How to Create a Budget for Your Wedding
Weddings are one of the most expensive things you'll ever have to pay for. The costs can easily spiral out of control if you're not sticking to a budget. Today's blog from your favorite South Florida bridal boutique offers some tips for creating a wedding budget.
When coming up with a budget for your wedding, a day you've been dreaming about since you were a little girl, it's easy to get carried away. Be sure to discuss the budget with your future husband to make sure you're both on the same page. Once you're married, you won't be the only one calling the shots on your finances anymore.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when creating a wedding budget is that you don't want to go into debt. Consider what you can reasonably afford without racking up the credit cards. If you don't have enough cash to pull off the wedding you want, consider extending your engagement to allow time to save more into a wedding account.
Traditionally, the parents would pay for the wedding or at least help with it; today that's not as common. Talk to both sets of parents and see if they would be willing to help out in any way. Maybe they would be kind enough to pay for the decorations or the DJ, just a small piece of the budget. Every little bit can help.
One of the most expensive pieces of the wedding budget comes down to the reception. Depending on how many guests you have, the cost of the food will take up a large portion of your budget. It's best to come up with a guest list before too much of the planning is underway. You need a realistic idea of how many people to plan for in your budget.
Unless you are working with a wedding planner, you likely have no idea how much each piece of a wedding typically costs. Do some research on average costs in the area that you're planning to get married. Larger cities will typically incur higher vendor costs. Get an idea of what it might cost before you determine what your budget is for each different category.
Once you've come up with an ideal budget amount for the entire wedding. Cut that number down by 10%. This will allow you to go a little over budget, which tends to happen when pulling off the wedding that you want.
When allocating the wedding budget to each vendor, it's important to determine what your priorities are. What do you have to have at your wedding, and what are you willing to make a compromise on? When you take extra money to cover a top priority, you're going to have to take some from somewhere else. You need to have an idea of what those lesser priorities are.
Arguably the most important piece of the wedding puzzle is the venue. You can't have a wedding without a venue. Therefore, it's important that you book your venue first. In addition, some venues come with extras such as tables, linens, dinnerware, event planners, caterers, photographers, etc. Be sure to determine what your venue offers before hiring outside vendors.
One wedding aspect that you do not want to skimp on is the catering. People are going to remember how the food was at your wedding, and you want to make sure it's good things they are saying. This is why it's important to book the caterer early on as well.
Once you have your budget set, it's time to move on to the next steps in the wedding planning process. You can start spending that budget! One of the most fun pieces of the budget to spend is that for your wedding dress. Bridal Couture of the Palm Beaches is here to help you find the perfect gown from our wide selection of wedding dresses in Florida. Give us a call at 561-793-4633 to setup an appointment at our bridal salon in Royal Palm Beach.
1. Be on the Same Page as Your Spouse.
When coming up with a budget for your wedding, a day you've been dreaming about since you were a little girl, it's easy to get carried away. Be sure to discuss the budget with your future husband to make sure you're both on the same page. Once you're married, you won't be the only one calling the shots on your finances anymore.
2. Don't Go Into Debt.
One of the most important things to keep in mind when creating a wedding budget is that you don't want to go into debt. Consider what you can reasonably afford without racking up the credit cards. If you don't have enough cash to pull off the wedding you want, consider extending your engagement to allow time to save more into a wedding account.
3. Ask Parents If They are Willing to Pitch In.
Traditionally, the parents would pay for the wedding or at least help with it; today that's not as common. Talk to both sets of parents and see if they would be willing to help out in any way. Maybe they would be kind enough to pay for the decorations or the DJ, just a small piece of the budget. Every little bit can help.
4. Come Up with a Guest Count.
One of the most expensive pieces of the wedding budget comes down to the reception. Depending on how many guests you have, the cost of the food will take up a large portion of your budget. It's best to come up with a guest list before too much of the planning is underway. You need a realistic idea of how many people to plan for in your budget.
5. Do Preliminary Research on Costs.
Unless you are working with a wedding planner, you likely have no idea how much each piece of a wedding typically costs. Do some research on average costs in the area that you're planning to get married. Larger cities will typically incur higher vendor costs. Get an idea of what it might cost before you determine what your budget is for each different category.
6. Cut Your Proposed Budget by 10%.
Once you've come up with an ideal budget amount for the entire wedding. Cut that number down by 10%. This will allow you to go a little over budget, which tends to happen when pulling off the wedding that you want.
7. Make a List of Priorities.
When allocating the wedding budget to each vendor, it's important to determine what your priorities are. What do you have to have at your wedding, and what are you willing to make a compromise on? When you take extra money to cover a top priority, you're going to have to take some from somewhere else. You need to have an idea of what those lesser priorities are.
8. Book the Venue First.
Arguably the most important piece of the wedding puzzle is the venue. You can't have a wedding without a venue. Therefore, it's important that you book your venue first. In addition, some venues come with extras such as tables, linens, dinnerware, event planners, caterers, photographers, etc. Be sure to determine what your venue offers before hiring outside vendors.
9. Hire the Caterer Second.
One wedding aspect that you do not want to skimp on is the catering. People are going to remember how the food was at your wedding, and you want to make sure it's good things they are saying. This is why it's important to book the caterer early on as well.
Once you have your budget set, it's time to move on to the next steps in the wedding planning process. You can start spending that budget! One of the most fun pieces of the budget to spend is that for your wedding dress. Bridal Couture of the Palm Beaches is here to help you find the perfect gown from our wide selection of wedding dresses in Florida. Give us a call at 561-793-4633 to setup an appointment at our bridal salon in Royal Palm Beach.
A Boutique with Exceptional Gowns at Attractive Prices
10233 Okeechobee Blvd - Suite B4
561-793-4633
Visit our website at www.BridalCouturePalmBeach.com
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