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Kansas City is a city with deep cultural roots, vibrant local talent, and a booming wedding industry that offers a multitude of choices for couples planning their special day.
One of the earliest decisions you’ll need to make when planning a wedding in Kansas City is whether to go with an a la carte or all-inclusive wedding style. Each comes with its own set of benefits and challenges, making it essential to choose the one that aligns with your vision, budget, and planning preferences.
What is an A La Carte Wedding?
An a la carte wedding is all about customization. This approach allows couples to build their wedding piece by piece, selecting individual vendors for each aspect of the day, from the venue and caterer to the photographer and florist.
In a city as diverse as Kansas City, this style offers the opportunity to infuse local flair into your wedding by choosing from the city’s top-tier vendors. If you’re a couple with a clear vision of what you want and enjoy the idea of crafting a unique celebration, an a la carte wedding provides the flexibility to bring that vision to life.
What is an All-Inclusive Wedding?
An all-inclusive wedding package, on the other hand, bundles all of the essential services into one package, typically provided by the venue. This could include the ceremony and reception spaces, catering, floral arrangements, and more, all handled by a single team.
For couples who want to minimize stress and streamline the planning process, an all-inclusive wedding can be an appealing option.
However, while this approach offers convenience, it may limit the ability to customize certain elements of your wedding, especially in a city like Kansas City, where the local vendor scene is rich with talent.
Choosing the Right Option Based on Your Preferences
Ultimately, your choice between an a la carte or all-inclusive wedding should be driven by your personal preferences, budget, and wedding vision. If you love the idea of piecing together your perfect day with Kansas City’s best vendors, an a la carte wedding might be your ideal choice. If you prefer a more straightforward approach that minimizes decision-making, an all-inclusive package could be more suited to your needs. Let’s delve into the specific pros and cons of each style to help you decide.
Pros & Cons of an A La Carte Wedding
An a la carte wedding offers unparalleled customization, but it also requires careful planning and management. Here’s a closer look at the advantages and potential challenges:
Pros:
- Complete Control: You have the freedom to choose every detail, from the caterer to the entertainment, ensuring that your wedding reflects your personality and style.
- Access to Top Local Vendors: Kansas City is home to a wide array of talented vendors. With an a la carte wedding, you can handpick the best in the business.
- Personalized Experience: Each element of your wedding can be tailored to your preferences, resulting in a celebration that’s uniquely yours.
- Flexibility with Budgeting: You can allocate your budget according to your priorities, spending more on what matters most to you and less on other areas.
- Local Flavor: Kansas City’s unique culture can be fully integrated into your wedding, from locally-sourced catering to hometown entertainment.
Cons:
- Increased Planning Time: Managing multiple vendors and details can be time-consuming and may require a dedicated effort, particularly if you’re planning a larger wedding.
- Higher Risk of Overages: Without careful budgeting, an a la carte wedding can become more expensive than anticipated due to the individual costs of each service.
An a la carte wedding is perfect for couples who want to create a bespoke experience and aren’t afraid to invest time in planning. In Kansas City, where the wedding industry is both dynamic and diverse, this approach allows you to craft a celebration that truly stands out. The option to hire a planner like 828 Planning is a great way to have your cake and eat it too; pun intended. Delegate responsibilities like vendor contracts and timeline creation to your planner, so you can focus on the parts that are most fun for you and your partner.
Pros & Cons of an All-Inclusive Wedding
All-inclusive weddings offer convenience but might sacrifice some of the personal touches that make your day unique. Here’s what to consider:
Pros:
- Simplified Planning: With all services bundled together, you’ll spend less time coordinating and more time enjoying the lead-up to your wedding.
- Potential Cost Savings: All-inclusive packages often come with discounts for bundling services, which can make the overall cost more manageable.
Cons:
- Limited Customization: With everything pre-arranged, you might have fewer opportunities to personalize your wedding to your taste.
- Generic Feel: Without the ability to choose each vendor, your wedding might feel more standardized and less reflective of your unique style.
- Potential for Lower Quality: The convenience of an all-inclusive package can sometimes come at the cost of quality, as the included services may not be the top choice available in Kansas City.
If you value simplicity and ease of planning, an all-inclusive wedding might be a good fit. However, for those who want their wedding to stand out, the trade-offs in personalization and quality may outweigh the benefits.
A La Carte vs. All-Inclusive: Comparing the Cost
Cost is often the deciding factor when choosing between an a la carte and an all-inclusive wedding. Here’s a breakdown of what to consider:
Venue Rental: In an a la carte wedding, venue costs in Kansas City can vary widely depending on the location and what’s included. All-inclusive packages often include venue rental, but you may end up paying for extras that aren’t necessary.
Catering Services: With an a la carte wedding, you can select your caterer, ensuring the food meets your expectations. All-inclusive packages might include catering, but you could have limited menu options.
Decorations: Customization is a major benefit of a la carte weddings, allowing you to select decor that fits your vision. All-inclusive options may offer standard decor that doesn’t align with your style.
Entertainment: A la carte weddings give you the freedom to book the best local bands or DJs, while all-inclusive packages may restrict your options to those provided by the venue.
While all-inclusive packages can simplify budgeting, you might sacrifice quality or end up with a wedding that doesn’t fully reflect your vision. A la carte weddings, on the other hand, offer more flexibility but can be more expensive if not carefully managed.
How Much Planning is Required?
The amount of planning required is another crucial factor to consider when choosing between an a la carte and an all-inclusive wedding.
A La Carte Weddings: These weddings require more hands-on planning. You’ll need to coordinate multiple vendors, manage contracts, and ensure that everything comes together on the day. This can be time-consuming, but it also allows you to create a wedding that’s entirely your own.
All-Inclusive Weddings: All-inclusive packages significantly reduce the planning workload. With most services handled by the venue, you’ll have fewer details to manage. This option is ideal for couples who prefer a more relaxed planning process or who have busy schedules.
For those planning an a la carte wedding in Kansas City, working with a professional planner like 828 Planning can be a game-changer. They can help manage the details, coordinate vendors, and ensure your wedding day runs smoothly.
Why UNION in Kansas City Loves A La Carte Weddings
At UNION, we believe that every wedding should be as unique as the couple getting married. That’s why we’re passionate about a la carte weddings. By choosing this approach, you have the opportunity to craft a wedding that’s entirely reflective of your style, personality, and love story. Kansas City’s vibrant wedding industry offers endless possibilities, and an a la carte wedding allows you to take full advantage of everything this city has to offer.
One of our couples, Jessica and Ryan, loved the flexibility an a la carte wedding provided. “We were able to choose every detail, from our favorite BBQ caterer to a live jazz band that brought the energy of Kansas City into our reception. UNION was the perfect venue to tie it all together.”
Start Planning Your Kansas City Wedding
Choosing between an all-inclusive and a la carte wedding depends on your vision. If creating a unique-to-you wedding day is your goal, contact the team at UNION and 828 Planning today to start planning your perfect Kansas City wedding.
