The Big Bad Budget!

One of the first things to do before you start booking ANY details for you and your hunnie's big day, is to sit down and talk numbers. Real numbers. This is the key to saving yourself from a massive headache and a potential feud over the dollars and cents down the road! Also, it is a good way to prepare you for budgeting your money as a couple after the "I Do's!"

The first thing I do when sitting down with a new bride is to find out what is most important to her for the wedding. What details are you most passionate about and where are you willing to scale down? For example, some brides are unwilling to pinch the pennies when it comes to a stellar photographer, but are willing to save when it comes to the cake if they aren't big cake eaters. Another example is the fashionista bride, who is usually ready to pay for the designer beauties, can save on catering by choosing a buffet style dinner. Making these choices first is a good way to make the budget work for you and your groom's tastes.

I know that this conversation is a TOUGH one, especially when approaching mom and dad, but if you go ahead and get it out of the way first, you can start planning the wedding details with a realistic mindset of what you have to spend.

Here is the budget break down I give all my new brides. This is a range, not a set guideline! That way you can decide what is most important to you, and work out the numbers in other categories where you are willing to save.

Budget Breakdown

Attire                           5-12%

Cake                            2-3%

Ceremony                   6-10%

Entertainment             3-10%

Flowers                       5-15%

Invitations                   2-5%

Reception                   35-55%

Photo/Video               7-13%

Transportation            2%

Rings                           7-15% 

Event Planner             10-15%            

See, it isn't so big, bad and scary! It just takes a little bit of work and compromise to get a good budget, and then you get to do the fun part: plan all the sweet details!