is valuable to me, and if I have to work overtime it has to be worth it!
When working out what you expect to pay, remember it is not what you “want” to pay. (If we could all just pay the price we wanted, it may seem a nice idea but would you pay fair?).
It is much like buying a tin of beans, yes you can get get basics, own brand and the top brand tin! So you prioritise the importance of the product, why do you want it? do you want the “cheapest” option or does the taste or texture matter to you?
The same applies when choosing wedding professionals. You need to choose the person or company that share your vision not your expected budget! Really compare the packages offered and the quality of the finish, do not choose on the quantity, (Even I can take 500 photos for you and put them on a disc, or make you a cake, it doesn’t mean you will want or like it!) It is about the creativity, having the confidence they will give you 100% perfection and level of service you desire.
So Why are Wedding Prices High?
- When you book a wedding vendor for your day, they are often exclusively yours that day. It is unlikely they will be helping any/or many others on that day.
- Wedding vendor overheads are huge! we can’t rely on repeat business or at least hope not! and that means we have to market and advertise more than many businesses. (wedding fairs, magazines, even online adverts are really expensive!)
- Anti-social hours, wedding often take place at weekends, so the days off are few! Ask a photographer or a florist when they start and finish working on your wedding you may be suprised!
- Behind the scenes! it’s not all done on the day there maybe editing, planning, adjustments, travel etc which takes time too. Going through and editing 1000′s of photos can be a weeks work, ordering the flowers and collecting them can take hours, even in my line, searching and sourcing the right components for designs can take days! these costs have to be covered.
So how can you make sure the vendor is worth their price tag?
- It is important to really look at vendors and their products and services thoroughly, yes there is always someone prepared to be sneaky and undercut a price so you could get it cheaper, but what value are “they” to your wedding? It’s about the passion and creativity that they will bring to your wedding.
- The right person for the job will share your vision for your wedding, they will know what you want, what you don’t want and really understand your needs. Feeling as if you are all singing from the same hymn book will be a huge blessing to you.
- If you feel confident in their work then there is no question of “are they worth the money?”. Seek out previous customers, ask on forums and check their facebook fan pages, it is obvious whether they know what they are doing. If they offer emails and regular communications through blogs, subscribe to them so you can really get to know them and that will help you to know if you are a good match!
- Always judge a vendor on the quality of their work, not the quantity offered. Many photographers may try to woo you with promises of “500 images” on a disc, but if they are of your guests feet or have heads cut off they are worth little!
- It is all down to you at the end of the day as to how much you spend, make sure you prioritise to spend on the things that matter and pay appropriately for the service you desire. After all, we know if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys!
Quick Summary: tips to make sure your vendor is worth their price tag:
- Always ask how important their service is to you and prioritise for the things that are important.
- Pay what you feel the right service is worth to you.
- Remember this is the one day when things have to be right first time! there are no second takes, so a vendor who shares your vision and understands your needs, will save hours of stress, worry and if only’s!
I hope this has given you food for thought and would love to know what you think, so add a comment below.
