I think what people are referencing when they say “wedding tax” is when prices are upped just because you tell people it’s a wedding, even though the service does not change. Examples I’ve seen are people requesting florals for a retirement party vs. a wedding, but the wedding florals are quoted for thousands more. Or I read an AITA thread of a MUA who charged $150 for “party makeup” and $350 for “wedding makeup” but said the only difference was the setting spray used. Just craziness
For the sake of argument, there's also a good chance that some of it is the package. The wedding floral might be the same, but technically they over deliver with more extra florals + more bouquets + may even have floral delivery/set-up included but the people may not know that when they order it as pick up and didn't negotiate/couldn't negotiate. With make-up, the MUA might again be including "free additional people" and packages that include coming to the venue/covering extra hours for the whole pre-wedding thing over party/their own dress to blend in with the wedding background etc. Granted it could also be liability in case a bride who feels like it wasn't "good enough" (because boy does reddit have those stories too) so they keep the charges high to just protect themselves. Invitations are definitely another one that constantly is higher.... but that one I'm blaming on nationwide corporate printing houses because I know for a fact my cousin had problems with just printing save the dates that's for sure the same as Christmas cards but way more. For sure though that that was where I thought the video was going over people just complaining it's expensive... There's definitely reasons sometimes why things might be more expensive, but bias and capitalism is very annoying.
😬😬 wedding makeup is usually difficult, you're dealing with stressed out people and you have a time limit ⏳️ it's go-go-go and gtfo. That being said, my bridesmaid did my makeup because I didn't want to pay for it lol
Can't speak about makeup so I'm just responding to the floral bit. Retirement parties don't include a bridal bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, etc. They also wouldn't require nearly as much planning in terms of back and forth with the client. You're paying for overhead and administrative time with the business as well. Weddings can also include complex installations by the actual florist on site, not a random delivery person whose time is less costly. It's extremely difficult to make an apples to apples comparison here.
@@staceyk2274 no, of course not. The quote was specifically for center pieces with the same amount and type of florals! It was a video here on youtube, probably easy to find. Exact same number and quoted thousands more, it truly happens ALL the time. Same with venues. If you host a party for 150 guests and a wedding with 150 guests, same serving style and number of servers, the cost will vary greatly. There 100% is a “wedding tax” placed by many vendors
When I think of wedding tax I am thinking of vendors who offer the exact same service, but they charge higher prices for a wedding than for another sort of party. For example a baker makes a 2 tiered cake with the same amount of decorating/skills and same flavors as another cake, but one is for birthday and the other is for a wedding and they charge more for the wedding cake; that is a wedding tax that people are referring to. I love the budgeting tips, but they aren't addressing the concern. I would love to see a video on how to ask if there is an upcharge for a wedding service while being respectful so that couples can politely choose vendors who are not pricing this way and so they can ask for transparency. I don't think the car dealership analogy works because this has nothing to do with quality as there are vendors who do not upcharge for weddings that are higher quality than some who do. I don't think wedding tax is as rampant as some people think, but having the tools to ask for transparency in business practices can be important in making a choice that aligns with personal ethics as with price and quality. I think also talking about where you should accept wedding tax ie: wedding planners as there are more components to a wedding than an anniversary party vs the cake example I gave before.
Yes this 100% is what I think of when I hear “wedding tax,” it’s not even necessarily about being on a strict budget or not being able to afford “luxury.” It’s about vendors charging more just because something is for a wedding and justifying it by saying, “well it’s for a wedding so I worked harder!” but the same product comes out of it
As someone who has made wedding cakes in the past. Typically wedding cakes are made with high end ingredients, the decorations are also nicer. Bakers know this cake will be photographed more than others. There is also a smaller delivery window than a regular party because you have to coordinate with a venue and or caterer. There are legitimate reasons they cost more. Some company's may do crazy up charges, but it's not to the extent most people think.
@@caitlinsaylor6222 I think the annoyance is that a lot of the times, brides aren’t asking for that. If I want your most basic 2 tiered cake, that’s what I want. I didn’t ask for extra high-end ingredients or anything else, so the fact that I say it’s for a wedding and the price increases hundreds… that’s unfair in my opinion.
