Future brides and grooms, this message is for you on the eve of your wedding!
- Béatrice Fayt
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
If you're here, it means the big day is approaching… So congratulations!
But let's be honest: between Pinterest, advice from family, and endless lists, it's normal to feel a little (or very) overwhelmed. Where do I even begin? Who does what? And most importantly… Do I really have to manage everything myself?
The big question quickly arises: am I doing everything on my own?
Well… That depends on you.
Do you really have to manage everything yourself when organizing your wedding?
If your dream is to control everything, from the decor to the last detail, EVEN ON THE WEDDING DAY , then yes, get ready: you're going to be everywhere at once. And beware, those who promise to "take care of it for you" will often end up bothering you to approve every tiny decision. The result? You'll be running around like crazy, losing your mind… And no, your future husband or wife isn't the problem 😉
This choice is perfect for those who want to manage everything from A to Z, but even with the best will in the world, chaos is never far away (yes, true story, go see my article "How far can you go for a perfect wedding", I tell you about it… here )
But here's the good news! You can also choose to delegate, to entrust the organization to others… Provided you do it intelligently.
It's not a decision to be taken lightly, of course. But contrary to what you might think, it's neither complicated nor stressful, and it can even become really enjoyable… Especially when you know how to calculate your budget properly.
So the real question is this: all-inclusive wedding or DIY wedding: which is truly the most advantageous? The answer might surprise you… Let's break it all down together:
LET'S START WITH THE DIY WEDDING:
We will need to consider:
The room that suits your needs (be aware that some venues in the city do not tolerate noise; you may be able to rent a room but have to turn off your music because it is too close to houses).
Clean up before and after (and remove the decorations) after the party
Decorations to do before the party
The caterer or the dishes cooked by someone
Service
Dishes
Decoration
Chairs – table (optional)
Dance floor?
Sound and light
The parking lot (make sure there is space)
Entertainment
Find a DJ
Taking care of the guests before the party, during the party, and after the party
Find a "head waiter"
Plan for staff for table service, washing dishes, etc.
At the end of the party, you will also need to think (or have someone else think) about the following, as you remain responsible for everything:
Buying or renting decorations means picking them up and returning them, with inspection of the equipment to see if everything is in order.
The installation should be done the day before or in the morning, and everything should be checked to ensure it is in the correct position.
Decorating according to a theme, including finding decorations to rent (pick-up and delivery).
Collect items after the party and ensure everything is returned correctly.
For food & drinks
You'll have to find a caterer and negotiate the prices yourself. (Or cook it yourself with help.)
Ensure you have sufficient portions
Order the drinks, bring them in, and place them in the party area.
Provide vegetarian/allergy-friendly options
For the entertainment and the music
Find a DJ or a band
Create a playlist
Bring the equipment and pick it up
If you rented the equipment, take it and return it (in good condition).
Check the sound and lights, do a test run the day before to be sure (if they are battery-powered microphones, you will need to remember to recharge them and have spare batteries).
Bring emergency equipment (just in case…)
You will have to take care of your guests
Send invitations
Manage responses (RSVP)
Plan for the reception of guests
Ensure comfort (sufficient chairs, water, weather contingency plan)
If you have more space outside than inside, you need to be sure about the weather!
The best thing is to find a room that gives you space, both inside and outside.
A budget idea for a wedding of approximately 100 people
All-inclusive do-it-yourself or DIY (“Do It Yourself”) item
Job | Average cost | Estimated total for 100 guests |
Location (room) | - | 4,000 – 12,000 |
Food | 60 - 150 / person | 6,000 - 15,000 |
Drinks / bar | 15-40 / person | 1,500 – 4,000 |
DJ | package | 1,200 - 3,000 |
Photographer | package | 2,500 - 5,000 |
Videographer | package | 2,000 - 4,500 |
Flower | - | 800 – 4,000 |
Decoration | - | 500 – 2,500 |
Equipment rental (tables, chairs, tablecloths, crockery) | - | 1,000 – 5,000 |
Butler | - | 600 - 1,500 |
Wedding Coordinator | - | 900 - 2000 |
Cleaning | - | 200 - 800 |
Estimated total budget for 100 guests:
Type of wedding | Total budget |
DIY / very simple | 15,000 – 20,000 |
Standard marriage | 20,000 – 35,000 |
High-end wedding | 40,000+ |
As you can see from this table, you can start a (beautiful) wedding for as little as 15,000 soles for 100 people if you do everything yourself. For that price, you get the evening reception but no entertainment, neither for yourself nor your guests. You'll either need someone to take care of everything, or you'll have to manage it yourself, which will involve the stress of having to handle everything, the time it will take, and the fact that you'll probably be exhausted during YOUR evening.
Let's look at another option: "ALL INCLUSIVE"
I know, I know… You think it's overpriced, but WAIT … Look at all the advantages!
