Lyla Dejesus
A luxury wedding is a six-figure affair, with 10% of all luxury weddings costing upwards of $1 million. It is not just about money, but also about experience and exclusivity. Luxury weddings are highly customised, with details that go above and beyond to make the day a thorough celebration of the couple. They are also a more elaborate series of events, with engagement parties, post-wedding brunches, and entertainment and activities throughout the wedding weekend.
Luxury weddings are more expensive, with the cost per guest usually being around $1000. The clients' expectations are higher, and so are the guests'. Luxury weddings are often thrown by those with higher incomes or more wealthy family foundations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cost | Six-figure affair, three times the average wedding cost |
| Guest cost | $1000 per guest |
| Attention to detail | Fine china, imported silk tablecloths, flowers, lighting, linens |
| Customization | Specific paper for invites, personalised wine bottles |
| Elaborate series of events | Engagement party, rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entertainment, activities, guest accommodations |
| Expectations | Higher expectations from clients and guests |
| Client profile | Established careers, family money, couples who have saved together |
| Same-sex couples | Increased legalization has boosted the luxury wedding industry |
| Planner profile | Previous experience, market themselves as a luxury specialist |
What You'll Learn
Budget
The first step in budgeting for a luxury wedding is to determine how much you can afford to spend. If you have a specific venue or theme in mind, research the average cost of similar weddings to get a sense of the budget you will need. It is important to be realistic about your financial situation and what you can afford.
Once you have an idea of your overall budget, you can start allocating funds to different areas. A good rule of thumb is to spend 40-50% of your budget on the venue and food/beverage costs. This includes the cost of renting the space, catering, alcohol, and any staff or service charges.
The next biggest expense is usually the wedding planner, photographer, and videographer, which can cost around 10% of your total budget each. This includes the cost of hiring professionals to capture your special day and create lasting memories.
Other costs to consider include entertainment (such as a band or DJ), flowers, wedding attire, invitations, and decorations. These costs can add up quickly, so it is important to prioritize and allocate funds accordingly.
- Choose a venue with character: Opt for a unique location like an aquarium, zoo, museum, gallery, botanical garden, or historical site. These venues have built-in ambiance, reducing the need for extensive decorations.
- Be strategic with food and drink: Consider a cocktail reception with stylish hors d'oeuvres passed by waiters in white gloves, or offer a buffet-style meal with finger foods and miniature desserts.
- Focus on lighting and small details: Lighting can have a big impact at a relatively low cost. Use uplights to wash the walls with color or accent lighting to create a high-end atmosphere. Pay attention to small details like chair choices, napkins, and favours to elevate the overall experience.
- Compromise and be creative: Look for ways to save money without sacrificing luxury. For example, choose a mid-week wedding date, opt for prosecco over champagne, or borrow accessories from relatives instead of purchasing them.
Remember, a luxury wedding is about creating a personalised and exclusive experience for you and your guests, so focus on the elements that are most important to you and don't be afraid to think outside the box!
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Guests
The cost per guest at a luxury wedding is significantly higher than at a more typical wedding. In North America, for example, the threshold for a luxury wedding is approximately $1000 per guest, compared to a few hundred dollars for an average wedding. This higher cost covers exquisite details, fine dining, and exclusive experiences.
Attending a luxury wedding, guests can expect to be wowed by the attention to detail and personal touches. From the ceremony to the cocktail hour, dinner, dancing, and beyond, there is a sense of anticipation and excitement. The food is a highlight, with personalised touches such as a custom wine label bearing the couple's names and wedding date. The menu is carefully planned and inspired, with each dish paired with the appropriate drinks. The table settings feature fine china and imported silk tablecloths, elevating the dining experience.
The entertainment at a luxury wedding is also a step above the ordinary, with live music and performances that create a "what's next?" feeling for the guests. The entire event is a well-choreographed series of moments designed to impress and delight.
Luxury weddings often include a dress code that matches the level of sophistication and glamour of the event. Guests are expected to dress accordingly, with designer gowns and sophisticated silhouettes. The wedding venue may also dictate the dress code, with black-tie or white-tie attire being more common at luxury weddings.
Overall, guests at a luxury wedding are in for an exclusive and memorable experience. From the moment they arrive until the moment they leave, they are immersed in an atmosphere of opulence, attention to detail, and personalised touches that reflect the couple's style and personality. It is an event that aims to impress and leave a lasting impression on all who attend.
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Details
Luxury weddings are all about the experience and the little details that make the day special. While they are more expensive, costing six figures, it's not just about the price tag. It's about creating a sophisticated, exclusive, and personalised event that impresses guests and allows the happy couple to revel in the joy of the day.
