Here's What the Same Wedding Style Looks Like at 3 Different Price Points

There seems to be endless wedding inspiration out there, right? Gowns, cakes, floral chandeliers and more that become your tried + true style muse. But you never really get a peek at the price tag for these wedding details – so how do you know what to expect based on your personal wedding budget? Today we’re joined by a team of talented wedding creatives who decided “enough with the unknown!”, as they showcase the same rustic-chic farmhouse wedding style at 3 different price points to help you plot and plan your own approach.


From the stylist and stationer, DCo Lovenotes: When wedding vendors get together to create awe-inspiring ideas for couples, they are always going to pull out all the stops and showcase their best, most extravagant work. This always produces amazing images that give couples that wow factor that they want to recreate for their wedding. Vendors get these beautiful photos, and use them as part of their portfolio, on social media and on websites and magazines that advertise their services for potential clients. And while styled shoots are fun and wonderful, the problem with this is that a lot of couples simply can’t afford most of what they are seeing!
As wedding vendors, we are often times presented with this scenario: Couple comes in for their consultation and starts showing you their Pinterest boards with ideas, and images they found on Google and in magazines. We tell them how much that vision would cost them and we have to help them pick their jaw up off the floor. And we understand…most of these people have never been married before so they have no idea how much it costs to bring some of these looks together. That’s when we then start trying to work within their budget and make suggestions. Unfortunately, lots of people need to physically see what we are talking about to be able to fully understand and are unable to picture what we are suggesting in their minds. It’s easy for the wedding professional to be able to envision something, but that’s because we do it every day.

Here’s when something innovative happened. We decided to put together a styled shoot and showcase the same “theme” at three different price points! By doing this, we are able to show couples what you get for your money. They can see the different price points side by side and decide what they want to spend their money on, and where they feel they could cut back. Lush florals, a soft fall color pallet, and a beautiful rustic venue were some of the ingredients of this stunning styled shoot.

LOOK 1
Bridal Attire: Affordable and yet stunning, this unassuming fit and flare gown’s beautiful statement lies within the details of the lace appliques on dotted Point d’espirit. For added affordable elegance we paired our bride with a comb and simpler jewelry. Price – $1085
Hair: For this look, we just curled the hair and inserted a bridal comb. This look is affordable because it is simple yet elegant. It doesn’t require putting the hair up with bobby-pins or sewing. It is suitable for various lengths of hair and can be customized for different hair textures. Price $40 in salon, $50 on location

Aren’t these moody images from Wisconsin-based wedding photographer (and Ruffled member!) Studio 29 just divine?

Makeup: This look offers a flawless complexion with airbrush at the most affordable price. Brush applied highlight and strip lashes are included. Perfect for a natural, simple look. A lip product is included for the bride. The duration of each application is approximately 35 minutes. Price – $110 Standard Package
Groom Attire: Keep it simple and elegant to save where you can, well-fit and classy while saving on the budget; skip the coat and vest for a bit of savings. Price – $180

This classic bridal gown from Casablanca Bridal was snagged at Savvy Bride – another one of our members!

Florals: Roses can be surprisingly affordable and come in lots of different colors and varieties. By using lots of greenery, you can really create an elegant look and get more bang for your buck. Greenery never goes out of style and comes in so many different shapes, colors and textures. Most couples are also trying to incorporate their wedding colors into their flowers and lately, that color has been navy blue. Although flowers come in lots of colors, they don’t naturally occur in navy blue unless it’s a berry. Berries are so fun and pretty in floral, but not always available and can also be pricey. That’s when we get creative and often times spray seeded eucalyptus.
Here we sprayed seeded eucalyptus navy blue to bring in just the right amount of navy and finished it off with a small navy blue wrap. For the table, a simple runner of seeded eucalyptus can go a long way, and not break the bank. By adding some mix and match bud vases it gives you a floral aspect to the table without going overboard. Finish it off with some simple metallic votives and candles to get some variety and set the mood. With the cake, sometimes a simple seeded eucalyptus wreath is the way to go and can really dress up a cake! Price – $75 for bouquet, $100 table, $5 cake


Rentals: For the first look, our mismatched Le Melange dishware brought in subtle details with its classic vintage patterns, creating an expensive look without needing a large budget. Antique silver flatware and a vintage clear goblets were the perfect accent, keeping the place setting simple yet unique and special. Price – $85 per table
Stationery: Getting plain white envelopes and addressing them yourself may take some time, but will end up saving you in the end.  You can also get the “gold foil” illusion by having an image of gold foil overlaid onto your text or other elements of the design without having to pay for real gold foil stamping. By adding the menu onto the table number you are eliminating the need for a menu at each place setting as the menu can be passed around the table. Price – $6.15 per suite (Invite, RSVP & Enclosure with blank envelopes) at 100 guests and $5 per table of 10

