You’ve just said “Yes!” to your best friend and it’s time to start planning the big day you’ve dreamed about. The next most important “yes” to say is to your wallet - that’s right, it’s time to start thinking about your wedding budget! I know, I know, money is no fun to talk about and even less fun to plan around BUT if you want to start your married life on the right foot, a smart wedding budget is a must.
Gone are the days where options were limited and you had to take out a second mortgage to pay for your dream wedding. Thanks to an abundance of vendors at varying price ranges and the option to customize your wedding to fit your needs, anyone can afford the wedding of their dreams - IF they plan smart. Follow these 6 tips to build the best wedding budget!
Have “the talk” with anyone who will be contributing
No, no, not that talk. The money talk! Sit down with your fiance and anyone else who will be contributing to your wedding budget (parents, grandparents, etc.) and set specific amounts that will be going toward the wedding. This can be an uncomfortable talk at first since everyone tends to get awkward about money, but having a realistic starting point is necessary. And if you get the “we’ll cover whatever you need” answer that parents love to give, ask what the maximum is - $1,000? $10,000? Make sure to be as specific as possible so that everyone is on the same page.
Don’t go into debt
This may seem like a no-brainer, but we all tend to get bank statement blind when it comes to our wedding day. When determining your budget, plan so that you can have everything paid for, in cash, by your wedding day. Don’t put it on a credit card and don’t take out a loan. There are so many options for vendors, venues and everything else needed for your big day that you can always find the right options no matter what your budget is. If you want to spend more, I suggest planning further out so you have more time to pay for what you want without going into debt. You don’t want to come back from your honeymoon with a stack of payments from your wedding - you’ll have more important things to budget for, like buying a home or starting a family.
Determine your non-negotiables
What are those must-have, can’t live without it, willing to drop some cash on items? Do you absolutely need that Vera Wang dress? Is a 10 tier cake the most important thing to you? Lock down those must-have items first and allocate the amount of money needed to them. Then, you can decide what your non-essentials are. You’re not a fan of favors? Leave them off the budget and if you have money left over at the end and decide to get some, great! If not, you won’t be upset that they weren’t purchased anyways. Remember, this is YOUR wedding, you get to decide what’s important and what’s not.
Get organized
Next, organize your budget! Whether you put it in a spreadsheet or write it down on a piece of paper, make sure you have it in writing so that you can keep track of your spending. I personally love spreadsheets because you can add in formulas to show you how much over or under budget you are. This will also help you keep track of when payments are due. You can even buy great budgeting spreadsheets on Etsy if you’re not keen on making your own!
Here’s a wedding budget booklet we love!*
Plan your wedding around your budget, not the other way around
Remember those non-negotiables we talked about? Find what you’re looking for in your budget. If you only have $3,000 allocated to find a photographer, don’t spend $5,000 on a photographer! SImple as that. Use resources like your wedding planner, Facebook groups & The Knot to find a photographer that checks all your boxes and doesn’t blow the bank.
If you can, do it yourself!
When it comes to saving money, HGTV has taught us all that DIY is the way to go! So roll up your sleeves, go on Pinterest, and figure out what you’re willing to do yourself. If you’re a whiz with flowers, have a party with your bridesmaids the night before the wedding and put your bouquets together! If painting is your thing, paint your own signs for the big day! Your creativity and hard work may just save your wallet!
These silk flowers are great for bridesmaid bouquets and centerpieces!*
Remember, at the end of the day, the most important thing is marrying your best friend. The money spent on the wedding isn’t as important as the love spent on the marriage so don’t let your budget distract you from the true meaning of the day. Stick to these tips and you’ll have a less stressful planning process and a beautiful wedding to begin your new life together!
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