@@hallies.4530 I never charged hundreds more, but certainly more. The better ingredients and more time/efforts are what make the cake able to look good for a long amount of time. Basic cake at a party gets consumed fairly quickly after putting it out. Wedding cakes are out for an extended period and are heavily photographed. It looks bad on a baker if the cake looks bad, that can have negative impacts on their future business. If some charge absurd prices that's bad on them, but they will be more expensive. I try to explain it because people who haven't been in the industry might not think about what goes into it.
I 100% agree with you. If there was no “wedding tax” why should it matter to a makeup artiste or a baker that the service is for a wedding. The car analogy is off- this is more like the dealership charging differently based on what you needed the same car for.
I think this video misses the mark. Budgeting is not what people are talking about when they say the "wedding tax". People obviously know that a wedding is a big event to run for vendors. But charging more for florals, hair, and anything that says "Bride" JUST becuase it's for a wedding is why people are aggravated. Yes, a vendor may haave to provide a different service than usually offered for a wedding, but some companies charge extra just becuase they can. I don't want a high-end expirience, but becuase I say "wedding" or "bride" I am automatically charged for it.
Exactly! And, for mine and my fiancé's personalities, I'm not saying this is everyone, all of the high-end stuff was just not our taste. We like simple and "us". Not cookie cutter like we saw with a lot of venues and other vendors. It was not customizable enough for us so we are making our day ours!
Exactly. I’ve literally had a MUA misunderstand the event and gave me a price then realized it’s for a wedding then up charged me. I asked what’s the difference in the materials used and she didn’t have a real answer…..
This. I understand that vendors hear "wedding" and charge more because there's often much higher standards/expectations than for any other party. The problem is if you're a bride that doesn't care if the wedding is "perfect", yet you get charged for it anyways. Example: Someone on a different comment said that cakes for wedding cost more because they have to look good sitting out for hours and being photographed. But what if you don't care about those things? We didn't even have photos of our cake, I couldn't care less. In the wedding industry, there is no option for "less than perfection" because that's what so many other brides demand for their "fairy tale wedding". You're just out of luck if you're a bride who doesn't mind not having the best. (My sister ended up making us a simple two tier cake, which is all I wanted. She's not a professional or anything.)
I agree the real issue is “luxury” is the only tier. There is no Toyota. Yeah you can find some who are inexperienced, but from what I have seen even the inexperienced charge outrageous prices (especially inexperienced photographers). They know you are only doing it once and people don’t want to look cheap to all their friends and family. The profit margins must be wild. It’s either pay 20-30k or DIY. Which is very unique to the wedding industry. I feel lucky I have a skill set where I can do DIY well. But many do not and will be stuck paying $$$. Even my friend that did courthouse with only their immediate family paid over 5k (in Canada)
Your analogy is way off. It’s more like if you told Mercedes your car was for x and they charged you a different price as if you told them the car was for y. But for the same car.
JAMIE!!! I am finally getting married I have been watching your videos for a year!! Thank you thank you 😊 March 4, 2023!!! Couldn't have done it without you ❤️ 💙 💕 ♥️ 💛 💓 ❤️ 💙
I was DETERMINED not to pay the wedding tax (when possible). I followed so many of Jamie’s tips: -Found vendors new to the industry or willing to work in my budget -Went outside the box with vendors like cake and got it from the grocery store. -Started thrifting EARLY
This is why my fiancé and I are DIY'ing basically everything. We refuse to pay the prices we saw when we started planning. Yes, we know there will be more work involved, we don't care. We will gladly take on the responsibility of making our day what we want and spend money on what we want. It will also be our vision, not someone else's version of our vision. Plus, there's no worry about a vendor bailing last minute or getting something completely backwards. Win-win to me. :)
Has your wedding passed now- how was it? This is what I'm thinking, having more of an "elevated" family reunion where our family is cooking the food and decorating. Actually more traditional to how people used to do it!
