YOUR Wedding Budget: A Realistic Approach

Weddings as we all know are expensive. The more you plan the bigger it gets and your budget can quickly be blown by one “I absolutely must have it” idea. Budgets are not just suggestions, they are there to help insure that money is allocated in the right directions and so you aren’t paying for this wedding for the rest of your life. Let’s take an in depth look at the wedding budget.

You can NOT have 300 guests at a formal night wedding and only spend $2000. This idea is unrealistic. You can’t even feed that many people on that budget and NO, pot luck is not an alternative idea. Pot lucks do not belong at weddings. You need to look at the reception as not an event just for you but as an event for your friends and family to celebrate the union you have just made. If you have hungry guests you will have unhappy guests. It will not matter to them how good the DJ is, how innovative your photographer is, how elegant the decorations are, all they will remember is they were hungry because you had your wedding at 6p.m. and only served cheese and crackers. If you can’t cut your guest list then you need to consider a different time and style for your wedding. A wedding planner will know how to adjust the budget to give you the wedding of your dreams without breaking the bank.

The cash bar is another big controversy. In fact my own business partner and I disagree on this subject. Cash bars have become acceptable but it can be a sore subject with your guests. My partner and I both agree that before you choose this option you should look at all other budget areas and how the budgeted amounts might be altered before deciding on the cash bar. If you cannot afford the expense of an open bar there are several different options.

v Signature Drinks- Consider offering one or two drinks inspired by you as a couple and have champagne for toasting. If guests do not want your signature drinks then you can offer them the choice of the cash bar but at least you have given them the option of not paying for their drinks and stayed within your budget.

v Limited Bar- This is an option that offers a limited selection of drink options. It generally consists of Soda, Beer, Wine, Champagne for toasting, and a small selection of alcohol and mixers.

v Buying Your Own Alcohol- Check into buying your own alcohol and hiring only a bartender to serve. This is something you need to check with the venue on their rules about bringing outside alcohol.

v Limited Drinks per Person- You can choose not only as a budget consideration but as a safety issue as well limiting the number of alcoholic beverages each guest receives by having drink tickets. This will appear to your guests not that you can’t afford an open bar but that you are concerned for their well-being. After all nobody says you have to have falling down drunken people at your wedding.

One of the most common places to go over budget is “The Dress” . The average wedding dress costs approximately $1200 if you are not in Kleinfeld’s trying to buy a Pnina Tornai. A misconception many brides have is that $1200 covers everything and that is simply not the case. There are alteration fees, rush fees, pressing fees, delivery to ceremony charges, crinolines/slips, bras, headpieces/veils, shoes, jewelry and all of the sudden your $1200 gown has now turned into $3000 without batting an eyelash.

v Order early to avoid a hidden rush charge. Do not wait until the last minute to order your dress. The sooner the better is the best policy here. Having the dress early also will help to set the stage for your entire wedding.

v Purchase a gown online direct from the designer. Yes it is possible and it cuts out the middle man. You can head into any bridal salon and try it on for size and style and then order direct.

v Try selecting a gown that is well advertised. A well-advertised gown is easier to negotiate price. This is because it is likely to be carried by many vendors and they will want to compete for your dollar.

v Select a gown “Off the Rack” and ask for a discount. Don’t think you have to pay what the price tag says every bridal gown in any store has a price reduction to be had it’s your job or your wedding consultants to find it.

Budget guidelines and tips will be an ongoing column I will have. Each time I will look at the myths and misunderstandings that are very common in each area and pitfalls to avoid. The above ideas are only a few suggestions to look at for more ideas give us a look at www.fancyevents.net