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Weddings are expensive. In fact, they are one of the biggest single expenditures you are likely to make, second only to buying a house! Does that seem crazy to you? We get it, until you’ve planned your own wedding, it can be hard to understand why someone would spend so much money “on just one day”. However, we find that couples rarely have regrets about spending a lot on their wedding day because it’s totally worth it! Because, in fact, your wedding is more than “just one day,” it’s an investment, the creation of a day that depicts your love and creates a lifetime of memories with the ones you love most.
That being said, it is important to be realistic about your wedding budget and to stay within a number you can afford. As you start planning, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with possibilities and you may even start to feel like your budget is too restricting. However, our expert team at Kayza Events can work within every budget; we have years of experience and we know a lot of tips and tricks to cut wedding costs and make your budget work.
Also, we understand that every couple that sets out to plan a wedding is unique, with their own set of needs, visions, and priorities. What’s important to one couple may not matter to another. So, as you plan your wedding, take advantage of our expertise for creative ways to stretch your budget further and get the most bang for your buck.
Let’s be honest, coming up with a realistic number for your budget is usually low on the list of favorite wedding planning activities. But, alas, it must be done. So, go ahead and plan a time to sit down with anyone who is contributing to your wedding fund to find out exactly what everyone’s expectations are. Traditionally, according to TheKnot.com, the bride’s family pays for the bulk of the wedding ceremony and reception festivities, while the groom’s family pays for the rehearsal dinner and honeymoon.
However, very few couples follow that model these days, so it’s important to avoid making any assumptions. Instead, have an honest conversation about where everyone’s priorities lie and what their expectations are. You may find that your future in-laws are willing to contribute a large amount, but only if you agree to their list of guests to invite.
Also, if others are contributing to your wedding, discuss when they will be giving you the funds. Will they be writing you a check today, or would they prefer to pay in smaller amounts as fees are due? At Kayza Events, we require 25% of your total when you book, 25% is due 180 days before your wedding, and the final 50% is due 10 days before your event. So keep that in mind as you discuss your budget with your loved ones.
Once you come up with a number that everyone is comfortable with, stick to it! Couples often find their budgets bursting right when they’re nearing the finish line, so we encourage planning an extra 5% into their budget to cover any unexpected costs. Also, there are always creative ways to reduce wedding expenses; so we promise that your budget is doable.
The biggest reason for expensive weddings is that there are a lot of moving parts needed to pull off such a big party. Everything from the venue, the caterer, the photographer, the wedding attire, and so much more needs to be paid for and it adds up quickly. The average cost of a wedding in the United States is around $33,900. We strive to make any budget work; however, the best way to stay within your budget is to have a system to keep close track of where all the money is going.
A typical wedding budget breakdown goes something like this:
Pretty straightforward, right? It takes some work, but you can potentially find a vendor to check each one of these boxes one by one. However, chances are that it will be difficult to make the numbers match your percentages exactly, and that is when things get a little dicey with your budget. You might fall in love with a venue that is more than you wanted to spend, so you think you’ll make up for it by hiring a cheaper photographer, but then your caterer added an extra cake cutting fee and suddenly you’re trying to decide if you should just skip the wedding favors altogether.
Instead of throwing in the towel or cutting out wedding features that are important to you, consider a better way! When you choose a wedding venue by Kayza Events, you roll seven of those wedding expenses into one! Our all-inclusive wedding packages cover your venue, catering and alcohol, decor, wedding planner, officiant, invitations, and entertainment! Really, it’s an amazing deal because often, we’re able to do all of this for you for about the same price as you would pay elsewhere for just the use of the venue!
Are you wondering what the catch is? A lot of couples worry that because our venues are all-inclusive that every wedding will end up looking exactly the same – sort of a wedding conveyor belt situation. However, because all our packages are so customizable, you have the freedom to pick and choose which services are right for you. In fact, it is quite rare that a couple chooses to leave a wedding package as-is, and you are never charged for something you aren’t using, so removing a service does lower your total cost. You are more than welcome to use any of your own vendors (with the exception of catering and bar services), but you’ll get peace of mind knowing you don’t have to!
Did we catch your eye with all that talk of customizing your perfect wedding package? Well, it’s true! Every Kayza Event venue has its own set of fully customizable wedding packages. We make it easy on you to create an event that is unique to your tastes, and we’re honest and upfront about the pricing. We break down the process into three easy steps:
And because our venues are all-inclusive, most of your big decisions are super easy to make. You can choose from a list of our reliable vendors instead of running around town trying to find ones you can trust.
You can also choose how hands-on or -off you’d like to be. Some couples want to stay in the driver’s seat. They want to make every single decision and approve every last detail to ensure their wedding meets their vision and standards. However, others find they don’t have the time or desire to be that involved and are comfortable with letting someone else handle the details.
You could even let some of your vendors take creative liberty based on what is in season or what they are running a special on. For example, you could ask your florist for their advice on in-season flowers and then let that dictate your color scheme. Then follow that scheme through as you choose the rest of your attire and decor.