@@kamifaye Yes, we got married Sept. 1st last year! It went so well! Both of our families caused some drama but everything else went off just fine! Our friends helped us out so much and we were so grateful for them. We had a late morning ceremony time so we were up early and we all pitched in to decorate. I pre-made boxes with the decorations, including a photo of how I wanted it set up so it gave me time to set up other things. We pre-cooked as much as we could the week leading up to the day and then made anything last minute the night before in crock pots. I love your idea! And if everyone is on board with the idea then I say go for it. Don't let anyone tell you it cannot be done. If you're willing to put in the work you can do anything you want! :)
But why should I have to share a budget? I don't go to the bakery and tell them that I have a budget of $20 for pastries. I look at the pastries on display and ask what each one costs. Of course there are differences based on level of service - but if that's the case, why not put that in a pricing sheet specifying the factors that increase and decrease price (and what those ranges are) rather than force a call where I have to "share my love story" before I can get some prices?
And THEN I have seen wedding vendors making reels about how much they dislike “price shoppers.” Yes, we did only meet with you to find out how much you charge because you don’t give ANY indication of that whatsoever!
The industry is moving toward a model of more upfront price transparency, which I think is fantastic. I will say though, the more you scale up, the more variables are in play...way too many to fit on a one-page pdf. Planning a served, three-course meal with appetizers and drinks for 150 people is something the average person doesn't have experience with, but the coordinator does! Getting it right is more complicated than people realize. We're here to be a collaborators and a resource to help you plan your meal, while keeping you in budget. We ask for that info so we're not throwing options at you that exceed your $$, not because we're trying to charge more for the same thing. We want to put together a quote that's custom built for you.
The real problem is a small percentage of predatory businesses that have created a lack of trust between clients and vendors, which poisons the collaborative spirit that's needed to plan a successful event. Wish I new how to fit it.
I think part of the problem is that what people think of as a "standard wedding" is actually a luxury wedding. We don't think of it as luxury because it's now such a cultural norm. So people get major sticker shock at how much the "standard wedding" expectation costs (e.g. full service catering).
So why does it matter to vendors whether you tell them its for a wedding? Why should you have to tell what the party is for if you’re content with the service provided for say an anniversary or birthday party? Why does the vendor care to know that its a wedding if its simply a “luxury “ issue.
Build, borrow, barter...preach! Especially the last two, because lots of people think about DIY, but few think about trading for services. When I got married, I had a job that got me access to free tickets to an exclusive event worth $500 a pop. I traded two tickets to my dress maker in exchange for alternations on my mom's wedding dress for my rehearsal dinner. I also heard a podcast where a travel hacker transferred points to a videographer to fund their dream vacation in exchange for their services. Know your resources and use them!
So my venue charges $5 more per person for a wedding vs party. That’s because setting up of place names and favours is included as well as cutting and serving of cake. I think there are a few other differences as well I just can’t remember them all
Thank you! I had a feeling budget and priorities were going to be key here and I was right! Love that power to say "no" to whatever other people seem to think I'm supposed to have at my wedding!
Love this! There’s such a huge misconception about the cost of weddings or wedding services. I don’t know anyone who’s paid anywhere near $30k and their weddings were amazing! Thanks for breaking this down Jamie!
My gripe right now in this crazy thing we call wedding planning is the absolute crazy amount some venues charge just to use a portion of their property to get "insta worthy" photos. (Insta worthy was actually used) I looked at a package at a property 10mins away from me at a farm and the venue rental fee for the barn was $12,450... in the add ons, they have the option to take photos (only photos) infront of a "beautiful Willow tree or at a pretty laneway" for an extra $1500. They're not even offering the photographer for that, just to walk up their property to a tree with your photographer that you already paid thousands for, you can have a literal backdrop for an extra $1500 and by marketing it as "insta worthy" to brainwashed brides I would beg to argue that although it's not a "tax" and it's an add on, they're charging an exuberant amount for something that should come with the venue rental fee already. All because it's for a wedding. A lot of places are doing this now and I think it's because a lot of places lost $ due to COVID so now they're just hustling and trying to find the weirdest things to charge for to make it back. It's obviously a choice to pay for that, but when it's being marketed with buzz words, it can be easy to start paying a lot more than you wanted to.
