There’s no denying it -- all that wedding glamour costs money, and setting a realistic wedding budget now is going to save you from a nasty shock on your wedding day. So take out that calculator, call up the people who are contributing, and decide on a realistic budget.
Before you start number crunching, set your priorities. Once you know what elements you can and can’t live without, you'll have a much clearer idea of how to allocate your money. Then use our Budget Tool to give you an estimate of how much to spend on each category.
First, what type of wedding do you want? Your theme and venue will dictate the majority of your costs.
Your second consideration is the number of guests. Assuming you pay $100 a head, there is a drastic difference between a party for 100 and an extravaganza for 400.
Next, make a list of all the usual elements of a wedding and decide on which aspects to splurge on, which to cut back on, and which to eliminate altogether. Some things to consider:
Reception Type
Are you planning on a formal dinner, a cocktail reception, or perhaps a champagne and dessert brunch?
Alcohol
Serving wine and champagne, along with having an open bar, quickly adds up. Consider limiting the beverage selection.
Cake
This can cost anywhere from $1 per slice to $10 or more, depending on the intricacy of design and combination of flavors and fillings. Consider going to your local grocery store bakery to see if they can customize a cake for you at a more reasonable price than a private designer.
Flowers
Check out which flowers will be in season during your wedding month and how big of a factor you want them to play in your reception decor.
Number of Attendants
The number of bridesmaids and groomsmen will affect the costs of the rehearsal dinner, bridal gifts, and bridal luncheon.
Invitations
This will be the your guests’ first hint of what’s to come, but do you really need to have letterpressed invites and for each envelope to be hand-calligraphed?
Dress
Ask yourself if you want a designer dress, or if you will be satisfied getting one on sale at your local bridal salon.
Jewelry
Can you cut back here by borrowing family heirlooms?
Photographer & Videographer
Decide on what style you’re looking for and what type of package you want.
Entertainment
Consider forgoing a full band and keeping it simple with a DJ.
Favors
Crystal goblets for each person, or a yummy box of truffles?
Transportation
Is a regular limo for just the bride and groom sufficient, or do you want a stretch Hummer for all your attendants? Or better yet, how about asking your best man to chauffer you around in a luxury rental car?
Wedding Consultant
They're strictly optional, but highly desirable for some. Spend the extra money here if planning your wedding yourself will be too much of a headache.
Once you’ve thought about each category, begin visiting various vendors to compare prices. After that, it’s all up to you to fit those estimates into your budget!