The wedding budget is one wedding planning topic that makes many couples cringe. I completely understand why. Not too many people enjoy talking about money. However, your wedding budget is one thing you have to tackle at the beginning of your wedding planning process. That's the only way to put yourself on the right path for a successful wedding.
As you create your wedding mood board and pin all those gorgeous wedding images, you must keep one thing in mind. Those wedding ideas you've fallen in love with could turn out to be more expensive than you thought. So, before you convince yourself that that dreamy villa or fabulous floral design is one that you cannot do without, make sure you know what you have to spend. To start, sit down with your partner and set your budget.
· How to Set A Wedding Budget
If you want to have a stress-free wedding planning process, setting your budget is where to start. You have to create a budget that is based on your current savings and any amount you intend to put aside for your wedding. Once you've tallied this up with your partner, you can then move on to contributions. If your family is contributing towards your wedding, you have to speak to them early about it too. They could be interested in sorting out a particular wedding detail, like your wedding dress or the open bar. They could also opt to give you a bulk sum to add to the personal budget you set up earlier.
In the times past, the bride's family usually handled the entire wedding tab. The groom's family could also lend a hand by covering the cost for things like the rehearsal dinner. If you're having a traditional wedding, this could be the case but otherwise. You have to arrange things yourselves. Just remember that things like your wedding venue and the number of guests will significantly influence your budget numbers.
· Break Things Down
After setting up your wedding budget, it's time to break things down. This way, you can allocate specific costs to your wedding details to make things easier. A simple way to sort things out is by assigning a cost to areas in the following manner:
Wedding Venue, Food and Drink 40% of Wedding Budget
Photographer, Hair and Makeup Artists and Other Wedding Day Vendors 40% of Wedding Budget
Attire and Gifts 10% of Wedding Budget
Extras and Unexpected Costs 10% of Wedding Budget
Your attire and gifts here should include your wedding dress, the groom's suit, the wedding veil, and what you'll wear during your getting-ready session. The gifts are those you'll give to your bridal party and family members too. As for unexpected costs, they could be municipal fees, vendor meals, and other vendor fees. Make sure you have these figured out right from the very beginning.
· Beware Hidden Costs
As mentioned earlier, hidden fees are serious and should be handled early. One of those is the vendor fees. Vendor fees happen when a wedding venue has a preferred list of vendors that you might not want to work with. For you to bring your own vendors on-site, you may have to pay as much as $250 to $1000 per vendor. Another fee that loves to sneak up is "Municipal Fees."
An example is the beach fee and the music fee. Beach fees are paid so that you can freely make use of the beach for your event. Music fees are for your possible use of loud music. Sometimes, trials also play a part in ramping up hidden costs. Most times, your food tasting is included in your catering package. If you, however, want things like a floral demo, you'll have to pay. Vendor meals are also vital as you do want them out of commission at your event because they are tired and not catered to. Please note that the engagement party, rehearsal dinner, and honeymoon are not included in the above breakdown.
· Prioritize
After deciding how much goes where it's time to sort out what really matters to you both. There is no general template for this one, as you are both different individuals with different budgets. The things most important for you might not be the same for me. It might not also be the same for your partner. So, to sort this out, first, make your own separate lists of three things that you like. When done, combine your lists. Then you can try to choose the three most important details you feel you can't do your wedding without.
This way, you can invest more time and funds in those details and have a great experience. For example, your photography and wedding music could be top of your list of priorities. Your photographer will document your special wedding moments as the day goes by too fast for you to focus on and memorize everything. Your wedding music will be like your gift to your guests. A great DJ will always be the life of your party and is a necessity. At this point, you should also make a list of things you don't care about. That way, you can strike them off your wedding budget if we need cuts from somewhere.
· Hire with Your Budget In Mind
Some couples make the mistake of falling in love with a vendor before checking out their packages. This is a sure way to go above your budget. To avoid this, search for vendors within your budget that are ready to work with your rates. Don't fall in love with a very specialized vendor and then start to find ways to strike a cheap deal.
· Rework Your Guest List
This is a great way to preserve your wedding budget but can be uncomfortable to carry out. Especially if your fond of big weddings with a considerable number of guests. However, the bulk of your wedding costs depend on food, drink, and your wedding venue. If you find yourself needing to reduce your spending a bit, cutting back on your guest list could be the answer. It'll significantly reduce the cost of Food & Drink.
· Reduce Your Vendor Numbers
If you can get all-inclusive packages, then you should go for them. It doesn't matter if you have different ideas for your wedding that you feel one company can't handle. Please do your best to make it work. You see, every vendor that you hire charges you a setup, delivery, and breakdown fee. Working with one vendor to handle your lighting, music, and other aspects will eliminate the multiple vendor fees and costs.
· Use Flowers in Season
Your wedding's florals can end up gulping a considerable chunk of your wedding budget. One of the ways to sort this out is by using flowers in season. You can also let your wedding florist know how much you have for your florals outright. They'll be able to look into the best way to handle your ideas and budget for the wedding.
· Reduce Photography Hours
You may not like this one, but it could help you remove some extra costs. Cutting some hours off your wedding photography could mean that you pay less for photography at your wedding. This is an excellent idea for couples who are on a budget.
· Keep Your Guests Finances in Mind
Last but not least, is to keep your wedding guests in mind when planning. How much are you comfortable with them spending for your wedding? Keep this in mind when you're doing things like booking room blocks for your incoming guests. Make sure they'll be able to afford the daily rates of the accommodation that you choose. Best of luck!!!
And remember, if you need more tips or recommendations don't hesitate to reach out!
info@sweetfirephotography.com