Where to spend and where to save on a wedding

By Forever Farrah Published 2026-09-17.

Which wedding vendors and details are usually worth spending more on, where couples can safely save, and how to decide based on what matters most to you.

Spend on what can't be redone and what guests experience directly: photography, food, and whatever makes the day personal to you. Save on things that are seen briefly or left behind, such as favours, printed paper, elaborate décor and the cake's decoration. And question the venue hardest: in a 2025 survey of US newlyweds, it was the most common thing couples wished they had spent less on.

What newlyweds say in hindsight

Hindsight is the best guide to where money is well spent. In a LendingTree survey of 1,050 US newlyweds (March 2025):

• 52% had some regret about how much they spent, split evenly between wishing they had spent less (26%) and wishing they had spent more (26%).
• The venue was the most common "spent too much" answer, at 23%, followed by catering, flowers and the DJ or band.
• 30% wished they had spent more on the honeymoon.

That doesn't mean venues are overpriced for everyone. It means the venue is the line most likely to grow beyond what couples later feel it was worth, so set a firm ceiling before you tour.

Usually worth spending on

Where extra money usually goes furthest

Spend on	Why
Photography	It's the one record you keep, and a missed moment can't be reshot
Food	Guests remember a good meal, and a poor one, long after the décor
Music and a good MC	Timing, energy and announcements shape how the evening feels
Your top personal priority	The outfit, a musician, a family tradition: whatever you'll regret skipping
A day-of coordinator, if you have no planner	Someone else handles vendors so you and your family don't

Photography gets its own guide: how much to spend on wedding photography, plus questions to ask a wedding photographer before you book.

Usually safe to save on

Where couples can usually save without guests noticing

Save on	How
Favours	Skip them, or give something edible
Printed stationery	A wedding website and online RSVPs replace response cards and return postage
Cake decoration	A small decorated cake for cutting, plus a plain sheet cake for serving
Flowers	Seasonal, local stems; greenery; reuse ceremony flowers at the reception
Transport	Only book cars for the people who truly need them
Extra outfits	One outfit, well chosen, instead of a change for the evening
The full open bar	Beer, wine and a signature drink

None of these are rules. If flowers are the thing you've pictured for years, they belong in the first table.

It depends on you

Some lines are neither obviously worth it nor obviously safe to cut:

• Videography. Some couples treasure it; others never watch it. Ask yourselves honestly how often you rewatch video now.
• Attire. Worth it if it matters to you, easy to save on if it doesn't. See how much to spend on a wedding dress.
• A planner. Full-service planning costs more but can save money through vendor knowledge and fewer mistakes. How much does a wedding planner cost covers the options.
• Live band versus DJ. A band is a bigger line; a good DJ can fill a floor just as well for many crowds.
• DIY. It saves money only if your time is free and the task is simple. DIY wedding vs hiring vendors helps you tell the difference.

How to decide together

1. Each list your top three separately, then compare. Where they overlap, protect the budget.
2. Name what you'd happily cut. It's often easier to agree on what doesn't matter.
3. Move money, don't add it. Every increase needs a matching cut. How to prioritize your wedding budget shows how to run this as a conversation.
4. Check the headline price. A cheaper quote with a service charge and extras can cost more than a higher all-in one. Hidden wedding costs lists what to ask.
5. Remember the guest list. Every guest multiplies food, drink and rentals, so a shorter list is the saving that pays for everything above. Wedding budget by guest count shows the effect.

Costs for every vendor vary by region, season and day of the week, so treat any ranking as a starting point and compare local quotes. Wedding budget breakdown gives a first-draft split you can adjust.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most worth it wedding expense?

For many couples, photography, because it can't be redone. But the honest answer is whatever matters most to the two of you.

What do couples regret spending on?

In LendingTree's March 2025 survey of US newlyweds, the venue was the most common regret (23% wished they'd spent less), followed by catering, flowers and the DJ or band.

Is it worth paying for a videographer?

It depends on whether you'll watch it. If you rarely rewatch videos, a photographer plus a friend filming the vows and speeches on a phone may be enough.

Where can we save the most money?

The guest list. Food, drink, rentals and stationery all scale with it, so a shorter list saves more than trimming any single vendor.