Wedding Planning: Your BudgetPosted by Kim Rix on October 6th, 2009
Dear Bride & Groom,
Being one of the most important dates in a lady’s life, a wedding is something that has to be approached with great care. Every little detail matters. One very important element of the planning stages is budgeting; if you’re not too careful, you may run into difficulties later if you run out of money!
This is one reason why couples choose to work with a wedding planner to ensure that their day goes according to plan. But doesn’t getting a wedding planner cut out all the fun and personal elements? No, it increases it, by cutting the stress and giving you greater options and opportunities. Not least of all, by having someone else keep an eye on the budget.
First of all, figure out your budget! Whether you’re paying for everything yourselves, or sharing the costs with parents – get a number. When you have the number, you need to list every single aspect of the wedding and get your phone voice ready – because you’re going to have to get quotes from all of your services for the day.
Once you’ve got your quotes and figured out your budget – it’s time to start planning where and when you’re going to need to spend that budget. Firstly, and most importantly – be sure to set some money aside for the cost of your guests and the reception itself. These are things that you might not necessarily want to pay for right away – but it’s very important to have that money ready to be dealt out.
Once you’ve left all of the necessary money aside – you should create a timeline for which to follow in terms of your spending. Remember, a lot of services such as florists and car hire firms will want a deposit beforehand. Make sure that you’re taking note of what’s being paid out! It’s very easy to get carried away with spending – organization is the key. Keep a logbook of all that you’re spending. That way you’ll always be on top of things.
Thoroughly research such things as photographers and videographers beforehand. If you realise last minute that you’re not happy with their portfolio – you’ll more than likely lose your deposit. This is why planning is key – the more honed in and focused you are – the better your budget will be managed.
Often, we don’t think very much of spending money here and there – but when planning for something of such a large scale, it’s extremely important to keep a tight grip on things. Follow our advice, invest in a logbook, plan in advance, get on the phones and do your research! That way – you can’t go wrong!
Once you’ve got a budget, if you need to overspend in one area, you can compensate in another. If you have a wedding planner, they’ll help you stick to budget or adjust the budget according to your situation.
Kind Regards,
Kim Rix