Then... don't use that venue? They are obviously overcharging, which it's their property they can charge how ever much they believe it's worth. There is someone out there that really will pay that price for the "insta photos" they want and that's their prerogative
@@1sheilajanae We're...not using the venue. The point of my rant is although it's not a "tax" charging something like that in their wedding package with wedding buzz words feels "off", and makes me wonder if let's say a company were to book the space for a conference or work event, if the rest of the property would be accessible to use. It's crazy things like that, that make couples weary of things like the "wedding tax". Of course they can charge what they want, but that doesn't make it any less annoying for people.
@@D.R.590 that's true, but my thing is, a conference isn't a big deal or a day you'll remember for the rest of your life. At the end of the day it's good ol capitalist buisness and someone is more likely to pay more for their wedding day then their conference, and these people know that and are trying to make money just like the rest of us. Do I think it's right, of course not, but it's buisness, and like shopping at a mall, your gunna get a few greedy shops that know ppl would over pay just for their brand name but you just gotta keep shopping until you find one you agree with and are willing to pay for.
The cheaper you go the more you have to put into it. The only warning I can give is that perfect place with limited time means more people doing the work quicker. I also find that a close family likes helping and doing parts of the wedding. Not all the work ,but celebration of your marriage. The L Wedding isn't like the pink tax wedding are stuck with. Lol but you will found men can get straight weddings cost easier. I've faced them play dumb and still get it for less.
I cracked up at 6min 45 sec... I am an Arizona bride getting married IN Scottsdale IN March because that's when our weather is warm and sunny but not miserably hot :) Love your videos! Thank you for helping me get through this 10 month planning process, we are almost to the finish line!
my venu will be an Airbnb getting 2 houses on 4 acres and im able to sleep 32 people for our family that is out of state for 2 days for 1832 and my family is gonna pay 50 dollars whos staying the night there. so it will help pay for the venu and its cheeper for all of us all around
Hi Jamie, thank you for your helpful videos! I recently contacted a florist with wedding experience and I do see that the costs seem higher than if I would go to a regular florist. My boyfriend recently asked me why I didn't go to the nearest florist in town, because he thinks any of these can make a wedding bouquet, and now I'm not sure if he's right or not! So I was wandering if you could make a video about which vendors should have an experience or specialty in weddings, and which don't need to (venue, cathering, atire, DJ, photos, makeup and nails, etc)? That would be SO helpful to better "shop" our vendors and maybe better understand where some high wedding prices come from.
I dont really notice a "wedding tax" for a lot of vendors, more for "wedding" products. For example personally I hate the color white so when I went shopping for a red prom dress the higher end / really fancy dresses were $600 - $700 whereas white "wedding" dresses at the same store went for 2 grand. I get that they have a bustle and longer train but still doesn't feel like the extra cost to make a wedding dress would be that high. I see a tax in "wedding" belts, earrings, veils etc where sometimes the cost is really high for no reason / in cases when the item is not very high quality anyways. A lot of the vendors I meet are small businesses that care about what they do and are just trying to get a fair price for the service / amount of work they have to do, however I have found the rental for any "wedding" venue to be really pricey compared to getting hitched anywhere else
Yess we live in Florida and our “off-season” for our outdoor venue is actually the summer!! No one wants to be in the heat and humidity that Florida has in the summer 😅
We are having a international wedding for our daughter and they charged us a butt load of VAT tax and I asked if I can claim it and they said no. They said it is not something you can claim.
VAT tax is not something you can claim. It's something you pay. I don't think there is any type of tax you can claim in this world. At least not in my country. Taxes are something we pay. Not claim. The only type of "Tax Claim" is Income tax refund. And that is when you pay excess Tax.
