r/BigBudgetBrides

Anyone have experience with LOHO? They’ve got some pretty gnarly reviews at the SF location (which I believe is now closed), but it appears to be the same company in LA. There’s literally a review with the dress and a handwritten paper stating “buyer beware.” Have they gotten better in the past decade / worth going to an appointment at the LA location? Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Hello lovely BBBs! I have been searching for months for a mini dress or set for my rehearsal dinner this fall, with no luck. Any favorite designers or brands for minis, especially any under-the-radar ones? I feel like I keep seeing the same brands over and over. Thanks in advance!

What is the protocol with this? If a vendor owns their company and sets their price, are brides tipping?

Are we tipping our photographers? My fiance and I are going over our cost spreadsheet and have tips factored in for most vendors, but are unsure about tipping our photographer. She’s pretty “well known,” owns her own company, and frequently does big budget weddings — we’re small fish in the pond she swims in. We’re paying a premium for her services and since she is her own boss it feels a little odd to throw a tip onto an already large sum of money.

We’re planning on tipping her second shooter, but would love feedback on how anyone has approached tipping their photographer! I’m getting my head planner a nice, thoughtful gift rather than a tip (she made sure to say early on not to include her in our tipping, which I appreciated) and am considering going that route for our photographer as well.

Hi! I recently got engaged in July. I live in NYC. My budget is around $260K for the entire weekend for ~200 guests and I feel defeated by both availability and budget. My fiance wants to get married in 2027 which has proven so difficult. I feel my money is going nowhere in the NYC area. We are looking at Brooklyn Botanic, in Cape May (my family is in Avalon), Hamptons and Charleston. I feel nothing has felt right and I feel I can barely afford this. Part of me wants to do a legal wedding in 2027 and do a celebration in Europe in 2028 (with less guests). I love a beachy vibe and some level of comradery (which makes Brooklyn hard) but don't need to be on the water for the wedding - just am a summer girl. Why does this amount of money not feel like enough?! Should I just bail on these ideas and start over? Venting but struggling.

Budget ~350k for 150-200 people. Some places that we loved were the Huntington, MCASD, Filoli, and Montalvo. Trying to gauge how feasible any/all of these are on this budget (no need for extravagant florals or anything) + to ask if anybody else has recommendations for venues along a similar vibe (maybe not traditional wedding venues but cool indoor/outdoor spaces).

I started to write this as a comment, but seeing an influx of confused, stressed and disappointed brides here, I thought I can share my two cents about the wedding industry from a perspective of a planner. I am writing anonymously, because I think this conversation is long overdue.

I am copying my og comment here, in hopes to give clarity to everyone struggling with vendors atm.

“Hey as a planner seeing the industry in big trouble I can maybe give you my perspective. I actually agree that there’s something rotten, in all areas not just with planners. I have been in the industry long enough to witness first hand the shift that happened.

Sometime after COVID we got an influx of new vendors (mostly in the photo category, but it can also be seen in other categories), at the same time there was a lot of mentorship programs going on basically telling inexperienced vendors they can charge insane amounts of money for their services, even though the knowledge is not there.

Vendors were told they need to live the luxe style, dress the part and act like they’re millionaires. The truth is, maybe 1% of wedding vendors worldwide are truly that successful, and those people have years and years of experience.
Scaring tactics to the clients was used as a selling point, so was hiding of the price of the service.
In this era I have rarely seen someone mentor vendors how to actually get better at their job. It was mostly sales and life coaching.

Around 2022 all you could hear was “charge the number that makes you feel uncomfortable”. You can see the shift happening here, everyone slapped Luxury to their business names as if that is enough to be considered high end.

Some also started to do a ton of styled shoots that they were selling as real weddings to prove their “Luxury“ status.

Most paid for publications and awards so it seems to you that they’re worth the price tag. The clients believed them, not knowing that while all of that has been done, the real experience was just not there.

