BUDGET BA$IC$
F
or many couples, a wedding is
the fi rst major event they have
ever had to plan and execute.
It also might be the fi rst time they
have prepared and followed a budget,
which is no small feat.
The equation for creating a
wedding budget is seemingly simple:
Think about what type of wedding
you want, think about what type of
wedding you can afford, and hope that
those two images align as much as
possible.
The cost of the average American
wedding is on the rise at roughly
$32,000, according to a survey
conducted by wedding planning giant
The Knot. However, a wedding does
not need to be a costly affair.
While it is easy to witness other
couples’ weddings or view endless
stylized photos on Pinterest and feel
like there is a standard to which you
must adhere, most couples that go
over budget do so not because they
are trying to keep up with the Joneses.
They spend beyond their budget
because of assumptions they made and
hidden costs, which add up quickly
when you don’t stay as informed as
possible.
Set Priorities
The entire day is important to you.
It’s your wedding day. But if you had
to pick three things that you would
rather not compromise on, what would
they be? Write them down.
Now let the stress of everything
else go. Knowing what your priorities
are and being on the same page as
your spouse will help keep you both
accountable. Also when planning
your budget, keep in mind the things
that are important to you — not just
in the wedding, but afterward. This
will help guide you toward fi nancially
smart choices. You don’t want
buyer’s remorse over the money you
could have put toward a new car or
apartment.
Have The Talk
As uncomfortable as it is to talk
about money, especially with loved
ones, it is necessary for creating and
maintaining a successful budget.
Talk with your spouse. Talk with
each of your parents and anyone else
who might be contributing to your
celebration.
You don’t want to be in a position
where you thought your parents were
going to contribute a certain amount
toward your wedding, only to fi nd
out halfway through that they are
contributing much less, or not at all. It
is not anyone else’s responsibility to
pay for your wedding, but if someone
does wish to contribute, you need to
know how much.
Constantly Reevaluate
It is also important to realize that
the categories you create in your
budget exist to help guide you but are
not set in stone numbers. Through
your planning process, you might
come to fi nd that you allocated much
less for photography than your local
industry demands.
You might not need as much
money for music as you originally
thought because your cousin’s up-
and-coming band offered to play at a
family discount. Regularly evaluating
and reevaluating your budget keeps
you on top of what things are actually
costing you and allows you to
reallocate funds as necessary.
— Green Shoot Media
THINKSTOCK
IMAGE
10 | Wedding Planner 2017