I think this may be the most NOT fun part of wedding planning, the wedding budget. But knowing the wedding cost breakdown and planning your wedding budget is incredibly important. Having those discussions and planning sessions early is necessary to alleviate stress and overspending.
The Wedding Budget is an essential topic that many couples and their families will find incredibly valuable. Let’s talk about all of the aspects related to wedding costs and budgeting.
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Introduction to Wedding Budget Planning
Weddings can be expensive. But you can also have an amazing wedding on a budget. The key is knowing wedding costs and creating a realistic wedding budget breakdown for your big day. I recommend you start wedding planning with a budget conversation.
Wedding costs include anything from food to music to a tent and special cocktails. The list can be pretty long. We are going to share our detailed outline for creating a wedding budget. Use this to formulate your own budget. I use Google Sheets but you can create a list anywhere. It just really helps to have something where you are tracking your spending to ensure you stick to your plan.
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Getting Started: Setting the Wedding Budget
The big picture look at wedding budget planning includes:
- Identify Who is Paying for What. Who is paying for the wedding? This could be the family, a combination, or the couple.
- Setting a Maximum Limit. Decide on a total budget that you feel you can realistically stick to.
- Decide on your Priorities. What is most important to the couple? The food? The music? the number of guests? the decor?
- Create A Contingency Fund. You will have unplanned costs pop up. I recommend setting aside some money from your budget for this so you aren’t forced to spend more than you planned (or to give up something you don’t want to give up).
Detailed Wedding Cost Breakdown
Let’s start with a list of potential costs when planning a wedding. This list includes common wedding costs but is by no means a required list of costs or a complete list of costs. Each wedding budget is customized to your celebration. Use this as a starting point.
Venue Costs
Venue rental costs vary a lot but can be the #1 cost in your budget. Here are a few factors that can contribute to varying costs for a Venue:
- Cost: Ensure the venue pricing fits within your budget.
- Hidden Costs: Be mindful of any additional costs like corkage, overtime charges, etc.
- What events will take place at the venue? The Wedding Ceremony, The Reception, etc.
- What’s Included: What will the venue include? Do they include the tables, the chairs, the linens, china, and glasses, etc?
- Perks: Do they provide something at the venue that may reduce costs elsewhere in the budget? For example, do they offer accommodations for the wedding party or guests? Is there a bridal suite for the bride to get ready?
- What will you have to provide? Beyond personal decor, are there items you will have to purchase or bring in from outside, like a tent for example?
Accommodation Costs
Consider the cost of accommodations and housing. This includes:
- Will you need accommodations? Are you having the wedding away from your home?
- What type of accommodations and housing will you need? Hotel rooms? House? Etc.
- Whose accommodations are you responsible for? The Couple? The Wedding Party? Family & Friends?
- Cost: Ensure the accommodation pricing fits within your budget.
Catering and Menu Pricing
- Per-Plate Cost?
- What’s included?
- Will they provide the bar?
- What are the add-on costs? Is coffee extra? Will they bring a cake? Servers? Linens?
- Remember to include a meal for your vendors.
Attire and Accessories
- Wedding Dress and Veil. Do you want a going-away outfit? Or even a separate reception dress?
- Groom’s Attire
- Accessories, Shoes and Jewelry
Wedding Decor & Flowers
- Ceremony Decor & Flowers (think Linens, flowers, candles, china and glassware).
- Venue Decor & Flowers
- Bouquets and Boutonnieres
Photography and Videography
- Fees for their services.
- Additional Services if any (think would you like the videographer to bring a drone, or the photographer to bring a second shooter)
Entertainment and Music
- Live Bands/DJ for Reception
- Ceremony Music (The DJ or band may provide or you may hire additional musicians for the ceremony)
- Additional Entertainment
Wedding Stationery and Invitations
- Designing Costs
- Printing and Distribution
- Postage (remember, sometimes this can be more than a typical envelope)
- Addressing Fees (are you hiring a caligrapher or having them printed or addressing yourself?)
Transportation and Logistics
- Guest Transportation for out of town guests
- Transportation for the Wedding Party on the Day of the Wedding
Miscellaneous Costs
- Wedding Favors
- Flower Girl Basket, Cake Knife, Guest Book, etc.
- All “Other” Expenses
- Additional Unforeseen Expenses
Navigating Through Budget Challenges During Wedding Budget Planning
It can be stressful to plan your wedding budget. Couples, families, and moms like me have a vision of what this event will be like. Then reality hits. Weddings are EXPENSIVE! I think it’s important to remember that no matter what you plan, it’s going to be a really amazing day celebrating the couple. Keep the focus on them and you won’t be disappointed.
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Real-Life Wedding Budget Scenarios and Creative Solutions to Budget Constraints
We’ve had a few pivots based on budget during our planning process. This is going to happen and most of the time, there is an easy swap or solution. Be flexible, start researching and I am sure you will come up with a great plan. Perhaps you know someone who can step in and provide a service as a gift, or maybe you can DIY something that is easy to make. The possibilities are endless and the bits that you save here and there will really add up. Some Ideas:
- Ask Your Guests to RSVP online. This will save on the cost of RSVP cards and postage (and you will save some trees while you are at it).
- Make some decor that you love but is super expensive to buy. We created really lovely rattan candle covers instead of purchasing or renting them and saved hundreds of dollars.
- Do you have a musician in the family? Ask them to play the ceremony music. This will save money but is also a really nice personal touch.
- Skip the wedding programs. Save on printing and again, save some trees. No one will miss them.
- Choosing Off-Peak Seasons
- DIY Where You Can. Flowers, Decor, Location.
- Negotiating with Vendors. Always ask for options when dealing with your vendors. The price they first give you is likely negotiable.
- Leveraging Connections. Do you know someone who provides a service you may need? A lot of times you can get a great discount if you have that connection.
Final Thoughts on Wedding Budget Planning
As I said at the beginning of this post, the budget can be a stressful and not-so-fun part of wedding planning. But, if you budget well, you will be able to make decisions that make sense and that help you stay in line with what you have to spend. Knowing the wedding cost breakdown and planning your wedding budget is incredibly important. Having those discussions and planning sessions early is necessary to alleviate stress and overspending.
I wish you so much success in your wedding planning journey. Your day is going to be amazing!
Do you have any budget tips or cost-saving hacks? I’d love to hear them. Add them in the comments.