Can you create a tv show where you help couples create beautiful weddings on a budget and can you have me be the first bride you help, please? 🙏 👰🏾♀🤵🏻♂
I think what people are referencing when they say “wedding tax” is when prices are upped just because you tell people it’s a wedding, even though the service does not change. Examples I’ve seen are people requesting florals for a retirement party vs. a wedding, but the wedding florals are quoted for thousands more. Or I read an AITA thread of a MUA who charged $150 for “party makeup” and $350 for “wedding makeup” but said the only difference was the setting spray used. Just craziness
For the sake of argument, there's also a good chance that some of it is the package. The wedding floral might be the same, but technically they over deliver with more extra florals + more bouquets + may even have floral delivery/set-up included but the people may not know that when they order it as pick up and didn't negotiate/couldn't negotiate. With make-up, the MUA might again be including "free additional people" and packages that include coming to the venue/covering extra hours for the whole pre-wedding thing over party/their own dress to blend in with the wedding background etc. Granted it could also be liability in case a bride who feels like it wasn't "good enough" (because boy does reddit have those stories too) so they keep the charges high to just protect themselves. Invitations are definitely another one that constantly is higher.... but that one I'm blaming on nationwide corporate printing houses because I know for a fact my cousin had problems with just printing save the dates that's for sure the same as Christmas cards but way more.
For sure though that that was where I thought the video was going over people just complaining it's expensive... There's definitely reasons sometimes why things might be more expensive, but bias and capitalism is very annoying.
😬😬 wedding makeup is usually difficult, you're dealing with stressed out people and you have a time limit ⏳️ it's go-go-go and gtfo. That being said, my bridesmaid did my makeup because I didn't want to pay for it lol
@@leilaniz5909 in the specific instance the OP is referring to she charged more after she finished the bride's makeup.
Can't speak about makeup so I'm just responding to the floral bit. Retirement parties don't include a bridal bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, etc. They also wouldn't require nearly as much planning in terms of back and forth with the client. You're paying for overhead and administrative time with the business as well. Weddings can also include complex installations by the actual florist on site, not a random delivery person whose time is less costly. It's extremely difficult to make an apples to apples comparison here.
@@staceyk2274 no, of course not. The quote was specifically for center pieces with the same amount and type of florals! It was a video here on youtube, probably easy to find. Exact same number and quoted thousands more, it truly happens ALL the time. Same with venues. If you host a party for 150 guests and a wedding with 150 guests, same serving style and number of servers, the cost will vary greatly. There 100% is a “wedding tax” placed by many vendors
When I think of wedding tax I am thinking of vendors who offer the exact same service, but they charge higher prices for a wedding than for another sort of party. For example a baker makes a 2 tiered cake with the same amount of decorating/skills and same flavors as another cake, but one is for birthday and the other is for a wedding and they charge more for the wedding cake; that is a wedding tax that people are referring to. I love the budgeting tips, but they aren't addressing the concern. I would love to see a video on how to ask if there is an upcharge for a wedding service while being respectful so that couples can politely choose vendors who are not pricing this way and so they can ask for transparency. I don't think the car dealership analogy works because this has nothing to do with quality as there are vendors who do not upcharge for weddings that are higher quality than some who do. I don't think wedding tax is as rampant as some people think, but having the tools to ask for transparency in business practices can be important in making a choice that aligns with personal ethics as with price and quality. I think also talking about where you should accept wedding tax ie: wedding planners as there are more components to a wedding than an anniversary party vs the cake example I gave before.
Yes this 100% is what I think of when I hear “wedding tax,” it’s not even necessarily about being on a strict budget or not being able to afford “luxury.” It’s about vendors charging more just because something is for a wedding and justifying it by saying, “well it’s for a wedding so I worked harder!” but the same product comes out of it
As someone who has made wedding cakes in the past. Typically wedding cakes are made with high end ingredients, the decorations are also nicer. Bakers know this cake will be photographed more than others. There is also a smaller delivery window than a regular party because you have to coordinate with a venue and or caterer. There are legitimate reasons they cost more. Some company's may do crazy up charges, but it's not to the extent most people think.
@@caitlinsaylor6222 I think the annoyance is that a lot of the times, brides aren’t asking for that. If I want your most basic 2 tiered cake, that’s what I want. I didn’t ask for extra high-end ingredients or anything else, so the fact that I say it’s for a wedding and the price increases hundreds… that’s unfair in my opinion.
@@hallies.4530 I never charged hundreds more, but certainly more. The better ingredients and more time/efforts are what make the cake able to look good for a long amount of time. Basic cake at a party gets consumed fairly quickly after putting it out. Wedding cakes are out for an extended period and are heavily photographed. It looks bad on a baker if the cake looks bad, that can have negative impacts on their future business. If some charge absurd prices that's bad on them, but they will be more expensive. I try to explain it because people who haven't been in the industry might not think about what goes into it.
