Planning Your Wedding: The Budget

Weddings can be expensive events. You should know exactly how much you can afford before you make any major decisions. After all, the last thing you want to do is to start your new life as a married couple under a mound of debt from your wedding.

As a general rule, you should allot 50% of your budget to the reception, 10% to flowers, 10% to photography, 10% to attire, 10% to music and 10% to stationery, favors and other details.

Ceremony & Reception Costs (50%)

• Ceremony location fee (Marrying in a church where one or both of you are members should eliminate this fee.)
• Officiant's fee (Sometimes it is called a donation, but it is always expected.)
• Marriage license
• Reception site fee (Sometimes this can be waived if you select on-site catering.)
• Food (The most expensive will be sit-down meals while just serving appetizers can cut the food cost considerably.)
• Cake (These can be very expensive! Be prepared!)
• Beverages (An open bar can be lovely for guests but very costly for you.)
• Rentals (These include tents, tables, chairs, fountains, etc.)
• Transportation & parking (Do you really want a stretch limo or will a town car suffice?)
• Tips and coat check (Always tip servers and coat check personnel.)

Flowers (10%)

• Ceremony decorations (These can be very simple or extravagant. They can also be costly.)
• Bride's bouquet (A long, flowing bouquet will be very expensive. A small bundle of flowers can be elegant as well as inexpensive.)
• Maid of honor's & bridesmaids' bouquets (Keep these simple.)
• Flower girl's flowers (Do you really need her to spread rose petals or will paper hearts do?)
• Corsages (Don't forget the mothers and grandmothers!)
• Boutonnieres (All men in the wedding party should wear these.)
• Reception centerpieces and decorations (Get as creative as you like! Using seasonal decorations can be very thrifty).

Photography (10%)