There’s an awful lot that goes into successfully planning a wedding. There are colors to choose from, decorations to select, dresses to try on, vendors to pick out, and the list goes on and on. Before you dive too deep into all those details, however, there is one crucial thing that has to be done first: establishing the budget. The financial aspect of planning a wedding can be especially tricky, which is why it’s good to know a few basic things about it.
Basic Costs
Some of the first things you need to know are the basic costs that are a part of virtually every wedding. In 2021, the average wedding cost about $22,500. That gets broken down into a bunch of different costs. Every couple getting married needs a venue, wedding attire, the cake, food, and drinks, decorations, invitations, music, a photographer, transportation, fees associated with a marriage license, the officiant, any church donations, and (of course) the rings. How much you choose to spend on any given cost is up to you. Take some time to research costs and get quotes so you know where to allocate your resources.
How to Save Money
Just because everything seems more expensive when the word “wedding” is mentioned doesn’t mean that you can’t save some money. If you give yourself enough time to plan, you can find ways to reduce some of your expenses. Getting married in the winter will help you reduce your budget. Wintertime isn’t as popular for weddings, which may mean that venus and vendors alike are willing to cut you a bit of a deal. Look into things you can do yourself as well. This doesn’t always save money, but sometimes a little DIY can pay off.
Choosing Priorities
Unless you have an unlimited budget, you’re probably going to have to make some decisions about what aspects of the wedding are the most important to spend money on. Many couples find that shelling out for a professional photographer is an excellent investment since it practically guarantees quality photos of their special day. The right venue can make a wedding seem especially magical, but even venues that don’t seem like all that much on the surface can be made to look stunning with the right decorations. Decide what is most important and prioritize that when allocating money.
Sorting out the financial aspect of wedding planning can be a headache, but figuring it out can give you an excellent idea of what you have to work with. From there you can figure out how much to allocate to any specific cost, find ways to save money where you can, and make sure that you prioritize the aspects of the wedding that are the most important to the couple. Don’t forget to leave a buffer for any unexpected costs that may pop up along the way.
Check out this article on how to avoid filing for bankruptcy!