I 100% agree with you. If there was no “wedding tax” why should it matter to a makeup artiste or a baker that the service is for a wedding.
The car analogy is off- this is more like the dealership charging differently based on what you needed the same car for.
I think this video misses the mark. Budgeting is not what people are talking about when they say the "wedding tax". People obviously know that a wedding is a big event to run for vendors. But charging more for florals, hair, and anything that says "Bride" JUST becuase it's for a wedding is why people are aggravated. Yes, a vendor may haave to provide a different service than usually offered for a wedding, but some companies charge extra just becuase they can. I don't want a high-end expirience, but becuase I say "wedding" or "bride" I am automatically charged for it.
Exactly! And, for mine and my fiancé's personalities, I'm not saying this is everyone, all of the high-end stuff was just not our taste. We like simple and "us". Not cookie cutter like we saw with a lot of venues and other vendors. It was not customizable enough for us so we are making our day ours!
Exactly. I’ve literally had a MUA misunderstand the event and gave me a price then realized it’s for a wedding then up charged me. I asked what’s the difference in the materials used and she didn’t have a real answer…..
This. I understand that vendors hear "wedding" and charge more because there's often much higher standards/expectations than for any other party. The problem is if you're a bride that doesn't care if the wedding is "perfect", yet you get charged for it anyways.
Example: Someone on a different comment said that cakes for wedding cost more because they have to look good sitting out for hours and being photographed. But what if you don't care about those things? We didn't even have photos of our cake, I couldn't care less.
In the wedding industry, there is no option for "less than perfection" because that's what so many other brides demand for their "fairy tale wedding". You're just out of luck if you're a bride who doesn't mind not having the best.
(My sister ended up making us a simple two tier cake, which is all I wanted. She's not a professional or anything.)
I agree the real issue is “luxury” is the only tier. There is no Toyota. Yeah you can find some who are inexperienced, but from what I have seen even the inexperienced charge outrageous prices (especially inexperienced photographers). They know you are only doing it once and people don’t want to look cheap to all their friends and family. The profit margins must be wild. It’s either pay 20-30k or DIY. Which is very unique to the wedding industry. I feel lucky I have a skill set where I can do DIY well. But many do not and will be stuck paying $$$. Even my friend that did courthouse with only their immediate family paid over 5k (in Canada)
Exactly.
Your analogy is way off. It’s more like if you told Mercedes your car was for x and they charged you a different price as if you told them the car was for y. But for the same car.
JAMIE!!! I am finally getting married I have been watching your videos for a year!! Thank you thank you 😊 March 4, 2023!!! Couldn't have done it without you ❤️ 💙 💕 ♥️ 💛 💓 ❤️ 💙
This video missed the mark. People can have a good budget AND still not want to be fleeced and want to get appropriate value for their money.
I was DETERMINED not to pay the wedding tax (when possible). I followed so many of Jamie’s tips:
-Found vendors new to the industry or willing to work in my budget
-Went outside the box with vendors like cake and got it from the grocery store.
-Started thrifting EARLY
This is why my fiancé and I are DIY'ing basically everything. We refuse to pay the prices we saw when we started planning. Yes, we know there will be more work involved, we don't care. We will gladly take on the responsibility of making our day what we want and spend money on what we want. It will also be our vision, not someone else's version of our vision. Plus, there's no worry about a vendor bailing last minute or getting something completely backwards. Win-win to me. :)
Has your wedding passed now- how was it? This is what I'm thinking, having more of an "elevated" family reunion where our family is cooking the food and decorating. Actually more traditional to how people used to do it!
