Setting Your Wedding Budget
Setting Your Wedding Budget
If you are setting a budget for your wedding, then set the budget. Be honest about it. Don’t scrimp where you want to splurge, and don’t splurge because someone else (fiancé not included) thinks it’s important.
Don't set a low budget to try and skimp on things that you know you are going to spend more on later. When this happens, you can go back and make some modifications.
Be realistic in writing your budget. Make certain that you keep in mind the direct correlation between the number of guests and the overall budget—the more people, the more the wedding will cost. That is not the case for every aspect but if you are working with a budget this is something you must keep in mind. You do not have to willingly put yourself in debt for your wedding. You have your whole life in front of you. Get creative, you can do more with less!
Setting your budget should be the first order of business (after the engagement, of course!). There are some key players involved in your Big Day, and they will want to help you out. Your parents, grandparents or others may want to help you finance your Dream Wedding. It’s good to meet with them and set your budget. I recommend some pre-preparation for this meeting because it’s been a while (sometimes a long while) since the “One Who Holds the Pocketbook” has been down the aisle themselves.
A little preplanning can go a long way for this meeting, and Google is a great research tool if you can’t get where you’re going in person.
Some items to consider pricing before you meet to talk about setting your budget:
Gown
Venue
Food
Flowers
Photographer
Videographer
These are the big-ticket items. You’ll be shocked at some of the quotes you get. This group of items can easily cost $50,000.00! But don’t worry-we can bring down the costs with a little work and a fair amount of planning.
Being transparent and honest about what your vision is for your wedding is helpful at the Budget meeting. If you have your heart set on the French designer gown but you’re willing to negotiate on a less expensive caterer, you can still work within your budget.
The risk you take by not setting a budget and trying to stick to it is a wedding that costs way too much, and starting your life as a married couple deeply in debt.
In this course, we will have lots of opportunity to explore your creativity as well as who you know and their creative talents.
The key here is to be honest about your budget. Do your research and “cast your vision”. We’ll chat about the last one briefly, and then take a deeper dive in a later blog post.
Your Vision. You recognize it when you see it….in fact, you probably already have a Pinterest Board chock full of ideas. If not, I’m certain there will be one soon.
At the initial budget meeting, you will want to share you and your fiancé’s vision for your Dream Wedding. Share pictures, sights, smells-tell the story. This way, those who attend this meeting will get on board with what you want and begin to stray from what they think is best (and this is vital).
Here is a traditional breakdown of costs and who pays for what:
Bride's Parents and/or Family Members
If you’re going the very traditional route, the answer to the question “who pays for the wedding?” is thought to be, “the bride's family.” But you’ll see that even in traditional roles, the bride's family doesn’t actually pay for everything—but they’re definitely a big part of the equation. Traditionally the bride's family pays for the wedding venue and vendors, and most products and services related to the day.
Engagement Party (though this may be hosted by friends or other loved ones)
The Wedding Ceremony – venue, décor, and music
Reception venue
Catering
Reception Music
The Bride’s Attire and Accessories
Wedding Planner
Flowers (except, in some cases, for bride's bouquet, men’s boutonnieres, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers)
Stationery – save-the-dates, invitations, ceremony programs, escort cards, etc.
Favors
Photography
Videography
Transportation
Wedding Cake
Day-After Brunch (if desired)
Traditionally, here is what the Groom's Family Is Responsible For:
Honeymoon
Marriage license/officiant fee
Rehearsal dinner
Bride's bouquet, boutonnieres, and corsages
Transportation/accommodation for groomsmen
DJ/band and liquor/alcohol for wedding reception
Groom's Parents and/or Family Members
The main responsibility of the groom's parents is paying for the rehearsal dinner. Traditionally, the groom's family also pays for the honeymoon—but nowadays, the couple is usually taking on those expenses themselves (or setting up a honeymoon registry so guests can contribute).
Groom
While technically the groom is supposed to pay for these wedding costs himself, the groom's family may help contribute to these expenses.
Marriage License
Officiant
His Partner's Rings (Engagement Ring and Wedding Band)
Groomsmen’s Gifts
Groom’s Attire
Wedding-Day Gift for His Partner
The Bride's Bouquet, Men’s Boutonnieres, and Mothers’ and Grandmother’s Corsages (this is a very traditional way of working out who pays for the wedding – usually the bride's bouquet and the boutonnieres are paid for by whoever’s handling the total flower bill.)
Gift for His Parents
Wedding Night Accommodations
The Bride Is Responsible For:
Groom's wedding band
Wedding gifts for bridesmaids, groom, and parents
Hair and makeup
Hair and Makeup for Attendants (If the bride requires her bridesmaids to have their hair and makeup professionally done, it is proper etiquette for her to cover the cost.)
Wedding-Day Gift for Her Partner
Gift for Her Parents
Wedding Party
The bridesmaids, groomsmen, bridesmen, groomsladies, and other wedding party members do have certain expenses they'll need to cover:
· Their Attire (In some cases and if budgeting allows, the couple will pay for wedding party members' attire.)
Their Travel and Accommodations
Wedding Gifts for the Couple
Other Parties – Bachelor/Bachelorette Party, Bridal Shower, etc.
Hair and Makeup for Bridesmaids (If a bride does not require her bridal party to have professional hair and makeup, the bridesmaids may choose to pay for their own.)
Parents of Flower Girls and Ring Bearers
Children’s Attire
