Feeling really discouraged

Tinashai1

My FI is is currently deployed in Kuwait, It's been a totally different experience getting used to not having him around 24/7. That's not the reason for this post though. Since he's not here, it's up to me to begin getting ideas for our wedding (summer 2012). So I met with my first wedding planner monday and LOVED her until she gave me her pricetag. $7500! Ugh! Not only that but I gave her a wedding budget of 25K. She said everything I wanted could be done. BUT, when I spoke with my FI later that night, he said 25K was too much and that we need to stick with our original budget of 20k. Now I'm worried I can't have everything I want for my wedding. What am I gonna do? I feel like I'm being Melodramatic but I've been picturing this day ever since I met my FI. We're paying for the wedding ourselves. I am a full time Med school student so I don't work & coming up with more than my half isn't going to happen anytime soon. Ugh! Help!

RPMary

Often planners/coordinators can negotiate good deals for you, so it might end up saving you money in the long run, and putting you back to your original budget.  (Cross your fingers and breathe!)

SmithMcFarlane

You have a while yet until your wedding, you should be able to get your planner to get some deals for you.  You can also attend bridal shows, that is what I did, the venders at the bridal shows hand out coupons, and have special bridal show deals.  Cutting you wedding planner (if possible) could also be a way to save money.  I think many brides are in your shoes at this point in the planning process!  I felt the same way, and I also thought at first using a coupon for say chairs would be "trashy".  But A to Z rentals in my area gives out coupons at the bridal shows for 15% off your order.  That may not sound like much but it all adds up in the end, and no one will know that I used a coupon

Many people that I know who have/are getting married, including myself, spend just over the amount of money your wedding planner is asking for as their total budget.  I realize that different areas of the country do things differently and have different costs (for example most foods are not taxed in this state), different people have different tastes ect.   I'm just shocked, as it seems you are as well, at how much she is charging!  If you went with her, she alone would take up almost half your budget, and most of the time it seems that food/venue takes up the largest part of the budget.  I guess I'm just thinking along the lines of if you go with your original budget, of 20k, the planner would cost 7500 and your venue and food could cost just about as much, you might end up having only about 5000 left for everything else.  I know that is doable, but that would worry me a little bit. 

I do think like someone else said that you should just try to save up as much as you can, and breath! :0)  I do know that I felt a lot like how you are feeling when I started planning! 

On a side note, thank you to your FI!!!  :0) 

ReturnOfKuus

You know... weddings aren't that hard, really.  You can do it all yourself and save yourself the money of hiring a planner.

Tinashai1

SmithMcFarlane Thank you so much. Thank you everyone! The biggest thing I do need to do it BREATHE. (Inhale......Exhale). Lol. I'm starting to look at different options as far as my vision for the wedding, AND that overpriced wedding planner. Whew, she is expensive. Even the wedding planners I see on the different wedding shows (i.e. Rich Bride Poor Bride/ Four weddings) don't pay that much for their planners and their weddings are over $50K a piece.... I know wedding planners aren't a necessity but the main reason I am even considering one is because I am in med school. It gets VERY hectic. Back to back exams is no joke. I don't want to put either my studies nor my wedding on the back burner so having someone to help me will be great. PLUS, she can get deals with other vendors for me. I may be able to get them myself but I would have to do A LOT of research. No time for extracurricular research. Lol.