@@kamifaye Yes, we got married Sept. 1st last year! It went so well! Both of our families caused some drama but everything else went off just fine! Our friends helped us out so much and we were so grateful for them. We had a late morning ceremony time so we were up early and we all pitched in to decorate. I pre-made boxes with the decorations, including a photo of how I wanted it set up so it gave me time to set up other things. We pre-cooked as much as we could the week leading up to the day and then made anything last minute the night before in crock pots. I love your idea! And if everyone is on board with the idea then I say go for it. Don't let anyone tell you it cannot be done. If you're willing to put in the work you can do anything you want! :)
But why should I have to share a budget? I don't go to the bakery and tell them that I have a budget of $20 for pastries. I look at the pastries on display and ask what each one costs. Of course there are differences based on level of service - but if that's the case, why not put that in a pricing sheet specifying the factors that increase and decrease price (and what those ranges are) rather than force a call where I have to "share my love story" before I can get some prices?
And THEN I have seen wedding vendors making reels about how much they dislike “price shoppers.” Yes, we did only meet with you to find out how much you charge because you don’t give ANY indication of that whatsoever!
The industry is moving toward a model of more upfront price transparency, which I think is fantastic. I will say though, the more you scale up, the more variables are in play...way too many to fit on a one-page pdf. Planning a served, three-course meal with appetizers and drinks for 150 people is something the average person doesn't have experience with, but the coordinator does! Getting it right is more complicated than people realize. We're here to be a collaborators and a resource to help you plan your meal, while keeping you in budget. We ask for that info so we're not throwing options at you that exceed your $$, not because we're trying to charge more for the same thing. We want to put together a quote that's custom built for you.
The real problem is a small percentage of predatory businesses that have created a lack of trust between clients and vendors, which poisons the collaborative spirit that's needed to plan a successful event. Wish I new how to fit it.
I think part of the problem is that what people think of as a "standard wedding" is actually a luxury wedding. We don't think of it as luxury because it's now such a cultural norm. So people get major sticker shock at how much the "standard wedding" expectation costs (e.g. full service catering).
very well said 👏👏👏
So why does it matter to vendors whether you tell them its for a wedding? Why should you have to tell what the party is for if you’re content with the service provided for say an anniversary or birthday party? Why does the vendor care to know that its a wedding if its simply a “luxury “ issue.
Build, borrow, barter...preach! Especially the last two, because lots of people think about DIY, but few think about trading for services. When I got married, I had a job that got me access to free tickets to an exclusive event worth $500 a pop. I traded two tickets to my dress maker in exchange for alternations on my mom's wedding dress for my rehearsal dinner. I also heard a podcast where a travel hacker transferred points to a videographer to fund their dream vacation in exchange for their services. Know your resources and use them!
“Luxury” tax is definitely the phrase that’s appropriate!
So my venue charges $5 more per person for a wedding vs party. That’s because setting up of place names and favours is included as well as cutting and serving of cake. I think there are a few other differences as well I just can’t remember them all
Thank you! I had a feeling budget and priorities were going to be key here and I was right! Love that power to say "no" to whatever other people seem to think I'm supposed to have at my wedding!
Love this! There’s such a huge misconception about the cost of weddings or wedding services. I don’t know anyone who’s paid anywhere near $30k and their weddings were amazing! Thanks for breaking this down Jamie!
My gripe right now in this crazy thing we call wedding planning is the absolute crazy amount some venues charge just to use a portion of their property to get "insta worthy" photos. (Insta worthy was actually used) I looked at a package at a property 10mins away from me at a farm and the venue rental fee for the barn was $12,450... in the add ons, they have the option to take photos (only photos) infront of a "beautiful Willow tree or at a pretty laneway" for an extra $1500. They're not even offering the photographer for that, just to walk up their property to a tree with your photographer that you already paid thousands for, you can have a literal backdrop for an extra $1500 and by marketing it as "insta worthy" to brainwashed brides I would beg to argue that although it's not a "tax" and it's an add on, they're charging an exuberant amount for something that should come with the venue rental fee already. All because it's for a wedding. A lot of places are doing this now and I think it's because a lot of places lost $ due to COVID so now they're just hustling and trying to find the weirdest things to charge for to make it back. It's obviously a choice to pay for that, but when it's being marketed with buzz words, it can be easy to start paying a lot more than you wanted to.
