Tying the Knot
For the Wedding

Before you begin making your wedding plans, set up a budget and a framework for planning. It’s easier to stay within a reasonable budget if you know what that budget is beforehand.

  • Figure out how much you can spend and who will be paying for what.
  • Decide what kind of wedding you want. Do you have your heart set on miles of tulle and a cast of thousands? Or would you be more comfortable with a simpler, less formal wedding?
  • Write a list of all possible expenses. For ideas on what to include, check out MatriMoney or the Wedding Shops site. Prioritize your list. What do you absolutely have to have and what is less important? A prioritized list will help you decide where to splurge and where to save.
  • Decide how many guests you wish to invite. Talk about this with your families, too: they will undoubtedly have strong opinions about the guest list. One expert estimates a cost of $100 per guest for a formal wedding and $50 per guest for an informal wedding.
Set Up a Budget
Use your prioritized expense list and guest list to plan your budget. Use one of the online budget tools listed above or the one at Modern Bride’s site to plan and track your spending. One expert, Bryon Hicks-Lee, divides the budget into categories for easy tracking. Use your list of priorities to verify or modify these numbers:
  • 50% for the reception location, rentals, food, and beverages
  • 10% for flowers and décor
  • 10% for photos and videography
  • 10% for bridal attire
  • 10% for fees, invitations, and transportation
  • 10% for the honeymoon
Stay Within Your Budget
Once you’ve planned your budget, you need to stick with it. Here are some tips for planning a beautiful wedding without going over budget:
  • Use the Wedding Shops Online activity timeline to chart your course.
  • Contact at least two or three vendors for everything. Get references from the vendor and contact those references. Choose your vendors by price, quality, and references. Get everything in writing.
  • Keep good records of quotes, deposits, and balances due. Use the MatriMoney notebook system or wedding planning software.
  • Ask for discounts of you’re marrying in the slow season. One couple we know saved on everything from the hall to the cake because they married in February.