The other day I read a really interesting, and thought provoking post on The Wedding Marketing Blog, Andy Ebon clarifies many terms and asks some interesting questions. I thought it would be really interesting for brides and wedding professionals alike and with kind permission you too can read; A ruthless discussion of the term 'Budget Bride' and wedding decision making by Andy Ebon of The Wedding Marketing Blog.
I would love to hear your comments on it.
Andy wrote;
It also caused me to consider the phrase, ‘budget bride.’ Along with DIY Bride, these are two of the most annoying and poorly used descriptors in the wedding industry. To a great degree, I lay that at the feet of my friends in mass media for the wedding industry. Mass media tends to be a popularization tool as much as an information source. If you repeat a phrase, such as ‘budget bride,’ often enough, it becomes part of the wedding lexicon, for better for worse.
The problem with these phrases is they paint the bride’s resources with the grayest of brush strokes. So, at the risk of being more precise, I’ll break it down from my experience.
- DIY Bride: (Budget: under $5000) Someone who probably doesn’t have the resources to get married just yet and is likely to turn most of her wedding into an Arts and Crafts project.
- Low Budget Bride (Budget: $5000 – $14,999) Has the resources, but will have to make some tough decisions on the reception. The big conundrum is whether to economize across the board or cut in specific areas, and not others.
- Statistically Average Bride: (Budget: $15,000 – $34,999) Has the resources to do a nice job on the reception. Her biggest decision should be ‘How many guests can we invite to have a nice reception?’
- High Budget Bride (Budget: $35,000 – $60,000): Has more than enough money to do great things. Her biggest challenge is not to make bad choices among wedding vendors, irrespective of money.
- Luxury Bride (Budget: more than $60,000): Daddio has wads of cash and she wants to be awash in greenbacks. Not all brides in this financial category are Bridezillas, but the risk and tendency is greater than in any of the lower tiers. Bridezillas almost always make bad decisions. It’s in their DNA.
- … is not throwing a dart at a target.
- … budget is not the total amount in the parent’s bank account or your bank account.
- … budget is not what one or more girlfriends spent on their wedding.
- … is not necessarily what you see on Platinum Weddings or Get Married TV (those are inspirations)
- A study of the range of what wedding products and services cost in your area, balanced against your tastes, inspirations and fantasies.
- Factored by the number of guests you choose to invite.
- “I only have $750 left for videography. Will you take that?”
- “Oh, my third cousin, Oscar, is going to take the photos.”
- $1 Million
- $50,000
- $25,000
- $7,500
- $3,000
- A specific dollar amount or less
- A specific dollar amount or more
- A range from $X to $Y (this is the preferred budget)
- Money is no object (must be the truth)
Images from Wedding Budget
