Five Common Wedding Expenses Not Worth Your Money in Central IL
- Janelle Hermann
- Sep 17
- 4 min read
Central IL Wedding Budget: Making Your Money Count!
My number one pet peeve is being wasteful - that includes being wasteful of money. As a wedding venue owner, one of my top priorities is to make sure that my clients are getting the quality that they're paying for! It's so easy to get caught up in the moment of wedding planning, wanting all the things, and then realize you've spent money on less important things and you're over budget.
When you book your wedding with us at The Gathering Place, we help you think through the important aspects of your day so that you can make the best decisions while staying close to your budget. We want you to be aware of those expenses that may not be worth it to you as you plan your Central IL wedding! To see how previous clients have spent their money, check out our online photo albums for both ceremonies & receptions, as well as our social media platforms:
Let's look at ways you can budget wisely for the small details that may be less desirable for your wedding day.
1. Printed Programs
Why are 2026 brides second-guessing the use of printed programs? Let's face it—most programs get left on the ground after the ceremony or thrown away. These programs can be very costly if you're not careful, thus wasting money and paper.
So what are 2026 brides doing instead? By using an online program and printing the programs out as "postcards" or "flyers," they are a fraction of the cost! Anytime you add "wedding" in front of something, it's automatically marked up (e.g., wedding programs). So instead, create the programs in Canva and print them using a postcard or flyer template. Problem solved! You still have a program, but you're not cringing at how much you spent when you see the ceremony site littered with them!
2. Over-the-Top Floral Arrangements for the Ceremony
The ceremony site is the one place where you spend the LEAST amount of time during the day of a wedding. There is no reason to overspend on floral arrangements for this area, especially if it is located outside and the natural beauty of the ceremony site is more than enough!
So what are 2026 brides choosing instead? Choose arrangements that are still going to be gorgeous, yet simple, to take professional wedding pictures in front of during the ceremony. Make sure to choose seasonal flowers in your arrangements, as they are typically less expensive and easier for florists to access. Florals can add up very quickly, so I'd recommend not spending all your money in one spot!
Another alternative is making sure these floral arrangements are mobile enough to also move to the reception site. This way, they can serve dual purposes throughout your day, and you are able to put them on display in more than one area!
3. Desserts
The sweetest desserts make the best breakfast! That's because brides and grooms and their families are eating leftover desserts for the next month after the wedding! Here at TGP, couples often ask if they can leave the leftovers with me—and 90% of the time, it's the desserts.
This goes to show that couples oftentimes order too many desserts. Keep it simple; you do not need one of each kind of dessert for each guest! It's okay to have a variety of desserts, but you need much less than you think. Dessert goes a long way—it is not the main meal, and guests oftentimes fill up with food and may or may not take dessert. Spend your money impressing guests with a tasty main course—dessert is always the afterthought!
4. Wedding Favors
While wedding favors are a nice gift from the couple to their guests, we don't really see many 2026 brides spending their money on favors anymore. Many guests leave the favors behind at the end of the night, and they don't typically leave a lasting impression on wedding guests. Therefore, this is one way couples can cut a large cost from their budget.
Instead, we find 2026 brides bringing experience-based "favors" to their wedding reception! Photo booths, making a donation to the couple's favorite charity, or simply having an open bar where the tab is already paid can be just as kind of a gesture as a favor.
5. Printed RSVP Cards & DIY Invitations
2026 brides are turning to digital tracking of RSVPs because it's so much easier to keep track of how many guests are attending. It's also much more budget-friendly to include a QR code that links to your online wedding website to submit an RSVP. You don't have to spend money buying stamps for your guests to return the RSVP card to you—granted they didn't lose it first!
Another money pit is your invitations. Similar to the programs, anything with "wedding" before it always comes at a higher price. I LOVE how this Tiktok bride gets creative and makes her own wedding DIY invitations for a fraction of the cost of if she had ordered them pre-made. Take ideas from her or other influencers on TikTok and get creative with invitations that reflect your special day!
Wrapping Up the Planning Process
Planning a wedding in Central IL that fits your budget requires adaptability, creativity, and conscious decision-making! By taking into consideration these five common wedding expenses (that sometimes result in being wasteful), you get to make choices that adhere to who you are as a couple: your common priorities for your day and your guests!
By focusing on what truly matters, you can create your own enchanting wedding day without overspending and get the best bang for your buck!
Thank you so much for reading our blog today! We pride ourselves on supporting other local business owners and enjoy adding those special touches that only small business's can bring! There is so much value in choosing to support local when considering wedding planning; from a higher level of hospitality, to our intentional communication that aligns with our desire to make your day as seamless as possible. We in turn, value supporting small business venue owners from around the U.S., and are thrilled to give a shout out to this weeks featured venues:
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