Creating the perfect wedding budget!

Budgeting is one of the most important and most dreaded parts of planning a wedding. The budget conversation should be one of the first with your partner.

Who is contributing financially?

Figuring out who pays for each part can be tricky and potentially awkward. Here is a very TRADITIONAL and very basic breakdown of who is expected to pay for what:

The Couple: the rings, all gifts for family and bridal party, the marriage license, and their share of the bachelorette/bachelor party.

The Wedding Party: Their outfits for the wedding and their share of the bachelorette/bachelor party.

The Groom’s Family: The rehearsal dinner and a shower, if they choose to throw one.

The Bride’s Family: The wedding and reception.

However, nothing is traditional these days, especially when it comes to weddings. Couples themselves are often paying for a lot more of their big day, leaving their families with less of the financial burden. Or some couples opt for more simple and inexpensive weddings, such as backyard ceremony or reception to save money. But no matter how you break down your budget or how much you plan on spending consider everyone who is helping you pay for your big day when making decisions so no one ends up breaking the bank. It is also important to keep in mind how much you are expecting each person or family to pay. Don’t expect too much or push too hard because money is one of the trickiest topics to talk about and to decide upon. So be smart and save when you can to ensure your big day goes off without a hitch! 

Making your dream wedding come to life on a budget may seem like a difficult task, especially when you know what you want. However, we have a few tricks up our sleeves to help you get there without breaking your bank account.

Agree to a specific $$$ amount!

First and foremost, set a budget number and stick to it. This is the most important rule of budgeting. You need to keep that figure in the back of your mind when considering all the details of your big day. The point of a budget is to prevent you from overspending, so you need to establish this dollar amount as a hard stop. 

Set individual budgets. After you set the overall budget amount, breakdown budgets for each individual area of the wedding. Set a dollar amount for your dress, the groom’s attire, flowers, favors, catering, décor, etc. Also, make sure you include taxes, service fees, and gratuities.

Create a Budget Spreadsheet

To keep yourself on budget, you need a system in place to keep yourself on track. Create an excel spreadsheet or find an online Wedding Budget form. I recommend separate categories for the estimated budget line item and what you actually spent so if you spend more or less in areas you can readjust.

Estimated Guest Count

When you’re thinking about who you would like to invite to your big day, remember that you’re paying for their accommodations as well. If you really can’t compromise on cutting anyone from your guest list, then retract a plus one from the invite. This will help save cost on food and drink more than you may think.

Non-Negotiables

Identify what are those must-haves for your wedding like a certain wedding vendor and make sure to budget accordingly.

Set-up separate bank account or credit card

Rule of Thumb: Don’t get into debt for your wedding. Set aside money each paycheck into a separate bank account that you won’t be tempted to touch for other things. If you are going to pay for all your wedding expenses, consider applying for a credit card with rewards. Only use this card for the wedding and be easier to track it your spending.

It’s never easy to set limits, but if you sit down with your partner and draw up guidelines about what you both really want and what you can do without, then set the budget will be much easier. It all comes down to what is most important to the two of you and the rest will follow! 

Back to Basics: Wedding Planning 101

Today we want to talk about creating a basic overview that you can use as a guideline as you walk through the motions of getting your big day in order. As we discussed last week, it can be overwhelming to get engaged and move into the planning phase when you don’t know where to begin. We walked through what to begin with directly after your engagement and now we will take a step further to look at the process as a whole. Let’s get some major tasks pinned down!

Guest list. The guest list is probably one of the most important facets to planning a successful event. You need to know how many people will be attending, including how many kids. This will help decide how kid friendly you will need to design your reception and what your menu will look like. It will also aide in beverage decisions (i.e. open bar vs. cash bar).

Bridal party. Make a complete list with your other half of those you want in your bridal party. Make sure to follow through with this step all the way and include who will be walking down the aisle with who. During this step, also think about who else will be walking down the aisle. Do you want the officiant to already be in the ceremony area? Or would you prefer him/her to walk down the aisle to begin with? Who will be escorting your grandmother or grandfather? Lastly, agree on a flower girl and ring bearer.

