Thoughts on Wedding Budgets
Wedding budgets are a tricky thing. Getting married is a once in a lifetime event, and knowing how much money to dedicate to the momentous occasion is a challenging task. Having a wedding planner provide their expertise is a significant step in creating a budget. They have first-hand knowledge of the vendors and the probable expenses associated with the size of the wedding and the style you want to achieve. Here are a few things to consider:
Tip #1 - Begin by discovering if anyone other than you and your fiancé is contributing to your big day. We realize that conversations around money can be awkward, but more times then not, you have a sense of who is eager to help, and it's just a matter of confirming what they're comfortable gifting.
Tip #2 - What can you realistically afford? This calls for a sit-down and a great trial run for you and your finance to discuss money matters. You don’t want to be ‘wedding poor,' or go into debt. Now may be a good time to open a separate wedding checking account so you can track your spending and stay accountable to yourselves.
Tip #3 - Weddings all come down to the numbers, and you pay per guest, so the task of creating a tentative guest list is a must. Keep in mind that this will dictate the size of the venue needed, catering options, and alcohol decisions – a few of the more costly expenditures. Start big and dwindle your way down if you need to be more discerning in headcount.
Now that you’re off to a great start, it’s time to set up a consultation with your wedding planner. They can provide expense insight that will help you set your budget. Whether your wedding budget is $1500 or $100,000, it’s important to be financially responsible when making plans.
