By far the largest complaint on wedding planning is the amount of money that it costs to plan one. Weddings can be expensive, for sure, but is it really that they cost “too much” or is it possible that you’re approaching it from the wrong mindset? No matter the case, it’s a good idea to know where the money is going to go for your wedding.
How to Decide on a Budget: Many times, people fix on a number that may be reasonable for the day, whether based on actual finances where you only have a specific amount, or a desired number where you’ve decided what you think is reasonable for the day. However, both of these methods can leave you settled on unrealistic expectations. The best way to decide on how much to spend per category is to do some initial research to understand what you can realistically expect to pay in each category. Once you’ve done a little homework, you can then set your budget with the right expectations.
Friends and Family: The size of your guest list is an important factor to the amount of money you will spend on your wedding because a large portion of your budget will be spent on catering. Most caterers charge a price per head, so the size of your guest list will really be the basis for your budget. While you may not have yet finalized your guest list at the start of your planning, the key is to have a general idea of how many guests you would like to attend. This is also a FAQ favorite of all wedding vendors, so be sure to have this information at the ready.
Photo by Flaviu Nasarimba
Personal Preferences: Of course, money isn’t everything. Most of wedding planning comes down to personal choices. Your preferences have a lot to do with how much you will spend on your wedding as each expense has a wide range of prices. It’s no good to just pick the highest, lowest, or average prices: you have to make a selection that you will be happy with based on more than just the price. The real question you should ask is “what is the value of this service?” The value is a judgement call, but once you have an idea of what you’re looking for, it will make the selection process easier.
If you’re looking for help figuring out where to start, we’re happy to help you kick off your wedding planning process so that you can approach all your vendors armed with knowledge and confidence. Sign up for our newsletter to get highlights from the Becoming a Capable Bride seminar and get more tips designed to empower your planning process. Have more questions? Feel free to contact us so we can discuss.