Because some things are more than just line items — they shape the entire day.
Let’s talk about wedding budgets.
Whether you’re working with $50K or $500K, the truth is this: not everything can be a top priority. And that’s okay.
But after photographing hundreds of weddings in Snohomish, Seattle, and across the PNW, we’ve seen firsthand which choices really matter — and which ones couples often regret skimping on later.
If we could lovingly give you one piece of advice about your wedding budget?
Prioritize the experience.
The way the day feels.
The way you remember it.
And that’s why there are 4 things we believe you should never cut corners on:
1&2. 📸 Your PhotographeR & VIDEOGRAPHER
No surprise here — but this isn’t just about “getting the photo or the video.”
Also, this isn’t ONE vendor. You should be hiring someone who specializes in either wedding photography OR videography – not both. Hire for what they’re best at and passionate about – and so they’re not splitting their focus on your wedding day. You’ll be so glad you did, and the end product will show that, too.
Your photographer and videographer are:
- With you all day (more than any other vendor)
- Holding space for your emotions
- Capturing your memories — the ones you felt and the ones you didn’t see happen
- Telling the story of your day in a way that you’ll relive for decades
A talented, experienced photographer and videographer don’t just take pretty pictures and make great videos.
They:
- Know how to make you feel comfortable
- Understand how to anticipate emotional moments
- Create a gallery or video that feels like you
- Help guide timelines, lighting, and flow
You won’t remember what the napkins looked like.
But you will remember the way it felt to hold your partner’s hand before the ceremony — and your photographer and videographer will preserve that forever.
If you don’t prioritize your budget here, you risk losing the ability to truly relive the day – or, more likely, have a horrible experience before, during or after your wedding day. Most complaints we read about when it comes to either of these things is that they didn’t spend much and then something awful happened. You pay for what you get – and especially with photography and videography.
Still on the fence about whether you want a wedding video? Take it from us. Kate’s parents have both passed away, and there isn’t a day that goes by that she doesn’t wish she had video from our wedding day to look back on, see them dancing together, watch her dance with her dad, etc. Not only that, but we would just love to relive the day with the sounds and movement that video provides sometimes – and we never thought we’d feel that way! Budget for the videographer.
3. 🗓️ your Coordinator or Planner
Even if you’re Type-A (actually, this is even more of a reason why you should)
Even if your venue has a “site manager.” (even if they call them the venue coordinator – they’re not YOUR coordinator).
Even if you’ve got friends and family ready to help (nothing says love like expecting free labor — or not).
Hire a professional.
A wedding day coordinator isn’t a luxury — they’re a lifeline.
They:
- Keep your day on schedule
- Manage vendors, deliveries, and last-minute hiccups
- Make sure you’re drinking water, eating snacks, and breathing
- Handle things you’ll never even know were happening in the background
The alternative? You (or your mom, best friend, or cousin) end up managing chaos instead of soaking in joy.
You didn’t plan this day to work it.
Let someone else carry the clipboard so you (and the people you love) can be fully present. After the venue, this is actually the first thing we recommend putting in your wedding budget.
4. 🎶 Your DJ (or Live Music)
This one gets overlooked a lot — but trust us, it matters more than you think.
Your DJ sets the tone for the entire day.
They:
- Control the ceremony audio (how your guests hear your vows!)
- Set the vibe during cocktail hour and dinner
- Read the room and keep the dance floor alive
- Manage transitions, announcements, and flow
A skilled DJ doesn’t just push play.
They create energy. They build connection. They keep your guests engaged, happy, and celebrating. They READ THE ROOM. And that is not something an ipod with a speaker can do.
Nothing kills a party (or never gets it going) quite like that ipod plan. Trust us.
Cut corners in the budget here, and you risk awkward silences, poor sound, and pretty much no dance floor. And everyone leaving hours before you thought they would.
And nothing dims a joyful night faster than a lackluster party.
💬 Final Thought: Invest in What Lasts
When the food is eaten, the décor is packed away, and the dress is hanging in the closet — what’s left?
- Your memories
- Your photos (and videos)
- The way you felt
- The way your people celebrated
Photography (and videography), coordination, and music aren’t just “line items.”
They’re experience makers.
And they’re worth every bit of your budget intention.
So if you’re budgeting and wondering where to focus — start here.
Your future self will thank you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t one person do both photography and video?
Because doing both well on the same day is genuinely not possible. A photographer’s job is to anticipate, compose, and capture still frames – often from a specific position at a specific moment. A videographer’s job is to track movement, manage audio, and build a story across time. When one person tries to do both, they’re constantly in the wrong position for whichever thing they’re not actively doing. Hire specialists. The end product from each will be dramatically better, and your vendors won’t spend the day physically getting in each other’s way.
What does a day-of coordinator do that a venue coordinator doesn’t?
A venue coordinator manages the venue. Your coordinator manages your wedding. The venue coordinator makes sure the tables are set, the venue rules are followed, and the space is cleaned up on schedule. Your coordinator manages your entire vendor team, keeps your timeline moving, handles the florals that arrived wrong, makes sure you actually eat during cocktail hour, and fields every question from every vendor so none of those questions reach you. You need both, and they are not interchangeable jobs.
Is a Spotify playlist really that much worse than a professional DJ?
For the dance floor, yes. A DJ reads the room in real time – they extend a song when the floor is packed, cut early when energy drops, and make announcements that keep the timeline moving. A playlist just plays the next song. We’ve photographed both, and there’s a visible difference in how long guests stay and how full the dance floor is across the night. The ceremony audio is the other issue – a professional DJ runs a proper mic and speaker setup so your guests can actually hear your vows. A Bluetooth speaker frequently fails at this, especially outdoors.