Cake: A single tiered cake is a perfect example of how to scale back your day without skimping in style. Smaller wedding cakes can still be a work of art. The personal touches added to your wedding cake become a work of art and make this beautiful cake extra special. Even though this option only serves 8, the wedding couple can have sheet cakes in the kitchen for their guests.  Sheet cakes are less expensive because they are priced as a whole and not per slice like a tiered cake. This option is the most cost-effective. The starting price for a 6″ mile high conventional cake iced in French buttercream and then covered in an edible 24k gold leaf is $95.00

LOOK 2
Bridal Attire: Fit and Flare silhouette with sweetheart neckline is teeming in delicate floral lace that compliments any bride with a taste for modern romance. A deep illusion v in the neckline adds a playful touch to the bodice, and a detachable lace keyhole back makes this an incredibly versatile gown. We then accented with a complementary veil and jewelry. Price – $1850
Hair: For this style, we chose to do a sleek and timeless look. The hair is swept back with some volume so a veil can easily be added. Updo styling is more formal. It requires more time and expertise. Updos require long lengths of hair and talented stylists know what style would best suit each individual. Price $60 in salon, $75 on location

We can already see the transformation of The Farm at Dover!

Makeup: This look features additional upgrades such as skin prep, airbrush contour and customized individual lashes make this an upgrade from the standard. A bridal touch up is also included for those final finishing touches! A lip product is included for the bride. Starting at 45 minutes per application. Additional artists are available after 6 applications. Price – $150 Bridal Package
Groom Attire: Designer slim fit vested suit offers a more formal look; just skip the coat to save a little! Price – $195


Florals: Adding to the first look, we brought in some pincushion protea which really adds some texture. We also added even more greenery to the bouquet to create more movement as well. Here we incorporated 2 of a very popular garden rose called the Juliet garden rose. It is so fragrant and somewhat resembles a peony. Peonies are often times asked for and only available for a limited time, so the garden rose can be a good substitute, but has a price tag. It comes as a bunch of 12, and runs $15 per rose. When couples are looking to use these, we have to order a bunch of 12 and often times break the bunch up to use them in the rest of the girls’ bouquets, maybe a groom’s boutonniere, or even on the cake. With the table, we kept the runner, and added some beautiful wooden boxes with more greenery and floral. The cake had received more seeded eucalyptus and a few loose flowers at the top and base. Price – $150 for bouquet, $165 table, $35 cake

Oh sophisticated updo from Heart MKE, how we love thee! Not to mention that smooth makeup artistry from Lustrous Beauty Studio.

Rentals: For the second look we added more detail, like a matching Le Melange coffee cup and saucer on top of the layered plates and a trio of clear goblets. The centerpiece was livened up by our precious metals candlesticks with tapers, bringing in romantic candlelight and a more layered effect while still keeping guests’ line of sight clear so conversation can flow freely. Price – $174 per table



Stationery: By getting double-sided printing on your invitations it can add a little something to your invitation. You can choose between so many fun patterns or accent colors. You can also save yourself lots of time by getting your envelopes printed with your return address and guest’s addresses. By giving each guest a menu, it adds another beautiful element to your table setting. Opt for a seating chart to avoid confusion when guests arrive to your reception and ensure them a smooth trip to their appropriate table. It’s less than individual place cards and can double as a welcome sign.  Price – $7.95 per suite (Invite, RSVP & Enclosure with printed envelopes) at 100 guests and $33.75 per table of 10


Cake: This cake will serve 40 people. A 2-tiered wedding cake can be an excellent choice for those couples who want to keep it simple yet stylish and creative. With the additional tier it will give you extra height and will look simply elegant on your beautiful cake stand. For couples opting to have a smaller wedding, this cake is the perfect choice as it serves 40 people. The starting price for a two-tiered 8″ and 10″ conventional cake with fondant covering and an edible 24 karat gold leaf is $290.00


LOOK 3
Bridal Attire: Couture bridal gown detailed to perfection with a fabulous juxtaposition of textures, a gown for the bride who prefers daring details. Tulle godets are interspersed between embroidered lace, while clusters of beading frame the bust and the Basque waist of this strapless fit and flare gown; a bride will see and feel the difference when she puts on this well made, well fit and perfectly detailed gown; accompanied by crystal jewelry and a custom designer cathedral veil to match her gown. Price – $3625
Hair: Every bride falls in love with her dream Pinterest hair inspiration photo, and hair extensions are usually the only way to guarantee your look comes together. This is how we achieved the braided headband, with hair to spare for volume and length. The hair extensions that were used were custom clip in extensions that were matched to the bride’s natural hair color, then cut to blend in with the hair. Price – $60 in salon, $75 on location $400 for hair extensions

Doesn’t this gradual transformation from DCo Lovenotes just continue to blow your socks off?

