First comes the engagement, and then comes the... wedding budget breakdown.
was just over $29,000, but for many people—particularly in big cities—that number might just barely cover the cost of catering., the wedding venue, and the myriad other expenses that pop up? While there is no one-size-fits-all budget, there are some helpful guidelines to follow as your whip out your calculator.
Here, a primer to planning out your wedding budget.Start by deciding who will be paying for the wedding. The old tradition that the bride’s parents should cover the whole bill is no longer nuptial canon. Both families often chip in, and the bride and groom will often help as well. Ask all parties involved how much they are able to contribute and you’ll get your bottom line.Avoid the common pitfall of falling in love with a pricey venue, dream dress, and over-the-top cake before you talk numbers. Start with a budget and then begin exploringwithin your price range, not the other way around. Though if you’re finding that your budget and your wedding plans are completely misaligned—your parents insist they must invite dozens of their friends but are only willing to contribute a small amount, for example—it’s time to discuss the reality of how far that money will go and either adjust the budget or the expectations accordingly. But never break the cardinal rule: Don’t break the bank. A lavish wedding is lovely, but even lovelier is starting married life with a healthy savings account.Now that you know what you’re working with, it’s time to take a macro look at how that translates to each part of your wedding. While there are no hard-and-fast rules about how much you should spend on each category, there are some loose guidelines that can help you from veering off track. You probably don’t want to allocate half your budget to the band, for example—unless you’re okay with delivery pizza for dinner. Many wedding planners and brides find it helpful to create a wedding budget breakdown by percentage. For example, some brides might be willing to allocate less money to a cake if it meant more money for a. Or, some grooms might have their hearts set on a particular DJ or band that's on the expensive side—you can reign in other areas of the budget to make room for killer musical talent. However you arrange and rearrange your wedding budget, however, a good rule of thumb is to spend no more than 40% of the overall budget on the venue, food and alcohol combined. While these are typically the most costly line items, but they shouldn't overtake the entire budget.Even the little things seriously add up—which is one reason it’s wise to keep a “miscellaneous” fund that’s around 5 percent of the overall budget. Here are a few common items that brides might not consider ahead of time: beauty treatments, bachelorette party, marriage license, night-before hotel room, welcome bags, vendor meals , and overtime costs.Tips are one big often-forgotten expense to factor in up front in each category. While many gratuities are built into vendor contracts, some are not. Pay attention and be prepared to tip everyone from the musicians to the hairstylists . If your officiant won't accept a tip, give a donation to his or her church, instead. Officiants should also receive a thank you gift. At this point, you may decide that there are some things that you want to stretch your budget for—that amazingyour friends hired, or a top-notch videographer. Or your parents might find that they can’t bear a wedding without an open bar for the entire event and are willing to foot the extra bill. Just don’t forget that small additions add up quickly.Do yourself a favor and immediately create a Google doc spreadsheet to keep track of your wedding budget. Start by breaking down your estimated costs for each category to provide a template as you’re contacting vendors. Each time you sign a contract or send a payment, record the actual cost so you always know how close you are to your bottom line. Share the doc with your fiancé and consider sharing it with family members who are helping to pay for the wedding if that will help streamline the process for you.is negotiable. Many vendors will be willing to work with you to customize a package that suits your budget. Let's say you've fallen head over heels for abut her minimum package is over your floral budget. Be upfront and honest, letting her know how much you love her designs but only have a certain amount to work with. Chances are the florist will work with you to tailor a package for your budget. The same applies to other vendors, as well. You might, for example, be able to save money on photography if you agree to have one less photographer, or a couple fewer hours, etc. Bottom line? If you have a good attitude and are flexible, you can probably work something out with
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