Budgeting for Wedding Planning

If you’re planning a holiday time wedding like lots of brides and grooms right now, it’s time to make sure your wedding budget is in place.

The average wedding in the United States costs somewhere between $28,000 and $35,000. When you consider that a typical wedding (from ceremony to the last dance) lasts an average of 8 hours, you realize what an astronomical amount of money that is to spend for one day.

Many couples are now opting for less elaborate affairs and reducing that number by 50% or more. Regardless of whether you are planning an intimate destination wedding or an elaborate grand affair, to help plan and not overspend, it is crucial that you decide on a wedding budget.

Wedding costs can accumulate quickly. Documenting all deposits and down payments as well as remaining balances will help you keep track of everything you spend. When calculating final payments, remember to include gratuities. This is an often overlooked expense that will end up costing you money and sending you well over budget.

Decide on Your Wedding Priorities

When planning your wedding, decide what is important to you. Make that a top priority in your wedding, but explore alterative options to cut costs. If you believe that music is the life of the party, you may want to spend top dollar on a professional DJ service. It will be less expensive that a full 4 piece band, but by hiring top quality performers you will have top notch music while shaving thousands off the price of a band.

If a dress is your top priority, set aside some time to visit a variety of stores. Before you head to the pricier designer gowns, check out discount wedding gown retailers. Many knock off gowns are so similar to brand name designs that you would never know the difference. You can still choose a gorgeous gown and save money without sacrificing style.

Creativity and DIY Wedding Projects

When it comes to invitations, centerpieces and favors, be creative and see what DIY ideas you can come up with. Instead of spending $5 per person for gourmet chocolate favors, explore the idea of making your own chocolate lollipops or chocolate dipped plastic coffee spoons. It is these little ideas that can help you shave thousands of dollars of your final cost, keeping you well below your estimated wedding budget.

You can still be flexible as long as you stay within the range. For example, it you have set aside a budget of $500 for your wedding cake but the one that you have your heart set on will cost you $650, see if there is anywhere else in the planning where you can swap out the $150 difference. You may want to reconsider the wedding day massage package you have planned or cut one day off of your 10 day honeymoon. Regardless of where you shop and what you spend, the key is to stick with the budget that you set for yourself in the beginning.

This article is linked to Frugal Fridays at Life as Mom.  Hillary and Jake’s wedding photo by e Mill.

First, check with the local florist (and go to more than one) to check the rates of the flowers in the month of your wedding. Compare the prices and identify the cheapest ones. If you have some specific flowers in mind, then you can still buy them but pair them up with the cheapest flowers of the season in order to somehow fit into your budget.

If you still haven’t picked a location for the wedding and the cost of the wedding flowers is really bothering you, then consider choosing a garden or a restaurant with a garden as the venue. Then you won’t have to worry about buying wedding flowers (except bouquets for the wedding party). 

Another wise choice in scheduling your wedding with flowers in mind is to place the date near Christmas or Easter. The church will be already decorated for the occasion and you won’t have to go all out with buying flowers to decorate at teh ceremony.

You can also select a venue which has already booked another couple on the same day but at a different time. You  can talk to the couple about splitting the costs of the flower decoration, which will save you both a lot of money.

If you have enough time before your wedding and insist on having DIY budget wedding flowers, you can plant the flowers in your garden and also have your family and friends grow them for you. By wedding time, the flowers will be ready for use, and you’ll only have to cut and arrange them.

Don’t forget to get creative with your wedding flowers. You can decorate the flowers with ribbons, streamers, mirrors and other decorative items, so the number of flowers you need to purchase is fewer and well within your budget.

Locate a wholesale florist in your neighborhood and check the prices of flowers with them. It’s most likely that their prices will not be as steep and will be ideal for elegant as well as cost effective wedding flowers.

Avoid getting married in the month of February, especially close to the Valentine’s day, as the cost of the flowers is definitely on the rise then because of higher demand.  Plan well, think seasonal and look out for opportunities to be creative, and you’ll have the best wedding flowers on a budget! 

Check out our Spring Wedding Tablescape with Pink Centerpieces for DIY instructions to create your own budget wedding tablescapes.

Red rose bouquet wedding flowers photo by AndrewEick. Flower girl photo by geishaboy500.