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Sarah Kiely Lavelle speaks with Irish wedding planners to discuss avoidable money-pits and passable trends for weddings in 2025.
Maria Reidy, owner of Maria Reidy Events, is a seasoned wedding specialist of over 18 years, she has created some of the most bespoke weddings in Ireland and says she has seen it all.
To avoid common money-pits when it comes to weddings Maria is all about a robust and comprehensive budget: ''One of the most important first steps I always do with our clients is set a budget. Creating a budget and assigning costs to some of the big ticket items such as venue, catering, photographer, florals, etc, can help eliminate waste."
Other small costs that add up to break a budget may include: having a large bridal party, bespoke favours, and having too many details.
"I find a lot of details can cost quite a bit so I would always steer a client toward some key details and make sure they are impactful.'’ Maria shares. "Discussing off season dates and midweek dates can also assist in reducing the overall cost."
Michelle Johnstone Clark, owner of Waterlily Events, is one of Ireland’s top wedding planners of over almost 20 years, specialising in weddings both here and in the U.S. cautions about overstimulating your guests.
"A lot of our couples feel like they have to entertain their guests for every moment of their two or three-day wedding celebration. Instagram has made couples feel every moment has to be orchestrated, planned, and fabulous. I think it is important to give guests some downtime too.
"If you are inviting guests to spend a weekend in a castle or country manor give them time to just take it in. They don’t have to be entertained at every moment – no matter what highlight reels show you.’’
Elegant edits that save money?
Clever swaps can yield big results when it comes to taming a budget. Instead of spending a fortune on large floral centerpieces, Maria advises looking at where you can add value to your space.
"Small changes that can dramatically change your design is by hiring table linens that drop to the ground. They photograph well and guests tend to spend a lot of time in the dining space. If the budget doesn't stretch to changing the linens I would recommend changing the napkins at a venue.
"Also, good quality candles are a great addition and can be more cost-effective than a large floral centerpiece. Working with your florist is also key - having bud vases on half the tables will reduce the budget somewhat.’’
Michelle agrees: '’ We are seeing a strong trend in 2025 and 2026 weddings for tons and tons of candles with a sprinkling of flowers for centerpieces and tablescape, this can be a goodway to save too. I would recommend couples make a list of the things that are a priority to themand the things that are not.
"For example, some couples are not cake people so they skipthe wedding cake and invest that budget into another area that is a priority to them – likesay music. I do think that favors are something couples can skip without guests even noticing.’’
What are the social media fads to avoid?
"Trends come and go - I would always advise clients to remain true to themselves and don't worry if they think it will date. Candy stations are something we definitely see less of and I feel they are very wasteful plus costly. Doughnut stations were a thing too a few years back.
"Champagne towers are very popular at the moment and while they make for a great image many venues now charge quite a lot for them as there tends to be lots of accidents,’’ Maria warns.
How to save on Save The Dates?
Maria, a purist, when it comes to the art of an invitation tells us: ‘’Invitations are typically the first piece of material a guest receives for your day so it can leave a lasting impression. I love them as they can also help a client determine their style and vision for their day.
"However, we work with lots of international clients who do send digital save the dates/invites and there are very elegant options that can be personalised to each guest. If you are planning a destination wedding a website with helpful details on the location, accommodation, etc… is essential and will transform the client experience.’’
Michelle’s clients are also big fans of postal invites, with the majority of couples opting for traditional paper invitations. However, some simple restraints can help with costs too.
‘’I would say that Save the Dates are something that we are seeing some savvy couples saving on. Also, the number of pieces that couples include with their stationary is dramatically reduced if they have a great wedding website to direct their guests to for information on accommodation, events schedule, and RSVPs."
How can a wedding planner save you money?
When it comes to saving money, hiring a wedding planner may seem unrealistic, however, having an expert on hand who has strong connections and relationships with vendors can actually reap rewards for prospective couples.
Michelle explains ‘’Our job is to help couples make the most of their budget. We help advise them what is worth investing in and where they can save.’’
Maria reiterates the value in outsourcing the planning to the experts.‘’A wedding planner can save you a lot of time which is money. I find we can help hone your ideas and create impact in clever ways. We are also geniuses at making a budget stretch further and working with our treasured vendors ensures that our clients receive great value.
"Crucially, a wedding planner can relieve stress and ensure the celebration flows seamlessly and smoothly - with over 18 years of experience we are there to anticipate all needs and discreetly sort any issues.’’