No matter how involved you want to be in the process, we have the wedding package for you. We will hold your hand every step of the way and answer all of your texts to help you sort out even the smallest of details, or we can hand you the wedding binder and simply check in with you every few months.
As we mentioned, the best way we’ve found to save money is by using an all-inclusive wedding venue. But we’ve also got a few more tricks up our sleeves, plus a few borrowed from APracticalWedding.com and TheKnot.com to make your budget stretch even further.
The bottom line is that weddings are as expensive as you want them to be! Whether you want a quiet and small garden wedding or an expensive wedding that would give the Kardashians a run for their money, our team of experts can absolutely make it happen. What is most important is that you and your partner end up married at the end of the day.
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Wedding planning is incredibly exciting . . . but also a little confusing. This is likely your first time planning an event this big! So, how are you supposed to know all the logistics? We got you—our wedding experts are here to make sense of all the chaos, tradition, and friendly suggestions. We’ve laid it all out for you, so you can be a true wedding pro.
Kayza Events base price covers the use of the space for your event. You’ll notice that this cost changes depending on the day of the week and time of year you have your wedding. This can help you decide your wedding date! That way, you get a gorgeous venue and you can make sure it fits within budget!
The options are endless! Some couples leave a few weeks or months to plan, some couples take more than two years. It all just depends on what timing works best for your schedule and finances! On average, most couples have a 9-12 month engagement. We can even create a gorgeous wedding experience in as little as a week if you’re super keen.
There’s really no restriction, but the sooner the better! Once your venue is booked, your wedding date is secured, so you can start getting into the details of planning. If there’s a particular date you’re considering, you’ll want to book your venue as soon as possible.
Nope! One of the times it’s actually awesome to say “no.” Our Kayza Events team handles all of the pre and post-event coordination. That means you (and your friends and family) get to enjoy the celebration and don’t worry about any of the work! Everyone gets to have fun – perfect.
Yes! Each Kayza Events runs independently and, has its own pricing. We suggest considering different options for this reason – you get to compare and decide which one fits your wedding dream and budget best!
Since Kayza Events are all-inclusive, our packages refer to ceremony and reception, or reception-only weddings.
Photography and videography are not included in your package. At Kayza Events, we have a preferred photographer and videographer at every venue. That means we can pair you with a reputable photo or video team who know our staff well. They even offer special prices to Kayza Event couples! Let us know if you also need a referral.
Our available dates are booked on a first-come, first-serve basis. Schedule an appointment to tour your venue, and we can help you find a perfect date! Your date is locked in when we receive your booking.
According to the signed contract, all payments made are non-transferable and non-refundable if you cancel the event. If the event is canceled within 45 days of the date, the full amount of all estimated charges will be due.
The Service Charge covers the planning process leading up to your event – both the time and team required. It’s a fee depending on which of our venues you book. This charge is an industry standard, meaning almost every venue you see has this same (or similar) fee. Your contract will show a breakdown of the event elements and their costs, including the service charge, which covers the costs of Kayza Events investment of time, staff, and resources to prepare for your event. Gratuities (tips) are not included and are voluntary.
At Kayza Events, we want to help you have the best, most stress-free planning experience possible. So, we’re happy to answer your questions! Have more to ask? Call (973) 342-2842 today to speak to a wedding expert!
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ou’ve found the love of your life and you’re obviously so stoked about marrying them. So why put it off for a year? Let’s do this thing and commence the wedded bliss!
Like the sound of that? We’re offering a Why-Wait Booking Special for couples who want to celebrate their love by getting married asap! That means you can have your wedding cake and eat it too with our special discounts!
And while most people would gasp at the idea of planning a wedding on such a short timeline, at Kayza Events, we make it totally doable! Because, with our all-inclusive packages, you’ll have WAY less work to do. Follow our timeline to get everything done on time, achieve stress-free wedding planning, AND enjoy the most incredible honeymoon!
Planning a wedding within 4 months is totally doable with an all-inclusive wedding package at your Kayza Events venue. Let’s do this thing and commence the wedded bliss! That means you can have your wedding cake AND eat it too with our special discounts! And while most people would crumble at the sound of planning a wedding on such a short timeline, Wedgewood Weddings makes it totally feasible! Read our expert timeline to get everything done on time, achieve stress-free wedding planning, AND get to take off on a honeymoon sooner!
Booking your venue solidifies your wedding date, and having an official date to run with means the rest of your wedding planning can take off! Book an all-inclusive package with your venue that covers most of the vendors and services you’ll need! Otherwise, you’ll have to spend a ton of time researching dozens of options, calling or meeting with several of your favourites, then deciding on one that’s best for you and placing a deposit to book them. And that’s for each vendor…
But booking an all-inclusive package saves you this hassle…and all that precious time! Do this to make your short-term wedding planning stress-free and totally doable!
Most bridal boutiques require that you order your dress at least 6 months out… So, you’ll have to shop around at places where you can buy off the rack. You’ll still have time to have the dress altered to make sure it’s perfect, and it’s usually a much more affordable option! Or consider our favorite online options from our Wedding Dress Guide for quick and easy shopping!