A couple of years ago the standards from clients were lower, brides were not connected as they are today and a lot of bad business practices got unnoticed.
Cancel culture was also not in full swing then.

Around 2024 things were turning, bad vendors get called out and canceled, couples want to know where their money is going and how it’s being managed. That is fair and should be standard.

Now in 2026 I am noticing everything
becoming extreme, the vendors behaviors getting out of hand (i think it’s burn out and just lack of knowledge) but also the clients thinking all of their vendors are basically the enemy and trying to rob them (understandably).

I am seeing a lot straight up harassment from both sides (vendors and clients) and i am seeing burnout from both sides as well.

There’s a lack of trust and humanity in the process, lack of good business practices and overall a great lack of understanding.

I see both clients and vendors asking for mental health help and therapy because they’re feeling anxiety and depression.
Nothing wrong with asking for help ofc, but it’s telling how toxic the industry actually is.

I feel like we’re approaching a point where the industry is going to burst and we will all need to adapt or find new careers.

Don’t get me wrong there’s a ton of fairly priced, experienced vendors in the industry, but it’s hard for the clients to figure out who’s the og and who’s a fraud since there’s so many of us.

Things are so out of hand that when an amazing photographer with experience is quoting 6-7k for their services, the clients see it as a red flag because all the other quotes they got were 20k+.
Not knowing that the 7k one has more experience and is easier to work with.
Obviously this is not a case every time, but it actually is a thing that happens a lot.

I can tell you from my own experience, I was trying to be Luxe as well (without actually adding the title because I found it cringe). I thought I was doing something wrong because I did not want to pay for life coaching, publications etc.

I tried to justify bad behavior from colleagues and sometimes even clients, as a normal thing that is going to eventually make me worth the luxe title.
I know no one is here to hear my sob story, but at one point after a high budget wedding I had a legit panic attack mid season. It did not feel right.
It was then and there where I decided I want to work with vendors and clients on events with a soul. Mix the smaller, mid and bigger budgets, and leave the weddings not with a panic attack, but with a smile on my face.
I realized there a paid Vogue publication, status and how Luxe my social media looks, is not telling anything about me.
The fact I care and have 10 years of experience is telling something.

I hope all of you reading this, a vendor or a bride will do the same. Hire or book the people that actually make you happy and excited, even if it takes longer to find those. You are all spending too much energy and time to feel the way some of you feel. Weddings are happy occasions, the industry was once beautiful and there’s still beauty underneath all the negativity.

Sorry for the rambling but i think these are the conversations we all should be having at this point.

PS. I feel like that character in Mean girls that doesn’t even go to the school but is there to promote love lol”

I need the Mirabeau for my 2nd look/ after party but not if it’s scratchy and stiff. How do her gowns feel? Restricting or overstimulating? Or is the 4k worth it in comfort and looks?

I’m a 2026 Croatia bride (from the US) and I am looking for unique fun over the top invitation ideas. I was looking at passport invites from Here There Wedding and I got the samples and they’re amazing but I feel like I need something more. Like maybe the passport WITH something else to make it feel more formal. We’re wanting to do traditional paper rsvp cards too so I want something more elevated but not stuffy.

For our save the dates, we sent a box filled with the ingredients to make a local cocktail to Croatia, cocktail stirrers and coasters, luggage tags, and a message in a bottle. See here (https://www.instagram.com/p/DZ3CpwxGquv/?igsh=MXFyYmVmOWZodTdrYQ==&igsi=MXFyYmVmOWZodTdrYQ==)

What are some good invitation ideas?!

Hi everyone! We are considering to have a wedding in Italy in September/Oct 2027 or May/June 2028. Our budget is 120k-140k$ for 150-200 people. Do you think it is enough? Any advices for planner and venues?

We want to do an Italian style welcome party pizza, wedding the next day and maybe an informal lunch the day after the wedding.

Hello beautiful BBBs!