Venue shopping. After you’ve gone through the beginning motions of finding your season and setting a date, begin to brainstorm where and what kind of venue you’re looking for. When you have an idea of the style you like, begin to search around the area you’re aiming to wed. Budgeting is important during this step, so be aware of your spending limit.

Find that dress. Next up; the dress. You’ve got the styles you like and don’t like and you know what will flatter your figure best. Choose one dress shop you’re curious about and make an appointment. Take it one appointment at a time. If you don’t find anything you like at the first shop, pick out another and make an appointment a few weeks later. You want time for your brain to decipher why you didn’t like any of the dresses at the first shop and help you gain some perspective of what you’re specifically looking for.

Catering/dessert. Now that you know what your guest list looks like and how many people you’re expecting, you can begin to narrow down catering options. Getting recommendations from someone you trust is important. Pick two different caterers and set up a tasting. If you like neither, pick two other catering companies you want to try and make a tasting appointment for a couple weeks later. Like finding a dress, it will give you some time to marinate on what you’re looking for. Use the same technique for choosing your dessert.

Florist. Go through magazines and photos of flower scenes that best match your taste and color choices. Then, pick out a florist that has great reviews near the venue you chose. You want them to be nearby so the flowers don’t have to be in transit for an extended period of time.

We hope this guide gives you some relief as you begin planning your special day. This is only the beginning and on Thursday we’ll expand this overview to highlight what’s to come next. Stay tuned everyone!

How to prepare for any wedding weather situation!

Having your wedding ceremony and reception outside is a wonderful idea, but doing so in the Pacific Northwest requires a bit of extra preparation. Don’t ruminate about the possibility of disaster without taking action! Instead, take the time to consider reasonable precautions. Take a look at our preparation checklist and remedies to get you started.

Possible problem: Rain.
Remedy: Tent or umbrellas.

The first thing that comes to mind for any PNW couple hoping to celebrate their nuptials outside is the possibility of R-A-I-N. To avert this disaster, look into renting a large tent (they don’t have to be solid white; you can rent clear top tents also) just as a backup in case of a storm. We recommend always including a tent for the reception as an undercover option to help shield from the possibility of a very hot sun or torrential downpour—in case the weather goes either way. If you are willing to risk it without the tent for your ceremony but still want to take slight precaution, provide umbrellas for your guests to take with them to their seats. This makes for stunning and unique photos as well!

Photo by The Popes

Photo by Julie Harmsen Phtoography

Possible problem: Wind.
Remedy: Tent curtains, outdoor heaters, afghans or shawls.

The wind can pick up unexpectedly at the most inconvenient times around the PNW. Instead of panicking the minute it does, be ready with curtains on your tent. Tent curtains are a game changer and can make your space more intimate and cozy. Add some outdoor heaters to warm the space up and keep the cold out if you foresee a storm in the forecast. Another great idea is providing lightweight afghans or shawls for your guests to throw over their shoulders when the sun goes down and it starts to get chilly. This can double as a wedding favor if you are able to find afghans in bulk, making it easier to afford.

Possible problem: Hot hot heat.
Remedy: Handheld fans, cold beverages.

The warmest months in our neck of the woods usually consist of July and August with temperatures that can reach up to 88 degrees. Rare but still plausible, make sure to be checking the weather forecast as frequently as possible in the days leading up to your wedding during these two months. Handheld fans may not resolve the issue completely, but they will help your guests fight the heatwave until they can indulge in a cool beverage after the ceremony. This leads me to my next remedy; provide plenty of cold water…emphasis on the “cold!” Guests will be craving a refreshing drink and cocktails alone will just make them thirstier while creating a perfect storm of dehydration. Make access to chilled water easy and plentiful.

You can definitely have a successful wedding outdoors; you just need to make sure you have a backup plan in case something goes awry. Being prepared is important, so take these ideas into consideration when you’re planning your outdoor festivities.