Congratulations – you’re engaged!!! You’ve dreamed about this moment forever. You already know the colors you’ll have, the first song you’ll dance to, and even where you’re going on your honeymoon. Wedding planning can be an exciting time…but don’t go booking that $3,000 horse-drawn carriage just yet….you’re going to need a budget.
As much as you want to race off to the dress shop, restraining yourself and creating a budget can help you keep your senses during planning while not stressing about the little things. Here’s how:
Spreadsheets are your friend!
Start out by having an honest conversation your with your soon-to-be spouse about who is willing to pay for what. Being realistic and open up front about what you (and anyone who is helping you) can afford can really save yourself a headache in the long run. Maybe your mother in law is willing to pay for the cake…until she realizes the frosting costs more than her car payment! By having these conversations early on, you can avoid the surprises down the road and create a smoother planning process. Create a few pages on your spreadsheet including estimated, modified, and actual expenses- and don’t forget to account for those extras like gratuities and taxes.
Prioritize your vision.
Have your partner sit separately from you and both of you make a list of what you value most to least in your wedding. You may be surprised to find that your visions and priorities don’t necessarily align right at first. By doing this, you can learn what your partner values for the day, and how you can make the budget fit for the both of you.
Start with the venue.
Then work your way out. Venues are going to be the bulk of your budget because it’s well…your venue. Once you secure a venue, usually you secure an estimated guest count as well. Guest count can cause your budget to fluctuate heavily, so the quicker you find your venue, the better.
Look ahead for surprises!
When making that spreadsheet, it’s best to include a line item for 15% extra from the total budget. This is to help you account for everything you WILL forget before wedding day. While planning, it’s so easy to forget the little things you think you’ll remember. By creating a plan for these occasions, you successfully avoid those hidden fees in your contracts that you didn’t notice or the overwhelming cost of stamps for the invitations you neglected to budget for.
Hire a (certified) wedding planner.
It may seem counter-intuitive to prematurely shell out cash to pay someone ELSE to plan your wedding while trying to pinch your pennies. Stay with us…by hiring a planner, you can be assured you will stay within your budget as your planner will remind you when you’re not. Additionally, your Certified Wedding Planner has affiliations to offer you extreme discounts you can’t find elsewhere from invitations to wedding gowns. We also have experience and expertise advice on how other couples have saved!
Whether you have just recently gotten engaged or are months deep into your planning, having a budget can really help you stay realistic and focused when planning your perfect day. Planning a wedding is exciting and overwhelming enough. By implementing these easy steps to create a budget, you can save yourself a lot of stress and anxiety — and still be able to afford the photographer you forgot to book!
To book a free consultation to hire your own Certified Wedding Planner (and budget manager extraordinaire), call 410.978.2048 or email lexi@eventsbylexi.com.
Featured image pc: Frozen in Time Photography
