There’s no question that one of the hardest parts of planning your dream wedding can be sticking to your ideal budget. While we’d all love to ride into our ceremony on a golden-maned pony wearing vintage couture, most Big Day divas would like to say “I Do” without breaking the bank. However, staying true to your wedding budget doesn’t have to mean the bare minimum. In fact, there are more than a few additions that your wedding needs, nay, deserves that are worth a little extra cash. Here are 10 fun-filled, guest-approved reception upgrades that are certainly worth the splurge:
1. Photo and GIF Booth
Even though your professional photography will be absolutely stunning, guests will go crazy over these wild and wacky pics that they can have in an instant! Opt for a traditional photo booth with a trunk full of fun props for guests to get creative in. Or, for the tech-savvy couple, splurge on a GIF booth for guests to snap-and-share with your wedding hashtag!
Judy Pak Photography
Marianne Taylor Photography
Emma Freeman Photography
2. Food Truck
More and more brides have joined in on the trend of adding a food truck to their cocktail hour or even in place of a reception dinner! In 2017, we've seen just about every food imaginable on wheels, from tacos to gelato, coffee to booze. It's definitely worth the splurge when you add one of these souped-up trucks to your reception. Your guests (and your taste buds!) will thank you.
Kim Stockwell
Steve Steinhardt Photography3. A Grand Staircase
As cheesy as it might sound, every bride deserves to feel like a princess on her wedding day. Get one step closer to royalty status on your Big Day when you set aside some extra spending money to decorate a greenery-laced, candle-lit staircase that looks like it was ripped right off the pages of a storybook.
WeddCeremony4. Swag Bags
Amp up your favor game by passing out personalized welcome or goodbye bags stuffed with oodles of your favorite wedding goodies. Guests will appreciate the extra dough that you've shelled out when you add items that they really want after a nice of drinks and dancing: bags of chips, chilled water bottles, a hangover kit for tomorrow morning, and maybe even a warm blanket for a chilly late-night outdoor wedding!
The Gift Insider5. Lots of Lighting
It's well worth the money to provide selfie-approved lighting for your guests to snap the cutest and clearest pics all night long! Whether you opt for string bistro, uplighting, or even an extra candle on your reception tables, your guests can rest assured that their insanely cute wedding selfies won't fall victim to that dreaded, pixel-ified affect that leaves us all disappointed.
Marcus Bell of Studio Impressions
Pinterest6. Custom Napkins
Not only are these really adorable, but they're the perfect memento to keep in any wedding photo album or scrapbook after you've said "I Do". An elegant monogram of your *new* last name or a sweet caricature of you and your hubby are a sweet and personal touch to any reception table. Trust us, you won't mind the extra money.
Brandon Kidd Photography
Lindsay Madden Photography
Ryan Ray Photography7. A Big Bouquet
A few flowers are good, but an entire bushel of blooms is great! Set aside a little extra cash for your florist to create a bouquet that your guests will talk about long after the flowers wilt. The pictures, alone, are well worth the splurge!
Mountainside Bride
Pinterest
Style Me Pretty8. One Unique Station
Yes, you can have that donut wall that has been sitting on your Pinterest board for quite some time now. While going all-out with your stations can get a little pricey, budget-savvy brides know that one fun, off-beat station at your reception is more than enough to get your guests talking about how epic your wedding was.
Deer Pearl Flowers
Deer Pearl Flowers
The Grovers9. Open Bar
Covering the alcohol for your event is more than worth the extra money out of your budget. It keeps guests happy and liquored-up. Do you really need another reason?
Justin Demutiis Photography10. An Above-and-Beyond Photographer
While the memories of your wedding will truly last a lifetime, splurging on a professional photographer with a killer portfolio will ensure that those memories are immortalized in ink. That way, your wedding day will look stunning from start to finish for generations to come.
Jordan Voth
Lenci Photography
