THE INTRO

Hey!

We survived the Great Ice Storm of 2026, which—as is tradition in Charlotte—meant three days of panic followed by a light drizzle. The good news? I didn’t lose power. The bad news? I bought more bread than I know what to do with.

Anyway—perfect weather for staying in and tackling the topic everyone avoids: your budget.

Let's get into it.

THE AISLE REPORT: BUDGET EDITION
Let’s Talk Money

Quick Recap: Venue Costs

Quick venue recap: We covered this last week, but the short version—Charlotte venues run $3K–$8K (budget), $8K–$15K (mid-range), and $15K–$25K+ (premium). Expect your venue to eat 30–40% of your total budget. If you missed Issue #1, go back and read it.

Now let's talk about where the rest of your money actually goes.

The Charlotte Budget Allocation Framework

I'm going to use a $40K budget with 125 guests as an example—that's pretty common here. Your numbers will look different, but the percentages stay roughly the same.

For a $40,000 total budget (125 guests), here's how it breaks down:

Key insight: Venue, catering, and bar together will eat nearly half your budget. This is normal. Don't panic when you see that number—just plan for it.

Real Charlotte Vendor Pricing

Here's what you're actually looking at for each category:

Photography: $3,000–$6,000 Most Charlotte couples spend $4,000–$5,000 for 8 hours with a second shooter. Budget photographers start around $2,000–$2,500; luxury runs $7,000+. This is the one vendor where the quality difference is immediately visible in your final product.

Videography: More couples are adding this, and honestly? The ones who skip it usually regret it. Ask your photographer if they bundle with a videographer—lots do.

Florals: Full-service (ceremony backdrop, bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces) usually starts around $3K here. Greenery-heavy designs cost less. Those crazy installations you see on Instagram? $8K+.

DJ: A solid Charlotte DJ runs $1,500–$2K. Don't cheap out on this one. A bad DJ will absolutely tank your reception. I've seen it happen.

Live Band: $3,000–$6,000+ If live music is a priority, budget accordingly. Good bands book 12+ months out.

Day-of Coordinator: $1,500–$2,500 Worth every penny. They manage your timeline, wrangle vendors, and solve problems so you don't have to. Full-service planning runs $4,000–$10,000.

Catering: $65–$150/person Buffet on the low end, plated dinner with nice proteins on the high end. Always ask if service staff, linens, and gratuity are included—that catches people off guard.

Bar (per person): $25–$60 Beer and wine only: $25–$35. Full open bar with premium liquor: $45–$60. Some venues allow BYOB, which can save $2,000–$4,000.

Cake: $400–$1,000 Charlotte bakeries charge $4–$8 per slice. Simple and elegant runs $500–$700 for 125 guests.

Hair + Makeup: $300–$500 for the bride (including trial), $100–$150 per bridesmaid.

CHARLOTTE INSIDER
The Budget Allocation Cheat Sheet

If you remember nothing else, remember this:

The Big Three (70% of your budget):

• Venue + catering + bar

• Photography/video

• Florals + decor

The Experience Layer (15%):

• Entertainment

• Coordinator

• Rentals

The Details (10%):

• Attire and beauty

• Stationery

• Cake

• Favors (optional)

The Buffer (5%):

• Always keep 5–10% for unexpected costs, last-minute additions, and vendor tips

Budget Tiers: What's Realistic in Charlotte

$20,000–$35,000: Intimate wedding (under 75 guests), budget-conscious vendor choices, some DIY, likely an off-peak date or non-traditional venue.

$35,000–$55,000: The Charlotte sweet spot. 100–150 guests, quality vendors across the board, a few splurges on your priorities.

$55,000–$80,000: Larger guest count (175+), premium venue, elevated details, full planning support.

$80,000+: Luxury. Top-tier everything, highly customized, no compromises.

LOCAL VENDOR SPOTLIGHT
Aubrey Elizabeth Photography

This week's featured vendor

The vibe: Timeless, bright, and emotionally driven wedding photography with a relaxed, best-friend energy.

The backstory: Aubrey grew up in a small Michigan town where summers were spent on the lake and family moments meant everything. She studied public relations in college, then caught the photography bug while studying abroad in Ireland—backpacking through Europe and falling in love with capturing the in-between moments. After college, she moved to Hawaii and built her career photographing destination weddings on the Big Island, earning recognition as a Top 10 Wedding Photographer on Hawaii Island. Now she's brought that island warmth and editorial eye to Charlotte.

Her approach: Aubrey's philosophy is that your photographer is one of the few people you'll spend your entire wedding day with—so chemistry matters. She uses natural prompts and gentle posing direction to make even the most camera-shy couples feel comfortable. Her style blends documentary storytelling with editorial moments: soft romantic details, candid emotions, and yes, a dance floor that pops.

What's included: Wedding packages start at $2,800 and include all final images in a shareable online gallery, timeline assistance, an engagement session, 35mm film photography mixed in for that nostalgic editorial layer, drone photography (when permitted), and a sneak peek within 72 hours.

Best for: Couples who want their photos to feel natural, emotional, and authentically them.

Exclusive for Charlotte Bride readers: Book your wedding with Aubrey within the next week and receive a FREE bridal or boudoir session—your choice. Whether you want elegant portraits in your gown before the big day or a confidence-boosting boudoir shoot to gift your partner (or yourself), it's on the house. Just mention The Charlotte Bride when you inquire.

📍 aubreyelizabeth.com | 📸 @aubreyelizabeth.photography 

The Money Moves
Where to splurge vs Save

Splurge On:

Photography. Your flowers will die, your cake will be eaten, your centerpieces will be donated. Your photos are the only thing that lasts. This is not the place to go budget.

Food and drink. Guests remember two things: how much fun they had and whether the food was good. You don't need a $150/plate menu, but quality matters.

Entertainment. A bad DJ can kill even the most beautiful wedding. A great one keeps the dance floor packed until the venue kicks you out. Same with live bands—don't book one you've never heard perform.

Save On:

Invitations and paper goods. Unless calligraphy is your love language, a clean digital invite or affordable printed design works fine. Save the $12/invite letterpress for another life.

Favors. Real talk: most get left on tables. If you must do something, make it edible (cookies, local coffee, mini bottles of hot sauce). Or donate to a charity in your guests' names. Or skip it entirely—no one will notice.

Over-the-top florals. Prioritize your bouquet, ceremony backdrop, and statement centerpieces. Fill the rest with candles, greenery, and strategic lighting. It photographs beautifully and costs half as much.

Elaborate cake. A three-tier buttercream cake with fresh flowers looks just as good in photos as a five-tier fondant sculpture—and costs significantly less.

THE CHECK LIST 

A few things worth doing this week:

Sit down with your budget. Not a vague idea of what you want to spend—an actual number. Write it down. It makes every decision after this one easier.

Talk about what matters most. Photography? Food? The band? You and your partner should each pick your top 2-3 priorities. That's where your money should go.

Start a vendor folder. Google Doc, Notes app, actual folder—doesn't matter. Just have one place where everything lives. Future you will be grateful.

Before you Go

Got a question you want us to tackle? A vendor you think other Charlotte brides should know about? A hot take on cake flavors? Hit reply—we read everything.

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