Makeup: The Elite application is an experience! The appointment starts with skincare and skin prep. A hot towel cleanse is followed by the artist choosing the perfect skincare to start the application. Airbrush highlight, waterproof body bronzing and collarbone contouring are all included. In addition to customized individual lashes, reusable designer strip lashes are also an option! A lip color bar for the entire bridal party to choose their own lip color is included. Applications start at 1 hour each, and multiple artists are assigned to Elite bookings. This is the ultimate celebrity experience! Price – $210 Elite
Groom Attire: Ike Behar designer collection of menswear, slim fit and detailed head to toe with well-fit and stylish accents. Price – $225



Florals: Here we added more Juliet garden roses, lots more greenery to create even more movement and drama, and berries to bring in the blue. The elongated satin tails also create more drama and movement. We also brought in some pink mink protea in addition to the pincushion protea. Pink mink protea have a beautiful velvety texture and really give you that rich, luxurious look that lots of couples want to see in their flowers. With the table, we used one of Relics Vintage Rentals‘ gold candelabras and created a beautiful draping centerpiece to create lots of drama. Adding height to the tables can bring your eye up and around the room creating a more interesting experience for your guests. Here we also added some more seeded eucalyptus to the table to make it even fuller. For the cake we kept it similar to the 2nd look, and added a couple more loose flowers so that the artistry in the cake could shine through. Price – $300 for bouquet, $225 table, $40 cake


Rentals: For the third tier, we swapped the Le Melange dishware for our White and Ivory set, toning down the colors in the china. Instead, we brought in color with two goblets and champagne coups. Five-piece gold flatware and silver chargers added an extra luxe effect as well. For the centerpiece, florals were held up high by gold pillars and a beautifully detailed candelabra with clear pegged votives. Price – $335 per table

There’s just no getting over these blooms from Alfa Flowershop!

Stationery: The ultimate luxury in wedding invitations is the custom foil stamping! It adds such a rich element to any design and really pops off the paper….especially when it’s your names vs. an accent on the card. When paired with hand addressed colored envelopes in gold ink by a professional calligrapher it can really set the tone for the wedding, letting your guests know it’s going to be a regal affair. If foil stamping is something you are really wanting, but are concerned about staying within your budget, lots of couples opt to get just the invitation foil stamped, and get the “foil” digitally printed on the rest of the pieces. In this example, if only the invitation was foil stamped it would then be $10.80 per suite. For the tables, the table numbers and menus are foil stamped, adding a fun pop of metallic to the tables. When paired with the individual place cards for each guest it really finishes off the table. Guests often times will take them as a keepsake and like to see their names in print, it makes them feel special and part of your day. Whatever look you like, there are elements that you can choose from each to come up with the perfect combination for your style AND budget. Price – $16.30 per suite (Invite, RSVP & Enclosure each with custom gold foil stamp and hand-lettered navy blue envelopes) at 100 guests and $103.75 per table of 10

Cake: Serving 50 people, this 3-tiered wedding cake give you extra height and dimension for a spectacular presentation. With the mile high tiers it not only gives you extra layers of cake but also gives you dimension to your overall look. If you are looking for drama, it’s definitely worth the upgrade. The starting price for a three-tiered (6″, 8″ mile high and 10″) conventional cake covered in fondant with hand painted decorations and an edible 24 karat gold leaf is $542.50

At the end of the day all 3 looks are stunning, and no matter what your budget is, you can leave it to the wedding professionals to help you come up with the perfect wedding within your budget.
Wedding Vendors:
Photography: Studio 29
Planning and Stationery: DCo Lovenotes
Floral Design: Alfa Flowershop
Venue: The Farm at Dover
Wedding Dress: Casablanca Bridal
Bridal Boutique: Savvy Bride
Hair Stylist: Heart MKE
Makeup Artist: Lustrous Beauty Studio
Rentals: Relics Vintage Rentals
3rd Look Stationery: Pure Joy Ink