We’re sure that you want your wedding day to be special and memorable and there’s no denying that a large part of this relies on your wedding budget. That’s not to say that with a smaller budget you can’t have the wedding that you want. In this blog we’re telling you how to plan a wedding budget.
If you’re starting to think about your wedding budget, the proposal has probably finally become real. Planning your wedding budget is one of the first jobs you should do, however it often gets overlooked until later down the line, maybe after you’ve already booked your dream venue.
How to plan a wedding budget
Start a conversation with your partner
You’re in this together and it’s going to be one of the happiest days of your life, you’ll need to ensure that your wedding budget is appropriate for your plans. You’ll likely already have an idea of how much you are able to save each month, but maybe you’re planning on saving more now to pay for the wedding? In order to be on the safe side, it may be worth setting aside a certain amount in case of any emergencies that need to be paid for. Having this conversation early will ensure that you are both on the same page and you can remain more in control of the budget.
Get a rough idea of prices
This can be a tough task, but it’s important to shop around where you can to get the best deals. Of course, if you have a dream venue that you can afford to pay for, you probably won’t want to miss out just because you wanted a better deal.
The most expensive items you will need to consider include:
- Venue (ceremony & reception)
- Food
- Rings
- Wedding outfits
- Photographer
- Wedding planner
- Entertainment
- Florist
- Honeymoon
And that’s certainly not all. The best way to find good deals is through having a few options and ideas available and choosing based on a range of factors such as how much you want it and the cost.
A rough guest list
Having a huge wedding with hundreds of people may sound like a great idea but you have to consider the prices involved. That’s not to say that a smaller, more intimate wedding would be any less expensive, it all depends on many factors. When you book your venue, they will probably suggest a few options based on a set number of guests. Any guests added that exceed this amount will be paid for by head. This can get quite costly so having a good idea of how many guests you’ll be expecting when you visit a venue will be beneficial.
Regular budget check ins
It’s no use creating a wedding budget if you aren’t going to keep referring back to it. The whole point of a budget is that you add to it over time, this will give you a clear picture of how much more you’ve got to spend before you end up going over.
Wedding budget example
As a rule of thumb, you can plan your budget by taking 50% and dedicating that to cover your venue, food and drinks. The rest can be used for rings, outfits and other important parts of your wedding day.
Budgeting for a wedding planner
Maybe you’re finding wedding planning a little too stressful or maybe it was always your plan to hire a wedding planner. Either way, it’s important that you plan ahead and budget for your wedding planner. We have a range of creative wedding planners in Manchester, ready to support clients and give them the wedding day they deserve.
Decor
As well as offering wedding planning around Lancashire, we also dress venues. This is a huge part of your wedding as it can really help to bring your venue to life. This is where you can really accentuate your colour scheme, from table decorations to chair covers, there’s lots to consider. Our team of event planning experts will ensure that your needs are met and help you to create an unforgettable day and night.
If you need any help planning your special day, whether it’s for your wedding budget or for venue decoration, we’re more than happy to help. Get in contact with us for more information.
