More and more couples are paying for their own weddings these days, and young couples are even more likely to face a budget crisis. Creating a wedding budget plan in the beginning planning stages is the first step to assuring that you don't end up paying more for your wedding than you anticipated.
The first step in creating a wedding budget plan is to divide costs into categories, such as the following areas.
- Invitations
- Attire
- Ceremony Site Rental
- Musicians and Officiants
- Reception Site Rental
- Food & Officiants
- Decorations
- Menus and Programs
- Transportation
- Flowers
- Photography & Videography
- Lodging and Miscellaneous
You can then further break down each category into sub categories, and so on. If your home computer has a spreadsheet program, put it to use for making your wedding budget plan. It can be easily altered and organized, and the math is done for you.
Take advantage of free wedding budget calculators available online. Use them to get a general idea of what your dream wedding could cost, and then make your category list in order of priority. If your wedding dress is your number-one priority, and the food and beverage category falls toward the bottom, you know where you can splurge and where you can plan to cut costs. Wedding budget calculators can be found by doing an online search, and most offer free worksheets to include in your wedding planning book.
There are ways to save money on a wedding that won't sacrifice elegance or quality. For instance, when selecting flowers, keep in mind that those that are in season and locally available cost less. Make it clear with your florist that cutting cost is a high priority.
Having a theme wedding can be another great way to cut costs, by eliminating some common wedding details if they don't fit into your theme. For instance, perhaps you've decided to make your celebration a Mexican fiesta. A traditional Mexican dinner will likely cost less than a traditional prime rib dinner, and you can limit the bar to beer and margaritas, illuminating the need for a wine selection or full bar.
Decorating trends are leaning toward simple these days: use this to your budgeting advantage. Simple decorations look elegant when kept to a single or dual-color theme. You might have simple bouquets made of daisies only; white tulle draped around the reception, and white pillar candles for centerpieces. It's possible that you could limit decorations to just these elements.
Make use of the talents of family, friends and coworkers. Don't be shy to ask a friend who is a graphic designer to make your menus, or a cousin who has a band to play at your reception. Many people are anxious to participate in the behind-the-scenes happenings of weddings, and flattered that you recognize their talents.
Be familiar with return and exchange policies of the vendors and coordinators you are using. Having to buy something twice or pay for a miscommunication can really add up in the end.
If you prioritize your wedding budget plan from the beginning, and shop around for sales and deals in the categories from which you've chosen to cut costs, you can have the satisfaction of creating a fantastic wedding for less than you expected.