Costly Weddings: Insights from Experienced Brides on Where They Regret Spending Money

2016.10.19 published

What Points Can You Cut from an Expensive Wedding?

The average budget for a wedding is said to be around 3.5 million yen. While a wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, many brides share the common desire to save as much as possible…!

However, for brides planning their first wedding, it can be challenging to know where to cut costs. For such brides, we introduce the points where senior brides felt, “I didn't need to spend money on this at the wedding” ◎

@haruno45

To Avoid Regretful Weddings / Points That Senior Brides Felt They Could Cut: 1. Flowers

Don't you think wedding flowers are incredibly expensive? Just scattering flowers around the cake can cost 10,000 yen, adding flowers to the emcee’s microphone is about 5,000 yen, and upgrading the centerpieces for guests can add 3,000 yen per table... Prices can differ based on the wedding venue, but the more extras you add, the steeper the costs become.

While flowers can add a touch of elegance, they don’t leave a lasting impression on guests' memories. Many brides look back at photos later and think, “Was this really worth 10,000 yen…?” * When in doubt, flowers are definitely a point where you can cut back on expenses ◎

To Avoid Regretful Weddings / Points That Senior Brides Felt They Could Cut: 2. Re-entry Performances

The candle service, where each guest's candle is lit during the re-entry, costs 300 yen per candle, while a champagne tower performed after re-entry can cost 60,000 yen. Depending on the venue, prices vary, but these performances indeed make for a grand show *

Many senior brides also felt that this kind of performance was an area where they didn’t need to spend money. Instead of these performances, many brides wished they had taken more photos at each table or added more time for entertainment! By not just cutting costs, you can also effectively utilize the time you save for other activities ◎

To Avoid Regretful Weddings / Points That Senior Brides Felt They Could Cut: 3. Makeup and Body Services

For weddings, there are plans for bridal makeup that include options like “Hollywood makeup” or body “sparkle spray,” which are not commonly heard of * These options claim to have effects like “better makeup adherence” or “a sparkling body that looks slimmer” ◎

However, these plans are often optional, and when told by others “other brides are getting this,” it’s tempting to think, “Should I go for it?” Yet, many brides reflect that they didn’t really understand the benefits…

While there may be cases where effects are clear, it's essential to analyze whether the cost-effectiveness matches well when considering such options ◎

Use Senior Brides’ Insights About What Not to Spend Money On to Plan a Smart Wedding *

The three areas where senior brides felt “I didn’t need to spend money” are [flowers], [re-entry performances], and [bridal makeup and body services] * Each of these is considered "not essential for having a wedding," and rather, areas brides want to add for extra flair ◎

Of course, some brides may feel, “I can’t cut back on flowers” or “I want my re-entry to be absolutely stunning.” It’s essential to carefully consider what suits you best and to advance your wedding preparations without just thinking, “I’ll add this, I’ll opt for the higher plan.”

Please use insights from senior brides as guidance to aim for a wonderful wedding ♩