WHAT COMES NEXT AFTER THE RING?

Weddings can become a financial strain for many couples. However, through the engagement process, the idea is to make decisions based on your budget. It will surely alleviate one of the biggest wedding planning problems... STRESS. Here are a few tips that will help you:

Planners

Hiring a Wedding Planner will fight for your wedding vision and keep everything on track. In addition to helping couples with their budget and supervising sticky details like legal contracts, the most important perk of a planner is having someone who will fight for your wedding vision from start to finish.

Pool Funds

Although weddings can cost a lot, there’s no reason you can’t have the celebration you want. Start by determining how much money you have to work with—and who might be willing to help. While some couples pay for their weddings themselves, although it’s not uncommon for family members or even friends to ask to help it's not always a good idea to do so. Asking unreliable family members or friends to take on wedding day tasks only to have them botched is not as uncommon as you think, Boy I could tell you some stories about this right here !!!!!!!

Set Realistic Goals

Make sure to set a budget you’re comfortable spending in—and don’t exceed that amount. Overspending will lead to regret, something you definitely don’t want to associate with your wedding day!

Typical Budget

Expenditures associated with a typical wedding budget can be divided up as such:

Reception: 50%

Photography/Videography: 10% - 12%

Flowers: 5% - 10% Attire: 5% - 10%

Entertainment/Music: 5% - 10%

Wedding Rings: 2% - 5%

Ceremony: 2% - 3%

Stationary: 2% - 3%

Parking/Transportation: 2% - 3%

Gifts: 2% - 3%

Miscellaneous: 5% - 8%

Guest List If anything has the potential to grow in size as wedding planning commences, it is the guest list. Not only will the both of you have family and friends you want to share your special day with, but also with your parents. One way to keep the list from bloating beyond what you can afford is to maintain the “A, B, and even C” list. This way, if you have a lot of out-of-town guests who may or may not come, you can use your secondary lists to fill in for any declines. The only potential drawback is not having attrition when working with the venue or caterers, so make sure you plan accordingly.

Photography This is one area where I caution couples not to be overly budget-conscious: Hiring a professional wedding photographer will ensure you end up with beautiful, quality, and lasting images from your special day. If possible, purchase the photographer's CD as well—in a few years, you will be able to print the photos you want after first saving up some funds.

Entertainment Your entertainment is a large part of what makes your party memorable. These days, many locations allow you to play an iPod, but going that route means not having an emcee, who can play a crucial role in maintaining the events overall flow. That said, not every DJ is experienced in this regard, and your overall priorities will determine whether or not you decide to hire one.

Miscellaneous

When considering your budget, it is important to remember there are several miscellaneous expenses to consider, such as gifts for the bridal party, the officiant fee, transportation if using multiple venues, security fees and deposits, and others. Planning for them ahead of time allows for significant savings. Remember: This is a special day for both of you! The amount of money you spend does not determine how memorable your wedding is—the planning does.