1. What is an All-Inclusive wedding package?
All-inclusive wedding packages include everything, or almost everything, that you would need for your wedding. Typically through a wedding venue or wedding planner, all-inclusive packages will include all catering, floral, decorations, rentals, tables, chairs, linens, venue and so on. Some all-inclusive packages also include photographers, bar services and more!
2. Pros and Cons of All-Inclusive Packages
The main pro of an all-inclusive package is that it saves you time with wedding planning, design and coordination. Instead of searching for catering vendors, florists, bakers and rental companies, these will already be included in your package. In many cases, venues and wedding professionals get specials rates and discounts with companies that they do a lot of business with, which can allow them to pass the savings on to you. Also, wedding professions have typically worked with their vendors many times before and know who is good at their job, so you don’t have to search through reviews to see if a vendor is going to be a good fit.
The main pro of an all-inclusive package is that it saves you time with wedding planning, design and coordination.
The main con with the all-inclusive package is variety in options. Let’s say that a venue offers an Italian caterer, but you really want a casual BBQ meal, then the all-inclusive package might be a good fit. If the options offered in the package are not what you are looking for, then it can feel like you are compromising your event quality.
Another con with an all-inclusive package is the initial sticker shock that many couples have. When everything is added together in one sum, the overall cost of a large wedding can seem overwhelming to some couples. Many couples are turned off from all-inclusive options and would rather try to cut costs by doing everything themselves, which brings us to the à la carte option!
Another con with an all-inclusive package is the initial sticker shock that many couples have. When everything is added together in one sum, the overall cost of a large wedding can seem overwhelming to some couples. Many couples are turned off from all-inclusive options and would rather try to cut costs by doing everything themselves, which brings us to the à la carte option!
3. À La Carte Weddings
À la Carte weddings are when a couple books different vendors, either themselves or through a wedding planner. For this type of wedding the venue is typically booked first, with limited options. If the venue does not include tables and chairs, or perhaps they don’t offer the type of tables/chairs you want for your design, then a rental company is hired. A catering company is hired to provide the food, and possibly China/silver/glasses. A florist is hired for the flowers, a bakery for the cake, and so on.
4. Pros and cons of À La Carte Weddings
The big pro with this type of wedding is the variety in options. Any type of food is an option, you can choose what kind of chairs you want, etc.. The only limit to the available options is your budget.
While an à la carte wedding might seem like a perfect option, there are a few cons that you should think about first. Firstly, if you don’t have a wedding planner you will have to find all of these vendors yourself. If you are comfortable contacting and negotiating with companies, and you have enough time, then this may not be a problem. If, however, you have a busy job or cannot effectively negotiate then this may cause added stress and additional monetary cost to your event.
Secondly, many couples tend to leave out important items and logistics when planning their own wedding. Doing your own floral, making your own centerpieces, etc., can seem doable and a great way to save money, however, there are many logistical obstacles that you have to think of as well. If you are doing your own floral, where are you going to store it until the wedding? Do you know how to keep hydrangeas from wilting or turning brown? Do you know how to make flowers blooms slower/faster? If you are doing your own decorations, who is going to set them up for the event? The bridal party typically spends the morning doing hair and makeup, is there someone ready to take over the decorating and do they know exactly how it is supposed to be set up? These are a few of the things you must plan for if you are trying to DIY your wedding.
While an à la carte wedding might seem like a perfect option, there are a few cons that you should think about first. Firstly, if you don’t have a wedding planner you will have to find all of these vendors yourself. If you are comfortable contacting and negotiating with companies, and you have enough time, then this may not be a problem. If, however, you have a busy job or cannot effectively negotiate then this may cause added stress and additional monetary cost to your event.
Secondly, many couples tend to leave out important items and logistics when planning their own wedding. Doing your own floral, making your own centerpieces, etc., can seem doable and a great way to save money, however, there are many logistical obstacles that you have to think of as well. If you are doing your own floral, where are you going to store it until the wedding? Do you know how to keep hydrangeas from wilting or turning brown? Do you know how to make flowers blooms slower/faster? If you are doing your own decorations, who is going to set them up for the event? The bridal party typically spends the morning doing hair and makeup, is there someone ready to take over the decorating and do they know exactly how it is supposed to be set up? These are a few of the things you must plan for if you are trying to DIY your wedding.
...many couples tend to leave out important items and logistics when planning their own wedding.
5. All-Inclusive vs À La Carte Weddings
To compare the two options we will take the pros and cons of each and see which options are best for which type of couple.
Couples that that are very busy and don’t have time to do all the planning/design/coordinating themselves would benefit greatly from an all-inclusive package. All-inclusive packages are the least stressful option and allows the couple to book almost everything in one contract. In most all-inclusive packages, all of the setup, breakdown and cleanup is also included, because who really wants to clean up right after their wedding?
Couples that that are very busy and don’t have time to do all the planning/design/coordinating themselves would benefit greatly from an all-inclusive package. All-inclusive packages are the least stressful option and allows the couple to book almost everything in one contract. In most all-inclusive packages, all of the setup, breakdown and cleanup is also included, because who really wants to clean up right after their wedding?
In most all-inclusive packages, all of the setup, breakdown and cleanup is also included, because who really wants to clean up right after their wedding?
Couples that are trying to save on cost could benefit from either package. My main advice for couples trying to save money is to create a spreadsheet and do the math themselves. Compare an all-inclusive option with a more DIY option. Itemize all costs on a spreadsheet and see which one turns out cheaper. Take into account who will help with everything and make sure they are okay with it beforehand. Find out how long the venue allows for setup and cleanup and figure out who would have those roles. If no one is able to fill the decorating/setup/cleanup roles then find out how much it would cost to hire someone. There are so many cases where couples end up paying more for less when they do à la carte weddings to save money. Always do the calculations yourself, prior to signing a contract!
My main advice for couples trying to save money is to create a spreadsheet and do the math themselves.
Couples that have a very specific vision for their wedding could benefit from an à la carte wedding. Firstly, always check an see if an all-inclusive package that fits your vision is available, this can save you time and money. Sometimes, you are able to customize a package with a venue or wedding planner to make it a better fit. If the à la carte package is the only one that works for you, a wedding planner can help to make sure that everything works out perfectly for your event!
6. Conclusions
There are many pros and cons to choosing and all-inclusive or à la carte wedding package. Each couple should decide which package is the best fit for their event. If cost is the main thing preventing you from looking at an all-inclusive package then do the math for yourself on a spreadsheet. Many couples end up paying more for less because of the initial sticker shock from the all-inclusive package. The costs can add up to be more when you do everything through separate vendors. Couples can also get stuck on cleanup duty after their big event when trying to cut costs.
Many couples end up paying more for less because of the initial sticker shock from the all-inclusive package.
Cypress Creek Event Venue offers packages ranging from all-inclusive to a basic venue rental, and everything in between! Check out our packages below, or contact us today for a custom quote or to set up a tour!
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