There are so many things to consider when planning the budget for your wedding. We have isolated a few things many couples should consider before cleaning out their coffers.
Who’s paying? Gone are the days when it was assumed that the bride’s parents will supply the funds for the wedding. Many couples today are opting to pay for their weddings themselves. In many cases, couples choose several payment options. They may procure a loan, or they may ask family members to contribute by providing decorating assistance, food, et cetera. No matter what the two of you decide, knowing who will be providing the majority of the funds is something that must be decided at the onset of the planning.
What can you really afford? This is very important. In many cases, couples get in over their heads and plan a wedding more elaborate than their budget can support. Most wedding consultants warn couples against taking out a loan to pay for their wedding. In many cases, couples find that they can pay for their wedding without loans. They just have to set a budget that they can afford and stay within those parameters.
How big will the wedding be? This will dictate the amount of money that will be spent more than any other factor. For example, if you are offering an open bar to your guests, then the amount of people on your guest list will determine how much you spend for alcoholic beverages. This also pertains to the amount of food you will need, how many favors you must purchase, and so on. If you have a large wedding party, then you will probably spend more on wedding party gifts, and other expenses incurred to take care of your wedding participants. Of course, going small generally saves most couples money.
Hired help? Some couples find that handling some of the tasks like planning, decorating, et cetera, are things that they would like to do themselves. In some cases, talented family members and friends can lend their help. This help can range from making wedding invitations to photography. Some wedding professionals warn many couples against involving family and friends too much, particularly to handle professional responsibilities; however, using the talents that family and friends works out for some couples.
Where will the wedding take place? Depending on your facility, this can be a real expense. In some cases, couples don’t have to rent their church, but more and more churches are beginning to charge maintenance fees, particularly if you are not a member of that particular church. In some cases, outdoor weddings can save couples money, especially if the wedding is held in a nice backyard of a relatives’ home. And even if you end up paying for the outdoor facility, it can generally serve as both the wedding and reception site, which can eliminate at least one of the two expenses. |
