No, not bridezilla. No, not that other word.
Budget. *cue screams*
Pre-engagement, we never imagined how people could spend thousands and thousands of dollars on a wedding. We thought that spending more than say $10,000 was just not realistic for everyday people. Oh, how we were wrong. Once we jumped into wedding planning and took a look at all the different types of expenses, the dollar signs added up fast. We are fortunate to live in an area where $50+/per plate is not the norm, but a thousand dollars here, couple hundred there and you blow through a huge chunk of your budget with minimal effort. For us that live in Nebraska, the state with the highest average amount of wedding guests (222!) – how is it possible for a couple to have the wedding of their dreams within their own means?
Step #1 on most lists is usually some form of: cut your guest list down. Sorry everyone, Nebraskans are just too popular 😉
These are some of the easy steps we used for our weddings:
1. Get your priorities in order.
Seriously, though. Write them down. If a lot of things are important to you, group them. Organize them in some way so that some things are more important than the others.
2. Set a minimum amount.
Get the lowest acceptable price that you are willing to pay for each item – DJ, food, flowers, etc. See what’s the cheapest you could do in your area and use those as your starting point. Don’t forget to factor in gratuity, taxes, postage, alterations, accessories, and gifts to your family and bridal party.
3. The fun part.
See what is left over and allocate that money to your highest priority items first!
4. Adjust.
If things aren’t exactly where you want them to be, find more cash! Ask parents or nice older siblings to chip in or to substitute any gifts you will be receiving (for your birthday or for the holidays) with cash, work a couple extra hours, get a 2nd job, scale back your honeymoon, put off your cell phone upgrade, or sell your old things – all those sad things that will pay off sometime far in the future. You can also try negotiating your vendor contracts, opting out of certain things that come with your package like a second shooter or a professional grade photo album.
5. Research, research, research.
Those sacrifices above in #4 may not be realistic for some people. If you have the time, research your vendors! Explore unconventional venues, caterers, djs, invitations, flowers everything! If you want to use Craigslist vendors, go ahead, but be wary and as the title says – research, research, research. Ask to see a portfolio or any previous work, have a formal written contract, and make sure to keep an eye on them. Brides, Kayla can tell you first-hand, this stage is where you’ll get caught up if you want to DIY for the sake of saving money.
6. Finally, book your vendors!
This results in a win-win situation! The things that are most important to you are taken care of first, everything else is accounted for, and if you happen to have any funds left over, you can upgrade your services later on!
There are always creative ways to budget for your wedding. This post was inspired by this couple who got an $80,000 wedding almost completely for free!
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