Photo by Brian David Weddings
Congratulations on your engagement! Now that it’s time to start planning, you’ll want to keep the entire process as stress free as possible – and as on budget as you can. Let’s face it, concerns over money can be one of the biggest stressors we have if not planned out well.
Before the planning happens, find out who is contributing to your budget and what your total budget is. It may not be the easiest of conversations but it’s important to know up front who is pitching in and how much they are comfortable giving.
Now that you know what you’re working with, it’s time to break down the basics. Be a realist through this process. More Guests = More $, so work on your guest list and don’t be afraid to minimize it. Doing this at the beginning will save you from trying to back track and cut down later on.
The following items are things you need to budget for that are all affected by your number of guests:
- Venue size (smaller guest list = options for smaller venues)
- Catering Costs
- Rentals (chairs, linens, plates and dining items, etc)
- Florals
- Favors
- Stationary
- Guest Transportation & Shuttling
Now that you know your numbers, start allocating funds for everything. If there are some pricier must haves on your list, make notes of where you are ok spending less money. We want to save whenever possible.
Other items you need to consider in your budget include:
- Décor
- Entertainment
- Hair & Makeup
- Officiant
- Photographer & Videographer
- Tax & Service Fees
- Wedding Rings
- Wedding Planner
- Wedding Attire
- Transportation
- Gratuities & Tips
When you start booking your vendors, track what you are spending and deduct it from your total budget. It may seem overwhelming at the beginning, but planning is key and you will be much better for it.
The first thing we do with all of our planning couples is to work through the budgeting process and complete a full breakdown of how much they should aim to spend in each vendor category to stay on track. Mapping out your figures at the very beginning saves money and stress later on, and ensures a more relaxed and enjoyable planning process.
xoxo, Shannon
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