5 Things That Are TOTALLY Worth the Money as a Recent Bride & Wedding Vendor

As both a wedding vendor and a recent bride, I’ve had the unique experience of seeing weddings from both sides. I’ve spent years helping couples plan and capture their wedding experiences, and this summer, I finally got to experience the planning process for myself.

After all the budgeting, planning, and decision-making, there are a few things I know I would choose to spend the money on again in a heartbeat. These are the five things I believe are totally worth the investment when planning your wedding.

1. A Wedding Content Creator

Yes, I own a wedding content creation company, so I know I’m biased. But after having a content creator at my own wedding, I can confidently say that the value goes far beyond having videos to post on Instagram.

My husband’s Pop Pop was unable to attend our wedding because of a last-minute health complication that landed him in the hospital. The day after our wedding, we were able to share our full gallery of videos and photos with him. Being able to give him a glimpse into our wedding day made him feel like he had been there, and that alone made the investment incredibly meaningful to us.

We also loved being able to relive the day immediately. Instead of waiting weeks or months for our professional photos and videos, we had content from the wedding almost instantly. We could watch the ceremony again, see moments we had missed, and relive all of the excitement while the day was still fresh.

What I especially loved were the in-between moments. There are so many little interactions that happen on a wedding day that you don't realize are important until afterward. Your friends laughing while getting ready, a family member's reaction to something happening across the room, or a quick moment between you and your spouse that no one else notices. Having those moments documented gave us a much more complete memory of the day.

As a wedding vendor, I knew the value of content creation. As a bride, I finally understood it on a much more personal level.

2. An Event Design Team

There is a common misconception that hiring an event designer automatically means adding another huge expense to your wedding budget. In reality, I found that the right design team can help you make much better decisions with the budget you already have.

Our event design team took the vision I had for our wedding and elevated it in ways I never could have done on my own. They understood the look and feeling I wanted while also keeping our budget in mind. Instead of simply adding more details, they helped us figure out where our money would have the biggest impact.

The result was a wedding that felt cohesive, intentional, and completely reflective of us. We were able to create a beautiful experience for ourselves and our guests without feeling like we had to spend money on every trend or detail we came across during the planning process.

If you are considering an event designer, I would absolutely recommend making room for one in your budget. If you're planning a wedding in the Philadelphia area, I especially recommend Experience Chartreuse, who helped bring our wedding vision to life.

3. A Photo Booth

I’ve heard the argument that photo booths are overdone or that they can pull guests away from the dance floor. After having Twinkle Photo Booth at my own wedding, I couldn't disagree more.

Our photo booth became one of the places where our guests naturally gathered throughout the night. I spent a ton of time in the booth myself, and some of my favorite photos from the wedding are the ones we took there with our friends and family.

My uncles, who are typically not the most enthusiastic participants at family events, ended up in multiple photo booth pictures. My college friends and high school friends who didn't all know each other before the wedding ended up becoming friends in the booth. It created opportunities for people to interact who otherwise may not have spent much time together.

That's what I think makes a photo booth so valuable. It's not necessarily taking people away from the experience; it can actually become part of the experience.

Your photographer will capture the beautiful, polished moments of your wedding. Your content creator will capture the behind-the-scenes and candid moments. The photo booth gives your guests an opportunity to create memories together, too.

And when you look back at those photos years later, you'll have a collection of completely authentic moments with the people who were there to celebrate with you.

4. A Quality Wedding Band

When you're already spending so much money on a wedding, it's tempting to look for places where you can cut costs. Your wedding band can easily become one of those things.

I personally think it's worth investing in a real gold or white gold wedding band if that is within your budget.

I view our wedding bands as the first family heirlooms we purchased for our marriage. So much of what you spend money on for your wedding is temporary. The flowers eventually wilt, the food gets eaten, and the rentals get returned. Your wedding band is something you'll take with you and wear long after the wedding is over.

There are beautiful options at every price point, and I'm certainly not saying that everyone needs to spend a specific amount on their ring. But if you're debating whether your wedding band is worth the investment, I would encourage you to think about it differently. This isn't just another wedding expense; it's something you'll hopefully wear for decades.

5. The After Party

My final recommendation is simple: don't let the night end too early.

After spending so much time planning your wedding and bringing all of your favorite people together in one place, the last thing you want is to suddenly find yourself saying goodnight when the reception ends.

We knew we wanted to keep celebrating, so having an after party was absolutely worth it. Once the formal reception was over, everyone could relax, let loose, and enjoy the rest of the night without worrying about timelines or traditions. Add an open bar and some greasy late-night food, and you have a pretty perfect way to end a wedding.

The after party also gives you more time with the people you love. Your wedding day goes by incredibly quickly, and having a few extra hours to spend together can make a huge difference.

If you're on the fence about booking an after party, I would strongly recommend doing it. You may be exhausted by the end of the night, but I promise you won't wish you had ended the celebration sooner.

My Biggest Wedding Budget Advice

Every couple's priorities and budget are different, so there isn't a universal list of things you have to spend money on. For me, the things that were most worth the investment were the things that helped us experience the day, bring our people together, and preserve the memories afterward.

Now that I'm on the other side of my own wedding, those are the things I know I'll continue to appreciate long after the flowers are gone and the reception is over.

If you're currently planning your wedding, don't feel like you need to spend money on everything. Instead, think about what will matter most to you years from now, and build your budget around those things.

Photos from Twinkle Photo Booth and Liv T Photography