I’m getting married next October and have begun my search for the perfect team to help capture my big day. The options seem endless and while I have a handful of names I really like and have already contacted, I want to prioritize seamless coverage of the day with a team that works incredibly well together. The one I found that I love the most is a little north of $20k for what I’m looking for (film, digital, video and Super8), and I’d like to explore some other options just to have a solid frame of reference.

It’s a multi-site wedding and I want our welcome party included. I also do have feelings about a female led team (preferred) over a male led team, just so I feel the most comfortable when getting ready, but it’s not a requirement if the lead is incredible at making me feel comfortable. Someone who includes an engagement shoot as a get to you know session would also be wonderful.

I’m also open to those out of the area but based in SoCal is preferred. Thanks so much!

ETA: Forgot to mention we’re on the less traditional side—our wedding is really maximalist and colorful, and will be mostly indoors so experience shooting in low light/with flash or strobes is a plus!

I found these posts so helpful when I was planning my wedding so here’s mine!

We recently had a three-day destination wedding in Europe. Overall, it was amazing, but there are definitely things I would change and things I am SO glad I spent money on.

MY REGRETS / WHAT I WOULD CHANGE
The bridal-party fallout before the wedding
About six weeks before the wedding, we had a significant fallout with part of our wedding party that was devastating for my husband and incredibly stressful for both of us. We even went to couples counselling to work through it before the wedding. It took up so much time and emotional energy that we never really caught up on the final preparations. The people causing the drama was not completely out of character so be careful who you invite into your bridal party.

My custom wedding dress experience
I worked with an Australian bridal designer on a custom gown based on my own design, and unfortunately the experience was terrible. I picked the dress up two hours before leaving for the airport while they were still cleaning it, the floral appliqués were not sewn down as I had repeatedly asked, and the custom gloves did not fit properly and kept sliding down my arms like 80s scrunch socks. The dress itself also felt like it was sliding down on the day, so I never felt completely comfortable in it. I have friends who worked with both smaller and larger designers and had much better experiences, so I would really vet whoever you choose and make sure they can actually execute what they are promising.

Moving the ceremony later
This is probably my biggest regret. We pushed the ceremony later because of the heat, but we are notoriously late people and my husband and the groomsmen ended up running behind. That delay then affected the entire rest of the day.

Guest transport becoming optional
We had paid for Sprinter vans because the venue was about an hour away and the road up was difficult. My husband gave a couple with a baby permission to drive, but they told other guests and more people decided to drive too. Guests ended up arriving across almost an hour instead of together, which contributed to the delays and also meant some people could leave earlier later in the night.

Losing the sunlight for some of our portraits
Because we were about 30 minutes behind, by the time we finished the ceremony and family photos, the sun had moved behind the mountain. It was still full daylight and our photographer did a great job, but I had imagined very specific photos in that direct sunlight. This is probably the thing I have struggled with most afterwards. If light matters to you, build in far more buffer than you think you need.

Not being specific enough about photos and posing
Our photographer was fantastic, but he asked me to look down quite a lot because it is a very bridal pose. I realised afterwards that I personally hate photos of myself looking down. We also practised our dip, but clearly not enough. If there are specific poses or angles you care about, work them out beforehand.

The party peaked too early
We had an amazing live band during our three-hour dinner and everyone went OFF: dancing, singing, conga lines around the fountain. It was genuinely one of the best parts of the wedding, but I had been warned that the party might peak during dinner, and that is exactly what happened. By the time we moved onto the main dance floor later, the group felt much smaller and I got quite upset in the moment.

Drinking too much at the welcome event
I had such a good time that I did not really notice how much I had drunk until I was borderline drunk. Nothing bad happened, but I woke up the next day not looking or feeling my freshest and spent the day hydrating, exercising and trying to recover.

