Whether your wedding budget is $10,000 or $50,000, you need to stick to it. Why? You want to be able to have the wedding of your dreams, and budgeting isn’t romantic at all! Sticking to a budget may mean you will have to forego some of your wedding dreams. Don’t fret, though!! There are so many alternatives available to you – you just have to find them. So if you start creating your budget and realize that you don’t have enough to afford your dream wedding, do some research and find more cost-effective ways of making your dreams into a reality. Check out some average wedding costs. Our Pinterest page has more budgeting tips too.
What drives your wedding budget? The size, location and time of your wedding!
1. What do you need to do first? Figure how much your total wedding budget is. Then do some research. Attend bridal shows or do online research and find out costs of some of your favorite wedding vendors. Do they fit into your budget? Where can you cut some corners? Will you need to do some DIY projects to afford your ideal venue?
2. Set your guest list. You need to know if you are inviting 150 or 300 people. That will drive your venue choices. Meet with your fiancé and parents to determine: (a) who definitely needs to be invited; (b) who would be nice to be invite; and (c) who you feel obligated to invite. Sit down and go through your list carefully. See how to trim your guest list and our Pinterest page provides some tips - check out this example about how to trim your guest list.
3. Find a venue that really works for you and your fiancé. Do your research. Some venues include catering. Some include free parking for your guests, others don’t. Do you want indoor or outdoor? Do you need a weather permitted option? Do you want to be in the city or in a rural area? Do you want the ceremony to take place in the same location as the reception? Or in a different location like a church? All of these choices affect your budget!
4. Set your wedding date. Again, do your research. “Wedding season” is typically May to October. This is when venues and other vendors fill their calendars quickly. If you can have your wedding on a Friday or Sunday instead of Saturday, you can really save. Theme your wedding around your wedding date. If your wedding is in the spring, choose flowers that are in season then – your florist knows what flowers work best, so use their expertise!
You may have noticed that I used the phrase “do your research” a lot. This is the biggest piece of advice that wedding vendors will tell you! The more research you do on the front end, the better off you’ll be. Plus, you’ll stick to your budget if you are cognizant of your options.
Come up with a system so that you are constantly recording your expenses and regularly comparing them to your budget. If you go over budget in one area, then trim down somewhere else. There are all kinds of budgeting tools out there. Wedding Under Control provides you with the tool to make sure that you are staying on budget. You just have to use it and stick to it.
References:
Average wedding costs: http://1928weddingplanners.com/wedding-budget-101-vendor-pricing-breakdown/
Trimming your guest list: http://www.weddingpartyapp.com/blog/2014/05/16/trimming-your-wedding-guest-list-5-tips-stress-less/