Managing your money is not nearly as hard as it seems. It might feel like it just keeps getting away from you and costs just keep piling up, but there are some easy ways for you to get on top of your spending. Budgeting shouldn’t be scary. Almost everyone does it and they do it for all sorts of things. We have budgets for bingo, budgets for food and budgets for our big day. If you can learn how to budget like a pro and pay attention to a few extra details, your wedding can be exactly how you want it to be.
Research
Weddings have an industry all of their own, and their own pricing system to go with it. Sometimes just attaching the word ‘bridal’ to anything can add an extra couple of zeros onto the price tag. But, before you jump into buying that $600 bouquet, you should do some research on what the items in your budget normally costs. By shopping around and looking at average prices, you’ll find it a lot easier to recognise what’s a good deal and what’s definitely not. The more informed you are, the better choices you can make.
Stray a bit further than the wedding department
When it comes to making our day perfect a lot of us are more than willing to make a few sacrifices to get exactly what we want. It all depends on what you’re willing to sacrifice: half your budget or that designer label? If you’re not obsessed with the typical wedding brands, why not expand your perspective during your wedding shopping. Lots of couples can save thousands by putting a DIY spin on their wedding or shopping in flea markets rather than designer boutiques. When you’re looking around for the bells and whistles, look in some unexpected places. You might just find a few gems that make your day and don’t break your bank.
Think about the hidden costs
There are a couple of costs that no one really thinks about when they plan their budget. For example, if the wedding dress doesn’t fit quite right or it gets damaged before the big day you’re going to need to bring in and pay someone to fix it. Surprisingly, one of the biggest things brides and grooms forget to do when they plan their budget is include themselves in the cost. Regrettably, the lucky couple don’t get their food and drink free, so don’t forget to include yourself in the headcount when you’re sorting out your catering and accommodation costs.
Don’t be afraid to make some changes
You might have initially planned a wedding for 300 guests in a five star hotel, but that doesn’t have to be what you end up with. There’s no shame it looking over your budget, re-evaluating what’s possible and making some changes. Perhaps giving fifty guests the boot could pay for your dream cake. Maybe switching to a four star hotel could give you that honeymoon in Italy. Nothing’s set in stone, so don’t feel as though the first draft of your budget is something you have to stick with. There are always new options out there that you have yet to discover.