Let’s face it, establishing a budget is one of the hardest things to do while planning a wedding. Too often, brides will get engaged, start planning their wedding and then somewhere in between touring locations and making a deposit, the question of “What is my budget?” comes out. Before you begin shopping around, check out these helpful tips for nailing down a wedding budget.
#1: Figure out who’s paying. Traditionally the bride’s parents foot the bill for the wedding, but this is slowly becoming a thing of the past. Nowadays, the couple and each of their families will contribute or the couple will pay for the entire wedding themselves. Asking your families about their contributions to your wedding early on in the planning process will allow you to create a realistic budget.
#2: Understand the basic breakdown of a budget. Now that you’ve selected a number for your budget, break it down– how much of my budget will go toward the venue? Floral? Cake? This is something that varies, but selecting a percentage range for these vendors will help you in the long run.
#3: Prioritize what’s important to you. We all have those “must-haves” we’ve dreamed of ever since we were young. Even though you may not have unlimited resources, you can still have those “must-haves” on your special day; it’s all about prioritizing! Choose two or three things that you absolutely can’t do without and make room for them in your budget. You may decide that you have to splurge on your dress but don’t mind going with a more simple cake design and/or centerpieces. Splurging is doable if kept in moderation.
All in all, setting a budget is one of the most important things to do when planning a wedding. Use your resources to make your wedding day the best day of your life, all while staying on budget. It will make for a happy future for you and your groom!
