Budgeting is one of the most important and most dreaded parts of planning a wedding. The budget conversation should be one of the first with your partner.

Who is contributing financially?

Figuring out who pays for each part can be tricky and potentially awkward. Here is a very TRADITIONAL and very basic breakdown of who is expected to pay for what:

The Couple: the rings, all gifts for family and bridal party, the marriage license, and their share of the bachelorette/bachelor party.

The Wedding Party: Their outfits for the wedding and their share of the bachelorette/bachelor party.

The Groom’s Family: The rehearsal dinner and a shower, if they choose to throw one.

The Bride’s Family: The wedding and reception.

However, nothing is traditional these days, especially when it comes to weddings. Couples themselves are often paying for a lot more of their big day, leaving their families with less of the financial burden. Or some couples opt for more simple and inexpensive weddings, such as backyard ceremony or reception to save money. But no matter how you break down your budget or how much you plan on spending consider everyone who is helping you pay for your big day when making decisions so no one ends up breaking the bank. It is also important to keep in mind how much you are expecting each person or family to pay. Don’t expect too much or push too hard because money is one of the trickiest topics to talk about and to decide upon. So be smart and save when you can to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch! 

Making your dream wedding come to life on a budget may seem like a difficult task, especially when you know what you want. However, we have a few tricks up our sleeves to help you get there without breaking your bank account.

Agree to a specific $$$ amount!

First and foremost, set a budget number and stick to it. This is the most important rule of budgeting. You need to keep that figure in the back of your mind when considering all the details of your big day. The point of a budget is to prevent you from overspending, so you need to establish this dollar amount as a hard stop. 

Set individual budgets. After you set the overall budget amount, breakdown budgets for each individual area of the wedding. Set a dollar amount for your dress, the groom’s attire, flowers, favors, catering, décor, etc. Also, make sure you include taxes, service fees, and gratuities.

Create a Budget Spreadsheet

To keep yourself on budget, you need a system in place to keep yourself on track. Create an excel spreadsheet or find an online Wedding Budget form. I recommend separate categories for the estimated budget line item and what you actually spent so if you spend more or less in areas you can readjust.

Estimated Guest Count

When you’re thinking about who you would like to invite to your big day, remember that you’re paying for their accommodations as well. If you really can’t compromise on cutting anyone from your guest list, then retract a plus one from the invite. This will help save cost on food and drink more than you may think.

Non-Negotiables

Identify what are those must-haves for your wedding like a certain wedding vendor and make sure to budget accordingly.

Set-up separate bank account or credit card

Rule of Thumb: Don’t get into debt for your wedding. Set aside money each paycheck into a separate bank account that you won’t be tempted to touch for other things. If you are going to pay for all your wedding expenses, consider applying for a credit card with rewards. Only use this card for the wedding and be easier to track it your spending.

It’s never easy to set limits, but if you sit down with your partner and draw up guidelines about what you both really want and what you can do without, then set the budget will be much easier. It all comes down to what is most important to the two of you and the rest will follow!