Luxury weddings are highly customised, from the invitations to the wine served at dinner. Every aspect of the event is tailored to the couple's particular style, theme, or colour scheme. This could include lighting, live music, draping, or even a dress change. The happy couple might arrive in a helicopter, or have a celebrity performance.
Luxury weddings are also a more elaborate series of events. They often include an engagement party, rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entertainment and activities throughout the wedding weekend, and luxury accommodations and food for guests.
The food and drink at a luxury wedding are of the highest quality, with personalised touches. This could mean a menu designed by a renowned chef, paired with the finest wines, or even a bottle of wine made especially for the couple, featuring a label with their names and wedding date.
The decor and styling of a luxury wedding are also key. This could include fine china, imported silk tablecloths, and top-of-the-line linens. Flowers are often a big feature, with hanging flowers, fragrant blooms, and vines creating a breathtaking, romantic atmosphere.
Lighting is another important element, with precise accent lighting in various colours, adding a touch of glamour and prestige.
Luxury weddings are all about creating a unique, immersive, and memorable experience for the couple and their guests. Every detail is carefully considered and executed to create a sophisticated and exclusive event.
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Events
Luxury weddings are not just about the main event, but about creating a memorable experience for the couple and their guests. This includes paying attention to the finer details, such as invitations made from specific materials and personalised wine bottles.
The events leading up to the wedding are just as important as the wedding day itself. From the engagement party to the rehearsal dinner, each event should be carefully planned and executed to create a cohesive and luxurious experience.
The wedding day itself is a carefully curated series of events, from the ceremony to the reception, with every detail planned to perfection. This includes the food, which is often personally developed by a high-end chef, and the entertainment, which could be a famous musician.
Luxury weddings also often include a post-wedding brunch, providing guests with another opportunity to celebrate the couple and enjoy the luxurious surroundings.
For the couple, the experience of planning a luxury wedding is just as important as the events themselves. This includes the level of service and attention to detail provided by the wedding planner, who becomes a trusted friend and guide throughout the planning process.
In summary, events are a crucial aspect of luxury weddings, with each event carefully designed to create a memorable and exclusive experience for the couple and their guests. From the moment the guests receive their invitations to the final brunch, every detail is planned to create a luxurious and sophisticated atmosphere.
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Expectations
Luxury weddings are expected to be six-figure affairs, with the average cost of a luxury wedding in North America being about three times the average wedding cost, or $84,000. However, 10% of luxury weddings cost upwards of $1 million. The high cost of a luxury wedding is not just about the price tag, but also the experience and exclusivity it offers.
Luxury weddings are expected to be highly customised, with every detail tailored to the couple's particular style, theme, or colour scheme. This includes everything from the invitations to the wine served at dinner, which might feature a label embossed with the couple's names and wedding date.
The events surrounding a luxury wedding are also expected to be more elaborate, with the wedding planner responsible for organising events such as an engagement party, rehearsal dinner, post-wedding brunch, entertainment and activities throughout the wedding weekend, and accommodations and food for out-of-town guests.
The expectations of the clients are also higher in a luxury wedding, as they are investing a much larger sum of money. They may believe that they have more say in how the wedding is planned and may be overly demanding. It is the wedding planner's job to balance pleasing the customer with getting their job done to the correct level of detail.
The guests' expectations are also higher, as the couple is likely striving for perfection to impress their guests, especially if they have a certain level of prestige in their workplace or community.
Luxury weddings are expected to have glossy magazine-worthy attire, food, location, and details. This includes designer gowns for the wedding party, high-end food personally developed by a renowned chef, and celebrity performances.
Luxury weddings are also expected to have no concern about the budget, with the couple shopping for wedding items without looking at price tags and sparing no expense to get what they want.
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Frequently asked questions
A luxury wedding is a six-figure affair that boasts 'glossy magazine worthy' attire, food, location, and details.
The biggest difference is often in the budget. Luxury weddings are more expensive, with the price being about three times the average amount spent on weddings.
Luxury weddings are highly customized and pay strong attention to style and fine detail. Examples include plates made of fine china, imported silk tablecloths, invitations made of specific paper or material, and wine bottles with personalised labels.
Luxury wedding clients are often those who have moved up the corporate ladder, have family members helping them throw an elaborate event, or have saved together for years. They are usually couples with higher incomes or more wealthy family foundations.
A luxury wedding planner handles the budget like an accountant and the wedding vision like an artist. They ensure that their clients feel like the most important couple in the world and that they have ample time to explain their vision.
