Lost on How to Start a Wedding Budget? I’ve Got Some Tips for You!

If you’re like me, you hear the word “budget” and roll your eyes or sigh in annoyance. Most people would rather go straight to dress shopping or venue touring instead of crunching numbers...but knowing how much you can spend on each part of the wedding is important. 

Whether you’ve got $1,000 or $1,000,000 there are some guidelines that you can follow to decide when to save, spend, or splurge. 

Here are some steps to create a budget that you can stick to and will leave you debt free.

Step 1. Crunch Your Numbers

How much you have to spend will come from three places:

You and your fiance’s savings- Just because you have money in a savings account doesn’t mean that all of it should be spent on your wedding. You need to have money for expenses and bills in case of an emergency, and then what’s left over can be budgeted towards your big day.

Money from your current income- After you have paid your current bills and payments for existing debt, set aside some each month for your wedding. Decide on a percentage each month that both of you can put toward your wedding. You can even change your direct deposit to have that automatically go into a savings account.

Contributions from loved ones- You shouldn’t assume that your family or friends will help cover the cost of your wedding. Asking them will also help you know the exact amount that you can plan for. 

Step 2. Estimate Guest Count

Now that you have a rough budget, you need to make up an estimated guest list. 

The number of people that are invited will determine how much most things will cost. The number of attendees will decide how big your venue needs to be and how much food and drinks you will need. Heads up - these will probably be your two biggest expenses!

Your guest count determines the price for most pieces of your wedding. Dessert will be chosen by how many slices/servings you need. Things like tables and chairs, wedding favors, and invitations will be bought per-person.

Be strategic about who you invite. Narrow it down as much as you can. Who has had a part in your love story? Are there people that you can’t see yourself getting married without? Do you really need to invite the old family friend that you haven’t seen in 10 years?

Step 3. Pick Your Non-Negotiables 

The things that you want to splurge on will probably be different for you and your fiance. You might want to focus on photography or videography and they might want a food truck. 

You both need to decide what the one or two items are that are on the top of your lists.

Once you figure that out, budget for those things first. After you allot an amount for those things, you can decide how much will go towards everything else.

Step 4. Research Research Research

There are a lot of costs that you have to consider as you figure out where your budget will ultimately end up. Some of them you won’t find out about until you see them on the bill. 

Did you know that there is a cutting fee for your cake? And some venues make you pay for security or setup and breakdown. A lot of vendors expect a tip as well.  

Educate yourself on hidden costs so you won’t be surprised or frustrated down the line.

Step 5. Prepare for Surprises

This one goes hand-in-hand with the step above. There will almost always be a cost that you didn’t plan for. To make sure you aren’t left scrambling to find money, put some cushion into your budget for unforeseen fees. 

Step 6. Save Where You Can

Going over budget? Try the things below to save some moolah!

Think through your venue choice. 

Some venues seem like the cheaper option, but if they don’t come with their own tables, chairs, or kitchen, you might spend more money in the long run. Try finding a venue that is more inclusive to save money on rentals.

Trim the guest list.

Remember that you pay for most things per-person that attends your wedding. Trimming your list by 10-15 people can save you $1,000+. Also remember that everyone on your guest list won’t come. We invited 150 people to our wedding but about 115 actually came. Have that in the back of your head as you make a room layout or order favors.

Use one venue for the ceremony and reception. 

This will save thousands of dollars. If you need to reset the room, have an outdoor cocktail hour while the staff sets up the reception. You can also reuse the same florals and decorations.

Address the invites yourself.

Yes this will be a little time consuming, but it will save you hundreds of dollars. If you don’t want to do them all yourself, have a girls day with your bridesmaids and ask them to help.

Get married in the off season.

It will always be more expensive to get married in the peak of wedding season. Fridays and Saturdays are also more expensive than the rest of the week. The spring and fall months are the highest for weddings in Texas since it gets so hot. Try a wedding in July or January to save a little cash. Just make sure you have a venue that won’t be affected by the weather.

One very important thing to remember….if you can’t afford it, you don’t need it!

You can totally have the wedding of your dreams on a strict budget, you might just have to get a little creative. Your wedding isn’t about how much money you spend, it’s about the joy you feel as you join yourself with the one you love. 

Money problems are one of the top things that causes divorce. You don’t want to start your marriage in a debt hole because you wanted extra flowers or a high-end planner that you couldn’t afford. Whether you get married at city hall or a chateau, the most important part of the wedding is YOU.

Also, the honeymoon is usually the most memorable part. *wink wink*