Getting Married? Budget, Budget, Budget

Getting Married?  Budget, Budget, Budget

The love of your life proposed to you, you said yes, and now you’re full of pre-wedding excitement.  You’re getting married!

Although money is the last thing you want to think of right now, it’s the first thing you should think of.  Weddings are expensive.  While you may think you have time before you have to worry about it, the time will be on you before you know it.  If you’re choosing not to have a wedding planner, or you don’t want to build a budget with your wedding planner, here are a few things to keep in mind while building that wedding budget:

The Wedding List

What are your must-needs items and how much will they cost?  Must-need items include the bride and groom’s clothes, ceremony and reception costs, as well as food, flowers and venues.  Make your list starting with the most important to the least important.

The Wedding Plan

Most people hate paperwork, but it has to be done.  Using the wedding list you created, build a chart that has an estimated cost, and then add the actual cost once you know what it is.  In addition, write down everything you spend, even if it’s a small amount.  Dollars add up, and can put you over your budget before you know it.

Payment Schedules

Especially if you’ve decided against a wedding planner, you want to keep track of the payment schedules with your vendors.  Write down each due date, and then mark when each has been paid.

Wedding Extras

Make sure you give yourself a little wiggle room.  Don’t use every bit of money you have available.  That way, the chances of you going over budget with any extras you want is much lower.

Getting married is one of the most exciting moments of a woman’s life.  Budgeting may lower the excitement just a little, but when the big day comes, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy that perfect wedding ceremony without worry about cost.