HOW TO PLAN A WEDDING BUDGET: THE TIPS YOU NEED TO KNOW

In one of my recent posts, I shared with you my easy three steps to plan a wedding budget. 

But creating a budget for your wedding doesn’t stop there. 

In this post, I’m sharing the tips you need to keep in mind when it comes to having conversations about your wedding budget. Plus, I’m giving you three major things to consider when trying to save money while planning your wedding. 

And to top it off, I’m detailing the top things most of my clients forget about when we’re working on building their budgets! 

Wedding Budget Tips to Know

Before we get into how to create a wedding budget, I wanted to give you my top two tips as you start having conversations about making one. 

These are the two things I always tell my clients before we have our initial budget meeting. 

Be open minded and realistic

First and foremost, you need to go into all conversations about a wedding budget with a realistic and open mind.

The best thing you can do is know if you don’t have a limitless budget, you’re probably going to need to sacrifice a few things along the way. 

This will keep you from feeling disappointed later down the wedding planning road. And you’ll still be able to tailor your budget to fit in the parts of your wedding day you’re most excited for. 

Be ready to talk about it

There’s no way around it. Planning your dream wedding involves planning for it financially. You need to be ready and willing to talk finances with your partner, your wedding planner, your vendors, and your loved ones if they’re involved in helping pay for your big day. 

I tell my clients before our budget meeting not to stress about this conversation. I understand it’s a personal topic, and I’ll tread as lightly as I can. But in this line of work, I deal with so many different types of budgets on a daily basis and still create the weddings of my clients’ dreams. So I can work with your own wants and needs to create something you’ll be thrilled with! 

Three ways to save on your wedding budget

There are plenty of ways to save money when it comes to your budget! It’s all about being open and realistic with it and with what your dream wedding looks like. 

Consider your venue type

First things first, consider your venue type. There are pros and cons to all of the different venue options you can choose from. 

For example, I often see clients set their wedding ceremony and reception on family property in an effort to save money.

And yes! There is logic there. They won’t have to pay for venue pricing up front. However, other amenities and necessities have to be considered. For example, is the location set up with an appropriate number of washrooms for all of your guests? Is there a place for your caterer to setup and heat dishes if necessary? Is there power for your DJ to set up music and speakers for your ceremony and reception? 

All of these add up quickly! And you may realize paying for a venue is expensive upfront, but it’s ultimately the more cost effective option based on what they offer. 

You can also search for venues and locations that include extras with the base price cost such as decor for your ceremony and reception. 

Edit your guest list

This is one I warn my clients of upfront. Remember every guest you invite comes with a price tag. 

So, while it seems like a nice thing to do to allow plus ones for anyone you’ve invited, know they can quickly bring up the cost of your wedding day. 

Talk with your partner about how many people you want to invite and stick to that number. Don’t make too many exceptions (if at all), otherwise you’ll find yourself making exceptions everywhere. 

Plan for offseason or less busy days

One of the best things you can do to save on your wedding day budget is plan for a wedding in an offseason or on less “desirable” days. Many venue and vendor options offer lower price rates for weddings in colder months and on days like Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays. 

Your wedding can be as beautiful as you’ve always imagined for up to half the cost using this tip alone!

Prepare for surprises when creating your wedding budget

Most of the time, there’s always something that’s forgotten when planning your wedding budget. Go ahead and set aside a certain percentage to account for any surprise costs you may have missed as you were creating your budget! 

These are a few that many couples forget about:

Corkage fees 

A corkage fee usually comes into play when your venue or location provides bartenders but not the alcohol itself. If you bring the alcohol, some venues may charge a price per bottle to account for chilling, storing, opening, and serving any whiskey, wine, or champagne you may have. 

Gratuities

This is a major cost that quickly adds up if you don’t account for it! Don’t forget to add gratuity for your vendors when you create a wedding budget. 

Postage costs

The postage for all of your stationery including your save the dates, your invitation suites, and your thank you cards can add up! Especially if you’re including heavier items or heavier cardstock. Take this into consideration when you plan your wedding budget. 

Credit card fees

Many vendors include credit card fees with their services. Be sure to ask if there are any credit card fees as you research your different vendors!

There’s quite a lot to consider when it comes to planning your wedding budget. But with my three easy steps to creating a budget and my tips from being a wedding planner for many years now, you’ll have one set up in no time! 

If planning a wedding budget doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, don’t worry. I can help you!  For my full wedding planning clients, we sit down together to go over your wedding budget. I’ll make sure everything for your wedding fits within the number you’re willing to spend. 

If you want more information about my full wedding planning service, click here!