Planning a Wedding Budget

Are you a super shopper or an impulse buyer?
Do you scour the earth for the best price on breath mints?
Or are you the couple that knows what they want and gets it because they put quality ahead of cost?

If you’re in the midst of planning a wedding budget, there are a few steps to follow to get the most out of your wedding. It’s not pinching pennies, it’s not breaking the bank, or costing you an arm and a leg. With doing things in the right order, planning a wedding can be stress free and more manageable.

Long ago, the parents of the bride paid for the wedding. And in 2024, more and more couples are paying for their nuptial celebration on their own. Today’s generation of engaged couples are thrifty and smart when it comes to money. That doesn’t stop them from getting a little flashy when it comes to their reception. It just means that they are choosing what is most important to them and choosing value over price.

Follow these steps to get the most out of your wedding day!

Wedding Guest List

1. What comes first?

The first thing you do when planning your wedding is to create a guest list. Before you open your web browser to search for wedding venues near me, make that list. Start with your closest friends and family and work out from there.

Plan on plus ones as well if your friends and family are married. But if your best friend Brandy just met the love of her life on Tinder last week, you might want to have a chat with her so that you’re not paying for an extra seat at the table should the relationship change.

Starting with your guest list puts things in perspective for you. Whether you’re inviting 50 guests, or perhaps you’re inviting half the county, those numbers dictate the rest of your budget. The highest cost item on your vendor list is always the venue.

Wedding Venue Budget

2. Finding the perfect location.

After you’ve solidified your guest list and cut out the fat, start looking at venues and asking about their minimums. Many venues have a 100 guest minimum and most food and beverage packages range between $100-$175 per guest on average. So, if you’re inviting 100 guests, and the price for cocktail hour & a plated 3 course meal with open bar is $125, your cost before you even think about your other vendors will cost you $12,500.

Although that number may be overwhelming to start, keep in mind. Many guests will leave an envelope covering the cost of their meal.

3. Prioritize, Prioritize, PRIORITIZE!!!

Once you’ve found the venue and menu that you want, start listing out your priorities. Are pictures important to you? Are you a foodie and want a late night menu? Are you a Pinterest princess that loves all of the shiny and flowery things? Do you want to dance all night until the last minute of your wedding? Or do you just want an intimate affair with a minimalist vibe? Any way you slice it, write down the things that are most important to you in order of importance. Meet with 3-5 vendors for each item or service and price them out. Once you do that, you’ll have a better idea at where the rest of your wedding budget should be.

***PRO TIP: If you fall in love with a vendor, book them on the spot. The great ones are first come first serve and dates book up fast especially during the peak months of the year in July-November***

4. The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.

I don’t have to tell you, 2024 is a tough year for money. For everyone. This is why it is so important especially if you are paying for your wedding that you prioritize your wants and needs appropriately. Your top priorities are the things to splurge on. And the further down the list you go, you’ll soon realize what stays and what goes. Think about the last wedding you attended and what you remembered most. Was is the food and the DJ or was it the ice sculpture?

**PRO TIP #2: Trust the creative partners in your chosen wedding team and don’t be afraid to ask for advice, suggestions, & opinions. Bear in mind, we host weddings every single weekend, and we’ve seen A LOT! We can assist you in planning what could work and what things may need reconsideration.

5. Ask your vendors about payment plans.

Everything from houses, cars, & home appliances have payment plans available to make paying for what you want a little more attainable and less stressful. For example, if you have 12 months until your wedding day, take the total cost of the service you’re booking and divide it into 4 payments instead of 1. For a wedding DJ that costs $3000, your quarterly payment would be just $750 or $250 per month.

6. Procrastination is a dream killer.

Plan your wedding with ZERO regrets. Listen to your gut and do not put off planning your wedding. The sooner you get all of your vendors & services booked, the closer you get to your wedding, the more relaxed you will be. Check each item off the list as you pay them off.