How to Set a Budget for Your Wedding

Your wedding budget is critical to your wedding planning. Without it spending can get out of hand. Because of its value, the budget should be one of the first decisions you make in your wedding planning process.

Setting Up an Initial Budget

In order to set up your initial budget, you will need two things. First, you need to know how much money you plan to spend on the entire wedding. Second, you must know must prioritize the different elements of your wedding. For example, is it more important for you to have a sit-down dinner or a designer gown?

Since these two items vary from couple to couple there is not a one-size-fits-all sample budget available. However, here are some guidelines that will help you determine a budget to fit your needs.

The following guidelines determine a percentage of the entire budget to be designated for each expense. Then based on what is most important to you, you can reallocate the percentages as needed. For instance, if having a videographer isn't high on your priority list, but having an excellent photographer is, then you can take the percentage allotted to the videographer and added it the photographer's percentage to allow you to spend more on a photographer.

Likewise, if having a sit-down meal is not nearly as important to you as having a live band, then choose a lower percentage for the reception and a higher percentage for the reception music. However, you decide to allocate the money, for the budget to be balanced, the percentages must equal 100.

Bridal Consultant 6-10%
Ceremony Fees (including site and officiant) 2-4%
Reception Fees (including food, beverage and site) 35-45%
Wedding Cake 1-3%
Bride's Attire & Beauty Expenses 6-10%
Groom's Attire 0-2%
Photographer 10-14%
Videographer 1-5%
Florist 4-8%
Stationary 2-4%
Favors/Decorations 1-3%
Ceremony Music 1-2%
Reception Music 3-7%
Transportation 1-3%
Gifts for Attendants 1-2%
Other 1-5%

Three items not included on this list that should be considered are rings (engagement and wedding bands), honeymoon and rehearsal dinner.