Small things I would plan differently
Air conditioning dried my eyes out so badly that one eye would not stop watering on the wedding day, switching ceremony sides last minute caused a seating issue for the bridal party, and our MC made a sexual joke during the couples game that my husband and I found mortifying. None of these were huge, but all are things I would think about beforehand if I did it again.

MY BEST DECISIONS
Splurging on my second and third dresses
My other two dresses were Oscar de la Renta and Ralph Lauren, and I had them customised to fit exactly how I wanted. I am so glad I spent the money on them. I felt incredible in both, they photographed beautifully, and they will always be very special pieces to me.

Investing heavily in hair and makeup
Probably one of my best decisions. I had the same artist for all three wedding-event days, which meant we could try slightly different looks before the actual wedding. She also came with me to the venue and saved me when my eye would not stop watering. She was incredibly talented, calm and such a lovely person to have around.

Hair extensions
If you want big, romantic half-up hair, I would absolutely recommend them. I basically wanted Disney-princess hair and had around three times my normal amount. My curls lasted all day and I loved how it photographed.

Starting beauty and wellness early
I started working on my face basically as soon as I got engaged. I worked with an acupuncturist for facial acupuncture, stress and stomach issues, and I also worked consistently with a personal trainer to reach my fitness goals. I had a very stressful job at the time, so having both of those things in place was incredibly helpful.

Spending money on taking care of myself
My personal budget for dresses, makeup, hair, fitness, acupuncture and generally looking after myself was quite large, but I am really glad I prioritised it. For me, feeling good was just as important as what we spent on the actual event.

Hiring a content creator
One of the best decisions of the whole wedding. My husband initially did not understand why we needed one, but she captured so many little videos and moments throughout the day that we otherwise would never have had. Personally, I would choose a great content creator over a traditional videographer.

Doing a first look
We originally were not going to do one, but I had read so many positive posts about them. I am really glad we changed our minds. Having that private moment together before everything started was incredibly special.

Sleeping next to my husband the night before + getting ready with my bridesmaids
I knew I would sleep better with him there, so we ignored tradition and shared the room. I somehow slept really well. The next morning, having breakfast and getting ready with my bridesmaids was one of my favourite parts of the entire day.

My bridesmaids
They were amazing, supportive, organised, enthusiastic and calming. When I got upset later about the dance floor, they were the people who pulled me out of my head and got me back to enjoying the night.

The welcome event
One of my favourite days of the entire wedding. The setting, dinner and atmosphere were spectacular, and a dress I had initially been unsure about became one of my favourite looks once everything came together.

The ceremony design and florals
We spent a significant amount on the flowers, platform, staging and overall ceremony setup, and I would do it again. I had not seen the finished space beforehand and it completely exceeded what I had imagined.

Protecting our cocktail hour
We had invested a lot into food stations, entertainment, a photo booth and furniture, and I really wanted us to actually experience it. Because we were running late, we extended it slightly rather than sacrificing it, and I am glad we did.

Paying a professional wedding photo editor
I had a few things in the photos that genuinely bothered me, especially the gloves, so I paid a professional wedding photo editor to fix them. It made a huge difference to how I feel about the gallery. These photos are forever, and I personally do not think you should force yourself to keep looking at something you hate if it can be professionally corrected.

Overall, I absolutely loved our wedding. My biggest lesson is probably that you can have an incredible wedding and still have genuine regrets about parts of it

Happy planning everyone x

Hi everyone!

I’m getting married next June and we are going on our honeymoon about 3 weeks later.

We already booked an amazing lodge hotel in Mongolia but we’d love to add one more country to our trip either Japan or South Korea.

Has anyone been to Japan or South Korea in the second half of July? How hot does it get? Is it really that unbearable?

Thank you!!!

We are looking for suggestions for our upcoming wedding in 2027. Ideally, we're looking to get married next Fall, and we wanted to explore our options in the Keys. Does anyone have any venue or resort recommendations? Our budget is pretty large and we're ideally expecting around 40-50 attending the wedding and reception. TIA!