Things that I Prioritized for my Wedding
The Wedding Priorities That Made Our Day Unforgettable
Planning a wedding is no small feat, especially when you’re trying to make every detail feel personal, meaningful, and just plain fun. When it came to our special day, we prioritized a few key things that truly made the difference—and I want to share those choices with you. Coming from an unfair advantage and with full disclosure, this is my second wedding, and it was a lot of lessons I took from the first on that made it so successful. Also, my first wedding cost over THREE TIMES as much as this second one, and I loved the second one more.
Whether you’re planning your own wedding or just love reading about these moments, here’s how we made it all work (and stick to a $20,000 budget!).
1. Investing in an Amazing Photographer
The single biggest splurge of our wedding was our photographer, Jennifer Janikic. And let me tell you—it was worth every penny. Jennifer captured moments I didn’t even realize were happening, from the heartfelt to the hilarious. When we got the photos back, they were everything I’d dreamed of and more. If you’re debating whether to stretch your budget for a photographer, trust me: Do it.
These photos are your memories frozen in time. I could not recommend having a great photographer more. Make sure their style matches what you are looking for.
2. Keeping It Intimate with a Small Venue
We wanted our wedding to feel personal, so we kept the guest list small—just 60 people, including us. Our venue, the Duke Sculpture Garden, was perfect. It’s an art gallery with beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, so there was plenty to see and do (and endless photo opportunities).
The kids loved running around the sculptures, and the setting added an elegant yet playful vibe to the day.
3. Fun, Family-Friendly Entertainment
For the music, we chose a DJ who played only family-friendly songs—think oldies and classics with no cursing or anything awkward. Everyone, from the youngest kids to the oldest guests, sang along.
To make it even more fun, I stocked up on glowsticks, light-up glasses, and wands. Honestly, the adults had more fun with them than the kids! Seeing a dance floor filled with light and laughter was one of my favorite moments of the night.
4. Family-Style Dining with Thoughtful Touches
We opted for family-style dining to make things easy and inclusive—no nuts, no shellfish, no problem. It was a great way to accommodate allergies without stress and allowed guests to try a little of everything. There were a few extra allergies to account for, but with no nuts or shellfish, only one or two other things had to be noted.
Food and drink took the largest portion of our budget, but we knew we wanted the best. We even brought in our own wines, sourced from my dear friend Laura, who runs the longest-standing female-owned wine distributor in Pennsylvania. (Check out Specialty Wines and Spirits if you’re in PA!)
The venue sent us home with loads of leftover food and wine, which meant no cooking before our honeymoon—an unexpected bonus.
5. A Wedding Dress That Made Sense
I spent less than $1,000 on my wedding dress at David’s Bridal. Let’s be honest: It’s worn once and never again, so why spend a fortune? My dress was beautiful, comfortable, and perfect for the day—and that’s all that mattered.
I went by myself to pick it out and was glad not to have made a big fuss over it. I wanted everything to be easy and my one sister had just had a baby, while the other had her hands full of two boys under the age of 6.
6. A Simple City Hall Visit
The day before the wedding, we went to city hall for the paperwork. It was quick and easy and we were out in about an hour. We chose the self-actualizing license for the additional $10 so we did not need an officiant.
This small step saved us from tacking on extra reception costs and kept everything simple and stress-free. It was quick, easy, and one less thing to worry about on the big day.
7. Lab-Grown Diamonds for a Sparkling Touch
When it came to my rings and necklace, I chose lab-grown diamonds from MJ Gabel, a husband-and-wife team based in Webster, NY. They were wonderful to work with, offered insured shipping (so no driving required), and delivered stunning, sustainable pieces. Lab-grown diamonds are not only more affordable but also environmentally friendly—win-win!
My necklace is a 3.6 carat sparkler, huge and stunning, while my ring was able to be custom made for me. The wife and husband team were super wonderful to work with and I could not recommend them enough.
8. Thoughtful and Minimal Flowers
We kept flowers simple, working with NE Flower Boutique. They didn’t have a minimum order, which was perfect for our needs. We had just enough flowers for centerpieces, one bouquet, and a boutonnière. The florist sent photos the day before to make sure everything looked perfect, and it was!
9. A Personal Touch with Vows
One of the most special moments of the day was exchanging vows in front of everyone before dinner. It was heartfelt, personal, and set the tone for the rest of the evening. Writing and sharing our own words made the ceremony feel uniquely ours.
Our Budget Breakdown
With a total budget of $20,000, we focused on what mattered most: the people, the food, and the memories. Here’s how we made it all work:
Photographer: Biggest splurge and worth it!
Venue: Small and intimate with lots of character.
Food and Wine: High quality and inclusive of all guests.
Dress: Budget-friendly and beautiful.
Jewelry: Ethical and stunning lab-grown diamonds.
Flowers: Minimal but thoughtful arrangements.
Looking back, every decision we made reflected what we cared about most—celebrating with loved ones in a way that felt true to us. If you’re planning your own wedding, my advice is simple: Prioritize what matters to you and don’t sweat the rest. You’ll thank yourself later.
Here’s to love, laughter, and glowsticks!