If you want a suit, you can get fitted and place an order for a suit-rental around this same time. If you already know your groom’s measurements, jump on the Jim’s Formal Wear website and place an order in just minutes! They’ll even give you a special discount through our Bliss Benefits program! Score!
Consider Zola or Amazon for a quick and easy way to register for everything you need without even leaving your house! Then create a wedding website and add a link to your registry on your site so your guests have easy access to it – making it more likely that you’ll actually get what you want!
Normally, you’d send out save-the-dates prior to sending out formal invitations. But on a timeline as short as this, it seems a little redundant to send out multiple paper notifications about your imminent wedding.
If any of your guests are coming in from out of town, it’s best to send the invitations out as soon as possible to allow them to make travel arrangements. However, if all of your guests are local, you can hold off on sending the invitations until 2 months prior. Be sure to include the link to your website on your invitations so everyone can refer to it for more info!
It’ll be easiest to select the groomsmen’s suits when selecting your own for the groom. We like Jim’s Formal Wear so you can easily select everything on the groomsmen’s behalf, then send them a link to the suit you’ve chosen and have them each order their own. Trust us, they’ll LOVE getting to rent their suit while sitting on the couch in their boxers!
For the bridesmaids, check out our Bridesmaid Dress Guide for quick and easy online options! Consider going with a mismatched look and allowing your bridesmaids to each select their own dress to save yourself some time. You can simply provide some guidelines to your bridal party (length, color scheme, etc.) and let them do the work of selecting a dress themselves.
You obviously want to find a beauty vendor who will make you look and FEEL stunning for your wedding. Having a trial or two with a couple of vendors will allow you to find the perfect one to do just that!
The rings are a small detail, yet they obviously play a major role in your ceremony! Don’t wait till the last minute to get them!
Whether you or your officiant write the script for your ceremony, it’s smart to meet together to go over everything and make sure both of you are familiar with it. On your own time, you should time yourself reciting it to make sure the timing is right for your ceremony.
Purchase your shoes before attending a dress fitting to be sure that your dress is altered to the correct height in your wedding shoes! You may also want to break in your shoes by wearing them around the house a few times.
If you’re writing your own vows, it can take a while to pinpoint exactly what you want to say. So, it helps to have time to write out all your thoughts, go over them several times, and add in anything else that comes to mind in these next couple of months!
There are so many unique and creative ideas for wedding favors that it can take some time to decide what exactly you want to give out to your guests. So, it’s good to get a head start on this and order with plenty of time to arrange them all together.
If you plan to have a guest book (or something for all your guests to sign), you’ll want to order it around this same time too. The fewer things you have to do at the last minute, the better!
Whether you ordered a designer wedding dress/suit or even an online alternative, you’ll want to have a dress fitting with a seamstress/tailor to make sure everything about it is fitting you in all the right places!
This is a major lifesaver for a seamless wedding! It helps to keep everyone on the same page about the events of the day and who’s supposed to be where and at what time. Type up a timeline and email it out to everyone involved including your wedding party, venue team, and photographer.
This will keep everything running smoothly for the days surrounding your wedding and will save you from having to answer the same question a dozen times from a dozen different people…You’ve been doing that a lot already!
By this point, your parents and everyone in your wedding party have probably pitched in money, helped out with the planning, or even just let you vent to them about it all. Regardless, it’s a nice gesture to give them a little something to thank them for being a part of this journey with you and FOR you!
This is extremely helpful for both yourself AND your photographer. You’ll be sure to get those special pictures you’ve envisioned in your head and your photographer can rest easy, knowing that they’re extra-prepared for a happy client!
Not everyone will respond to their invitation by the time you asked them to… It’s annoying but call anyone you haven’t heard from yet to politely ask if they plan on making it to your nuptials.
Once you know everyone that is attending, create a seating assignment for yourself to assign each guest to a table. This ensures that everyone will be seated next to people they know and will be placed right where you want them!
After your seating assignment is finalized, go to a local printer to print out individual escort cards or a large seating chart to be set on an easel. This tells your guests where they’re supposed to be seated as they make their way into your reception.
Your Kayza Events team will reach out and schedule this with you so you can come in to confirm any last-minute details and make your final payment. The amount for the final payment is determined by your final headcount so that you only pay for the exact number of people that are attending. No money wasted here!
Head over to City Hall with your fiancé to apply for and pick up a marriage license. Be sure you’re going to the City Hall in whichever county the wedding will be taking place in—not where you live.
This is your time to pamper yourself and invest in both beauty and self-care appointments prior to your wedding day. For the brides, this may include manicure, pedicure, wax, hair, and tanning. For the grooms, this may include manicure, hair, massage, and possibly tanning. For waxing and tanning appointments, make sure to do them a few days before your wedding so that your skin has a chance to heal before the big day.
Planning a short-term wedding doesn’t have to be stressful, and your Kayza Events team will help you along the way! And just like that, you’re married and off on your honeymoon! So, Why Wait?