The Top Vow Renewal Planning Mistakes (And How to Avoid them!)

Mistake #1:  Underestimating the cost of a backyard vow renewal

It seems lovely and perfect, right? An intimate celebration in the comfort of your own home. But here’s a few uncomfortable thoughts: a perfectly clean house, a perfectly manicured lawn, and the cost of equipment rentals.

If you don’t already have cleaning and lawn services, the costs of these could come as a shocker.  Chances are, you won’t have time to personally make sure every corner is dust free and there isn’t a weed in sight, so you’ll need to hire help.  You can expect to pay between $150-$500, depending on where you live, for moderate cleaning of a 2,200 two-story three-bedroom home with nine rooms.  Add to that another $75-690 for a lawn service to come and make your yard look manicured depending on it’s current condition.

Now, add to that the combined cost of a table with eight chairs (up to around $16-75 per set) with linens ($2 to $3 per chair cover and around $8-20 per tablecloth) plus set-up and delivery fees, not to mention a tent in case of bad weather (around $900) and a dance floor (up to $250-2,000), and your “small budget” is busting at around $3,000-5,000. This doesn’t even include tableware, catering, and extra lighting for evening receptions.

Solution: Unless you happen to have access to a bunch of free banquet tables and chairs and live in a perfect home with an amazing lawn, it might be worth your money to book a reception hall. Many hotels and local venues will throw tables, chairs, and even linens into your rental package.  Make sure you get the details of what’s included in your venue pricing!

Mistake #2: Skimping on the food

Think a buffet is less expensive than a plated dinner?  Stop and think about your guests first.  If you have a lot of big eaters, your budget buffet may be more of an embarrassment than it’s worth.  With a buffet, you need to allow for second helpings.  Not enough money? Time to re-think the menu or consider a plated dinner.  Being short on food is simply bad etiquette.  If you’re going to have a buffet style dinner, then make sure there is enough food, plates, and napkins to go around for a second visit by at least 50% of your guests to the buffet.

Solution: Work with your caterer ahead of time to make sure you have a menu that’s within your budget but still allows you to have enough food for everyone. Most guests feel the food at the reception is a big piece of the experience, so it’s best not to cut corners here. If you can’t afford to go a full meal, opt for a late evening ceremony with a dessert reception or an early afternoon ceremony with lite appetizers and cake instead.  Another option is to trim down your guest list to a number that you can afford to feed in the manner you imagine.

Mistake #3: Having a cash bar

You’re already putting on a fabulous reception with amazing food and a great band at the perfect location, so surely guests can pay for their own drinks right? Absolutely not!  Guests are not going to come prepared with a stash of money in their pocket to pay for drinks and it’s going to turn into a major embarrassment. It’s never acceptable to expect your guests to pay for things at your celebration, which includes drinks and parking.

Solution: Your first option is to skip the alcohol all together.  It’s certainly not a requirement and won’t be missed for an brunch or early afternoon reception.  If you really want to have alcohol, consider limiting the bar options.  You could only offer wine and two signature cocktails. You could also limit the amount of time the bar will be open.  Finally, you could limit the bar to only house or bar brands.

Mistake #4: Buying attire and accessories online

The photo looks just like what you are looking for and the price is better than you hoped.  STOP before you hit that button. When you’re looking at a gorgeous dress online, the “purchase now” button can become mighty tempting. Stop and think about your other online clothing purchases.  Always get a perfect fit?  Probably not.  The same applies if it’s a gown you’ve never tried on (or even seen in person). There’s no way to know what a dress will really look like on you and how it will fit until you actually try it on. If the dress that arrives isn’t as lovely as you thought it would be and doesn’t fit, you’ll still be stuck with it. Even if you like the dress, alterations could cost hundreds more.

Solution: Don’t order a dress you haven’t tried on in a store. Make sure that the style numbers match when ordering online. Make absolutely sure that the website you’re ordering from lets you return dresses; call and talk to someone real and get their name, title, and direct phone number. Better yet, forgo shopping online and go to bridal salon to make sure you get exactly what you are expecting.

Mistake #5: Choosing out-of-season flowers

Before you set your heart on tulips and daffodils for your fall vow renewal or sunflowers for your spring vow renewal, keep costs for out-of-season flowers in mind. Out-of-season flowers often have to be flown in from another country, making them incredibly expensive.

How to avoid it: Start by researching which flowers in your colors are in season locally on the date of your vow renewal.   Frequently there will be a similar flower available that is in season to one you like from another season. Work with your florist to find the perfect selection for your budget!

Mistake #6: DIY everything

Perhaps you’re a crafty person with a year  until your vow renewal, so you’ve decided to do your own  invitations, favors, welcome baskets,  programs, seating cards, guest book, custom aisle runner, cake, food, bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres, and centerpieces.  DIY’ing is a great idea, except for those things that have to be done within days of your ceremony – such as real flowers and food.  Don’t forget, time flies!  You don’t want to be spending months of evenings trying to get all of your projects done and then end up exhausted trying to make all the cake and food yourself while juggling flower arranging the day before the ceremony.

Solution: Be realistic about the amount of time you have to devote to projects and how much real willing help you have from family and friends.  Choose high cost, low time projects to DIY.  Unless you have a team standing at your ready to help, that’s probably going to mean skipping the real flowers, food, and cake (unless you’re making cupcakes).