| THE
WEDDING BUDGET
One
of the first steps in planning your wedding is to develop
a realistic budget. This is the one area where suddenly the
romance and excitement of your engagement is clouded by reality.
We often want more than our budget will allow, unless your
dad happens to be Bill Gates. This is where our Wedding
Planning Worksheet (Adobe PDF) will be helpful to you.
You will be able to see where your priorities are and where
you will be willing to cut corners, so that you can enjoy
what is the most meaningful to you.
Few,
if any, couples know how much vendor services will cost, so
our first suggestion is to contact a few and do some comparison
shopping. You will quickly get an idea of what services will
cost in your area. Then use the Wedding
Budget Worksheet (Adobe PDF) to determine the average
amount of each item, and total them. This will give you your
starting budget amount.
Next,
think about where you can save a little. Do you have someone
who could help you make the dresses and save money there?
Do you have your heart set on a live band, but would be willing
to consider a DJ? Are you willing to have your reception in
a different location because you want to be married in a particular
church? These are the kinds of compromises you may need to
make. Be sure to consider
your fiancé's feelings, as well. Remember, he is a
part of this too.
Who
Pays For What?
The Bride:
- The
Groom's Wedding Ring
- A
Wedding Gift for the Groom
- Gifts
for the Bridal Attendants
- Her
own Medical Exam
- Accommodations
for out-of-town Bridal Attendants
The
Bride's Parents:
- Wedding
Ceremony
- Wedding
Reception
- A
Wedding Gift for Bride and Groom
- Invitations,
Announcements, and Postage
- Bride's
Wedding Gown and Accessories
- Wedding
Photographs
- The
Bridal Attendants' Bouquets
- Transportation
to and from Ceremony and Reception
The
Groom:
- The
Bride's Engagement and Wedding Rings
- A
Wedding Gift for the Bride
- Marriage
License
- Officiant's
Fee
- Gifts
for the Groomsmen
- His
own Medical Exam
- Accommodations
for out-of-town Groomsmen
- The
Honeymoon
The
Groom's Family:
- A
Wedding Gift for the Bride and Groom
- The
Bridal Bouquet
- Mother's
and Grandmother's Corsages
- Boutonnieres
for Fathers, Grandfathers, and Groomsmen
- The
Rehearsal Dinner
The
Wedding Attendants:
- Wedding
Attire and Accessories
- Travel
and Lodging Expenses
- A
Wedding Gift for the Bride and Groom
- Cost
of Hosting Bridal Shower (Maid of Honor)
and Bachelor Party (Best Man)
- The
Rehearsal Dinner
Ten
Ways To Cut Costs
- Don't
choose a date that coincides with a holiday. This can mean
escalated costs for flowers and site rentals. However, many
sites are already decorated for the winter holiday season,
so you could actually save money at that time of year.
-
Skip
the hard alcohol. Serve champagne, beer and wine only. This
will not only save money, but might save you the headaches
of finding designated drivers and liability.
- Use
candles. They set a romantic and intimate tone for your
wedding and reception and will allow you to cut down on
expensive flowers (be sure to check with your locations,
first).
- Secure
wedding vendors early. Many vendors book months in advance,
and booking early will not only assure you the date you
want, but might enable you to negotiate a better deal.
- Reduce
the number of attendants. Do you really need 12 bridesmaids?
You will have reduced costs in flowers, gifts and accommodations.
- Don't
overestimate your guest list. It is tempting to do, but
be conservative. You pay per person, whether the person
is there or not.
- Choose
simple flowers. Hand-tied bouquets are much less expensive.
Even a single flower tied with pretty ribbon is adequate.
Choose flowers that are "in season" and readily available.
- Ask
about alteration expenses. Don't assume that they are included
in the price. Find out exactly what you will be spending
before you choose that dress. It may not be worth it.
- Make
ceremony flowers do "double duty". Use your ceremony flowers
to decorate tables at the reception site as well.
- Consider
a daytime wedding. Brunches and Luncheons are much less
expensive than dinners and evening parties with alcohol.
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