Then... don't use that venue? They are obviously overcharging, which it's their property they can charge how ever much they believe it's worth. There is someone out there that really will pay that price for the "insta photos" they want and that's their prerogative
@@1sheilajanae We're...not using the venue. The point of my rant is although it's not a "tax" charging something like that in their wedding package with wedding buzz words feels "off", and makes me wonder if let's say a company were to book the space for a conference or work event, if the rest of the property would be accessible to use. It's crazy things like that, that make couples weary of things like the "wedding tax". Of course they can charge what they want, but that doesn't make it any less annoying for people.
@@D.R.590 that's true, but my thing is, a conference isn't a big deal or a day you'll remember for the rest of your life. At the end of the day it's good ol capitalist buisness and someone is more likely to pay more for their wedding day then their conference, and these people know that and are trying to make money just like the rest of us. Do I think it's right, of course not, but it's buisness, and like shopping at a mall, your gunna get a few greedy shops that know ppl would over pay just for their brand name but you just gotta keep shopping until you find one you agree with and are willing to pay for.
The cheaper you go the more you have to put into it. The only warning I can give is that perfect place with limited time means more people doing the work quicker. I also find that a close family likes helping and doing parts of the wedding. Not all the work ,but celebration of your marriage.
The L Wedding isn't like the pink tax wedding are stuck with. Lol but you will found men can get straight weddings cost easier. I've faced them play dumb and still get it for less.
I cracked up at 6min 45 sec... I am an Arizona bride getting married IN Scottsdale IN March because that's when our weather is warm and sunny but not miserably hot :) Love your videos! Thank you for helping me get through this 10 month planning process, we are almost to the finish line!
my venu will be an Airbnb getting 2 houses on 4 acres and im able to sleep 32 people for our family that is out of state for 2 days for 1832 and my family is gonna pay 50 dollars whos staying the night there. so it will help pay for the venu and its cheeper for all of us all around
Hi Jamie, thank you for your helpful videos! I recently contacted a florist with wedding experience and I do see that the costs seem higher than if I would go to a regular florist. My boyfriend recently asked me why I didn't go to the nearest florist in town, because he thinks any of these can make a wedding bouquet, and now I'm not sure if he's right or not! So I was wandering if you could make a video about which vendors should have an experience or specialty in weddings, and which don't need to (venue, cathering, atire, DJ, photos, makeup and nails, etc)? That would be SO helpful to better "shop" our vendors and maybe better understand where some high wedding prices come from.
Can you start a tv show where you help couples create beautiful weddings on a budget and can I be the first bride you help, please? 🙏 👰🏾♀ 🤵🏻♂
I dont really notice a "wedding tax" for a lot of vendors, more for "wedding" products. For example personally I hate the color white so when I went shopping for a red prom dress the higher end / really fancy dresses were $600 - $700 whereas white "wedding" dresses at the same store went for 2 grand. I get that they have a bustle and longer train but still doesn't feel like the extra cost to make a wedding dress would be that high. I see a tax in "wedding" belts, earrings, veils etc where sometimes the cost is really high for no reason / in cases when the item is not very high quality anyways. A lot of the vendors I meet are small businesses that care about what they do and are just trying to get a fair price for the service / amount of work they have to do, however I have found the rental for any "wedding" venue to be really pricey compared to getting hitched anywhere else
Yess we live in Florida and our “off-season” for our outdoor venue is actually the summer!! No one wants to be in the heat and humidity that Florida has in the summer 😅
The wedding tax is like going to buy the trusty rusty old honda but paying mercedes prices
I would love an excursion ❤❤❤ you got a great car don’t ever get rid of it.
We are having a international wedding for our daughter and they charged us a butt load of VAT tax and I asked if I can claim it and they said no. They said it is not something you can claim.
VAT tax is not something you can claim. It's something you pay. I don't think there is any type of tax you can claim in this world. At least not in my country. Taxes are something we pay. Not claim. The only type of "Tax Claim" is Income tax refund. And that is when you pay excess Tax.
@@btsarmyforever3816 good to know. Thanks
Has anyone ever heard of needing a florist with insurance for a restaurant venue and therefore not being able to DIY floral centerpieces or bouquets?
Can you create a tv show where you help couples create beautiful weddings on a budget and can you have me be the first bride you help, please? 🙏 👰🏾♀🤵🏻♂