How To Tackle Those Pesky Wedding Budget Issues

Today, we are addressing the dreaded ‘B Word’ for your wedding or event – BUDGET! (Gasp!)

Let’s face it, one of the most daunting tasks in life and planning any event is making the event budget. For most, this is often a task that gets tossed to the side until they really have to buckle down and get to brass tacks.

Before you consider doing any coordinating for your wedding, the first thing you must do is set a budget. This will dictate every single aspect of your event. Pop open a nice bottle of vino, get out your spreadsheet, tablet, or good old-fashioned notebook. Then, grab your amazing fiancé and get to work – or just call us and we would be happy to do it all for you while you and your beloved sit back and relax! Not sure if you need a planner? Check out this post to help you determine whether you should hire a wedding planner.

First things first… Who is paying?

In today’s economy, not everyone’s parent’s can afford to foot the bill for the entire event. Will they be contributing and if so, how much?

Another thing to keep in mind when someone else is footing the bill is the possible loss of control over some or the entire decision making for you. Be sure the expectations are clear as to whom will ultimately be making the final selections.

It’s really important to have a vision for your date. If you are responsible for paying in full, you might want to consider giving yourselves ample time to build a little extra savings cushion for any hidden fees that may arise.

Bonus – if Grandma or Uncle John generously pitch in, you have a cushion for you and your other half to tuck away for that honeymoon or put away for a rainy day.

With all of that in mind, what is an amount you can comfortably afford – without going broke? -Think about it…-

You’ve figured out your ‘magic number’? Yay! Take a moment and give yourselves a big pat on the back! You’ve come up with a realistic amount together – that works for you. Now, it’s time to work on the guest list to help you have an estimate of how many people may be attending your wedding!

But before we move ahead- go and relax and congratulate yourselves for overcoming what is often a major hurdle in the planning process! Grab another bottle of wine and enjoy some one on one together – you truly deserve it!

In the interim, we’d love for you to weigh in and share some of your budgeting issue experiences in the comments below. What did you find to be the easiest expense to cut back on in your budget? What was your most important splurge?

Until next time,

The L’s