5 Tips to Help Stick to a Wedding Budget

Buffalo wedding photographer | AlekseyK Photography

Believe it or not, this is one of the easiest things to do. So why don’t more people do it? They start off with a predefined dollar $ amt. and say, “this is what I’m willing to spend and I’m not going to deviate.” Fast forward a year, and 45% of Couples will exceed that original $. Why? Because there are a lot of unforeseen costs in planning a wedding, from the venue locations, catering, flowers, photography, DJ, etc. It all adds up, and if you’re not keeping meticulous track of your expenses, you’ve blown the budget. The national average cost of a wedding is around $30,000 (from The Knot). It will, of course, depend on your location, but it’s a good number to keep in the back of your mind. Below, I’ve outlined just 5 Tips to Help Stick to a Wedding Budget.

TIP 1. The Guest List.

This tip can affect your entire wedding. Think about who really matters (other than your future spouse) and who you’d regret missing the wedding. For most people it’s your immediate family; i.e. mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents. Depending on your family, this is less than/around twenty people from both sides of the aisle, right? So, that’s your guest list…..done!

TIP 2. The Wedding Ceremony.

Whether it’s in a church or the local court house, the ceremony isn’t going to break your budget, so do what feels right for you. If you’re on a budget, though, avoid inviting LOTS of guests to the ceremony, because the polite / “I feel like I should” thing to do is also invite them to the reception, and this is where the costs add up BIG TIME. Keep it small and personal. Also, you can have the ceremony and reception at the same location to be more cost affective with the vendors you’re paying by the hour.

TIP 3. The Wedding Reception.

This is where the budgeting can get difficult. Food is expensive. You really, really need to constantly remind yourself that your second cousin’s best friend’s boss doesn’t need to be at your wedding….period. This is a time to spend with the family and friends that you love the most. A buffet is generally less expensive, but if you only have a small group, a plated meal is a very nice touch. You can even get creative and have a family style dinner, where each table is served the same variety of dishes, and the guests only select what they want to add to their own plate. Also, if your group is small enough, consider renting one room of a restaurant for the night, as opposed to a banquet hall. The restaurant typically will have a discounted menu for special parties/events.

TIP 4. The Wedding Photography.

As a wedding photographer in the Buffalo, NY area , of course I’m going to advise not cutting corners in this particular area. I think the longest lasting memories you’ll have of your wedding day are the photographs, and going too cheap in this area can lead to regrets down the road. However, that doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget either! Without getting too preachy, there are a few key things to consider as you choose your photographer:

– Do you like their style?

– Do you like them as a person?

– Do you really need Second Photographer? Short answer: NO. Please don’t get me wrong, it’s good to have a second angel covered, and just in case of an emergency there’s a back-up; but some of the top photographers in the world work by themselves (with only an assistant for help).

– Do they offer discounts for off season or weekday weddings?

A good photographer does not have to be overly expensive and as long as you like the style of their portfolio and you work well together, that is all that matters.

TIP 5. The Flowers/Decoration.

Simple, do it yourself and stick to what’s in season for your wedding day. Pinterest has tons of DIY ideas, and this can be a great way to spend some extra “Girl/Guy” time with your bridesmaids/groomsmen. This makes the day more personal as well, and will give you a sense of pride that you made it yourself. Stick to more greenery, and cut back on the flowers, since this is where the $s add up.

Again, these are just a few ways to stay on budget. Make a list of what’s most important to you and your fiancé for the wedding day, and outline how much you’re willing to spend on these items. If they make it in under your expectation, great! Spend that extra cash on the next item, and so forth. There are many nuances to planning a wedding, but if you have faith, and believe that it can be done, you will stick to your budget and not let the wedding day get overwhelming.

Here is one more link that might be helpful using more number oriented statistics www.prnewswire.com

Good Luck.