Bridal Bliss to Budget Bust: Part One

I recently picked up the phone and at the other end was a sobbing bride. Although it was hard to discern what she was saying between the heaving breaths and wails, I did catch “this isn’t fun anymore”. It happened. This was the inevitable moment when the Budget Bliss Express came to a screeching halt on the wedding planning line.

After calming the anxious bride, it was apparent what had occurred. The budget met the bride and groom and for the first time the bride and groom met the cold, hard, fixed budget. The nitty-gritty hidden fees had eaten a hole in the seven tiered, fondant-covered confection they were hell-bent on shoving into each others’ faces a few short months from today.

“So”, you ask, “What caused things to go so awry?”

It is the same thing I’ve seen over and over. Clients call, terribly excited and over-the-moon with elation because they’ve secured their dream venue! And on top of that, the location fees, service fees, food and beverage cost are all included in the price! And…the price the couple is quoted for the “all inclusive” service just happens to be the maximum this couple can afford on their location and catering: $15,000.00 ($100 a head for 150 guests). And guess what!!!???....they already signed on the dotted line.

Don’t see the problem? Well, let’s lay it out.

Usually, when a bride and groom go alone to see a venue, and that venue is just what they’ve always dreamt of, emotions run high and they go to a very primal place in the decision making process. To compound the issue is a lovely site person, behind a large mahogany desk saying things like “well, we do have a lot of interest for this particular date” and “I can’t guarantee the pricing for this beyond today”.

I equate this moment to buying a car or watching “Deal or No Deal” on the television. This is essentially Howie asking that golden question, and this couple chooses the big red button-the deal is made. This sales person has conned them into signing a contract and the next thing they do is bring in a contract and show me what a good deal they found!

Once we begin talking about it, we are able to wade through the miles of legal jargon and find the true meaning of the “fine print’, and the well known “buyer’s remorse” sets in. Only this time, there is a binding contract in the way of returning this shiny new purchase. That $15,000.00, all-inclusive dream-come-true, does not include a 9% state sales tax, a 20% service charge, and the gratuity you’ll be expected to leave with your catering captain the night of your big event. So, there goes your specialty linens, Chivari chair rentals and your spectacular horse drawn carriage entrance. The $15,000 you expected to spend has now become $21,000.

The next issue, how do you fix it?

Part Two will continue when I “wake up quite fresh in the morning. And then…” I’ll start right in budget fixing again.