Sticking to your wedding budget is not an impossible feat. It may be challenging at times, but it can be done! The most important thing to remember is to keep the budget discussion open. Use the following tips to stay within your budget…and stay sane:
- Prioritize: Sit down with your partner to determine what you really want and what you really don’t want. For example, do you really want a band, or will an iPod playlist do? Is it necessary to have a sit-down dinner, or will a buffet suffice? Do you want to have your wedding at a lavish, expensive venue, or would your backyard be okay? Make a list of what you absolutely can’t live without on your wedding day and trim the rest of the nuptial fat.
- Revisit The Guest List: Take a look at your guest list and make cuts as needed. Start with the “we feel like we should” people, such as your parents’ friends or current/old co-workers.
- DIY Anything You Can: Make your own centerpieces, place cards, wedding signage…DIY anything and everything you can. You’ll be so happy you did.
- Include Float Room: Put some “float room” into your budget to accommodate unforeseen expenses. They will definitely crop up, so set money aside for them. For example, if your wedding budget is $10,000, put $500 of that in your “float” fund.
- Put The Budget Up: Stick your wedding budget on your refrigerator or anywhere else where it will be visible every single day. If you and your partner do not live together, make copies of the budget so you each have one.
- Write Down Changes: Write down any changes or adjustments to your wedding budget that both of you have agreed to and revise your budget as needed. This avoids a whole lot of confusion and unnecessary arguments.
Be realistic about your wedding budget…and talk about it often! Good luck!
