Create a List
An important factor to remember when setting a budget for your wedding day is to keep organised. Making a list of what you need on your special day will help with this. It will allow you to have an overview of all the costs and everything you need to prepare. On average, the budget of a wedding falls between £10,000 – £25,000, but remember; your wedding is personalised to you and your partner.
Consider Family
Firstly, family is essential. No matter who is footing the bill, you should consider your family and ensure they feel part of the process. If they wish to contribute towards the wedding, or if you are considering going solo when paying for your wedding; how much can you afford to ensure your day is exactly how you want it? Setting a budget is the best way not to overspend. It is easy to get carried away when you start browsing venues, decoration materials, or entertainment hire such as band performances or a game of mini-golf.
What to expect from your family may depend on your conversation during visits. Ideally, both yourself and your partner would visit your families individually to get onto the nitty and gritty of if they can offer to contribute towards your wedding. They may be able to give you a fixed figure towards the cost or say they will help with this or that. It is also good to meet as a group afterwards as well. However, on occasions where you might not receive support from your friends and family with any financial issues, the cost may come solely down to you. I understand that this situation can dampen your spirit because having the perfect wedding is a dream come true. But, having experience myself attending many different weddings, each one has been unique and the bride and groom have cherished their day, no matter the overall price of the day.
The Budget for your Perfect Wedding
Remember that all weddings are momentous and bespoke; you don’t need to be in debt by getting carried away with all the sale pitches. I wanted everything when I went to a wedding fair. There are different price ranges for each main area and you may need to consider cutting back on some costs, like flowers for the venue. It comes down to personal preference on where you can cut back or go for it. If you are confident in affording everything you need, you may want to skip this section.
For me, I needed a reality check when planning my wedding. I wanted everything to be exactly how I wished for my wedding to be, but my budget wouldn’t allow me to hold my dream wedding. So this is where priorities come in as you may find yourself overcome with high expectations. Consider what is of high and low importance and what is most significant to you, whether that be the venue or selecting decorations.
A top tip on prioritising
A wedding shouldn’t come with debt, and here is a tip on how to save and prioritise: Using credit cards. They are great, but borrowing has an interest rate. You may need to think about your future goals such as family or buying a new home. You don’t want to have any additional stress on top of your recent marriage. Nowadays, student loans are available that also need to be paid back. And believe me when I say that this too can put a strain on any new marriage.
Now, let’s get into budgeting. I have mentioned earlier about keeping organised when planning your wedding. This involves keeping track of every invoice and receipt for your wedding so you can collate all expenses towards the cost of your wedding together. But don’t worry! A helpful link to download a spreadsheet template or Word document helps keep track of everything. Of course, not all Brides and Grooms will buy or have everything on this list and it is up to your personal budget and what you want and need for your special day.
Remember to add your spreadsheet to your chart if you choose to create one. Make sure you have a column for the individual prices, estimated cost, and a third for deposit amount along with some space to add notes and the date the deposit is due to be paid back. Booking this in good time and updating frequently or as soon as invoices or receipts come through will be advantageous. If you find yourself going over your budget, you can easily delete items from your list.
Another quick tip for your budget
Another point to consider when choosing a venue is to have a rough idea of how many guests will be attending. Knowing this can give you a guide on choosing the venue size and space required. For example, you may request to hire a space or room at a restaurant or choose a large hall to hold a party.
Avoid overspending on your wedding day
Splashing out on items isn’t always the best approach when making arrangements, I am afraid to say, as some things may cost more than you think. Making choices based on what is needed and wanted can be taken off your list is a good starting point. Prioritising what is essential on the day is key to sticking to your budget. For example, you may prioritise that hiring a DJ is most important, so you may choose to cut back on food orders. Remember that the vital ingredient for a successful day is not to make guests hungry, cold or tired. My father once said to me not to cut back on the venue as this is the most important on the day, but would anyone notice if I didn’t focus on this on my big day?
How to cut costs without compromising the integrity of the event
I recommend trying to cut back on the guest list. This is because the cost per person is your most considerable expense. Think about the evening agenda.
Picking a gorgeous setting for your wedding can help you cut back on decorations. Check out places like the Elfordleigh Hotel, Crowne Plaza Plymouth, Copthorne Hotel Plymouth or the Duke of Cornwall Hotel in Plymouth, Devon.
Choose a location that has a reception area such as hotels, clubs or restaurants. These locations will allow you to book and hire waiters, tables and chairs. Adding these as extras can increase and be costly. Also limit the free alcoholic drinks on offer. Some people choose to have a bottle of house white or red wine on the tables as well as champagne to toast during speeches.
Schedule the wedding during the week or off-peak season. Ask if your venue has an in house DJ instead of a hiring band, or ask a friend to make a playlist.
Eliminate the champagne toast as not every guest drinks their drink and then leaves it behind; they can toast with the drink they already have.
Request inexpensive printing methods from printers for your invitations, including significant effects from offset printing for a fraction of the price of letters or engraving.
Skip favours and write a personal note instead.
Ask for friendly favours. You may have crafty mates or know someone who can recommend someone who has what you need. This could be anything, such as a car that can be used on the day.
If you hire a car, you could chose one if you are near the event location.
Lastly, join any Facebook groups for weddings where people sell second hand items from their wedding in your area. This is another great way to save money and keep to the budget you set for your wedding day!
Pro-Story Photography are currently taking bookings for Wedding Photography
We offer reasonable prices and you can view our packages here. You can also view our Wedding photography in our galleries here.
Comments will load here
leave a comment