Set
a Wedding Budget and Stick to It!
- by KissMeGoodnight.com
Budget
concerns can be one of the most prominent sources of disagreement
for a couple in the process of planning
their wedding. The couple may have different ideas about what
type of wedding they want and also about what they can afford.
It is important for the couple to discuss financial constraints
before the wedding planning goes too far.
The first tip for setting a budget and sticking to it is to
have a conversation regarding finances well before
the wedding planning starts in earnest. It is important that everyone involved
in the decision making process of the wedding understand just
how much money is available to be spent on the wedding.
Another tip for setting a budget and sticking to it is to
start saving early for your wedding. Putting aside a portion
of each paycheck for awhile can add up to a sizable savings
that can be used for your wedding. This advanced planning and
saving will allow you to maximize the budget that is available
to you for your wedding planning.
Once
the budget has been established, set it aside for a few
days and then review it again. This time away from the budget
gives those involved the chance to let the information settle
in and the review of the budget after this waiting period gives
the participants the opportunity to verify that they understand
and agree to the budget. This is important because if someone
does not agree with the budget, they may be likely to overspend
in one area leaving the budget in jeopardy.
After an overall budget is established it
is important to divide the total amount appropriately to
establish budgets
for items such as the venue, food and drink, the bride’s attire,
the groom’s attire, transportation, entertainment, photography,
favors, centerpieces, gifts for the wedding party and even
gifts for each other. It is also important to partition a small
amount of money for incidentals to account for small unexpected
expenses.
In establishing a budget it is also important
to be clear about who will be paying for what items. For example, if the
groom’s family offers to pay for the centerpieces and you choose
to let them, this will allow you to divert your previously
designated centerpiece budget to other aspects of the wedding.
The key to sticking to your wedding budget is to be aware of
who has agreed to pay for what.
It
is important that budgets for each individual aspect of
the wedding be established to enable you to follow this next
tip. This tip advises the couple to be mindful of their budgets
for each individual component of the wedding before negotiating
contracts for services. If you know that you have allotted
$250 for entertainment you would be wise to seek out a DJ that
is offering his services for approximately that amount and
then negotiate your contract to ensure that you remain under
budge.
Doing
as many things as you can on your own is another way
to ensure that you are sticking to your budget. Crafts and
homemade invitations can greatly reduce the cost of your wedding.
For example making your own favors or centerpieces can greatly
reduce your costs and free up additional budget for other areas
of the wedding.
Another tip for sticking to your wedding budget is to not
view the budget as restrictive. If instead of thinking about
the things that you can’t afford, you focus on how you can
make your wedding and reception truly unique you will be inspired
to create a fabulous and memorable wedding despite your budget
constraints.
Still another tip for sticking to your wedding budget is to shop
around and comparison shop for services. A limousine company
may come highly recommended but if they are not in your price
range, don’t be afraid to let them know why you are going to
have to choose another company and you may be surprised at
how soon they are willing to give you a different offer.
A final tip for creating and sticking to a budget is to realize
that there are bound to be snags along the way. As long as
you remain cognizant of your spending and realize the ramifications
of your actions you are likely to realize that if you go over
budget in one area, you will need to modify other areas by
reducing their total budget.
A wedding budget can be a serious cause of emotional strain
on a couple. It is important for them to discuss their finances
and establish a budget for their wedding plans. Doing this
early on in the wedding planning process can help the couple
to avoid conflict during the planning phase of the wedding.
Click
here for the ultimate wedding planning guide.
It answers over 250 of your top questions, 150 cost saving tips and
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website, but very popular. It's my KissMeGoodnight recommendation.
Are
you planning a wedding on a very tight budget? I've got a
solution for you. Click here. It's also a KissMeGoodnight
recommendation.
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by KissMeGoodnight.com : 2005
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