How to Create a Wedding Budget

Growing up, we dream about our weddings. We think of the beautiful flowers and the delicious food
and the all-night dancing. But what we usually tend to skip over in this dream state is the money
behind that vision. Weddings can easily start to cost much more than what you are actually able to
spend on them, and no matter how beautiful the day turns out to be- starting your new life in debt is
not ideal. Building a budget is the FIRST step to planning your wedding. So, here is an article
dedicated specifically to how to create a comprehensive budget.

The very first thing you need to do is figure out how much money you are willing and able to spend on
your wedding. Your wedding date may influence this number, so, if need be, select the date before
continuing on. Contact your parents, grandparents, future in-laws, and anyone else who you think or
know will contribute to your wedding, and ask them how much of their financial support you can
expect. Then, look at your own finances and figure out how much money you have to spend after
you pay your regular weekly, monthly, and yearly bills. Set up a separate budget for your regular bills
to keep you on track with your wedding savings, if need be. Once you have the overall budget, you
can begin the hard part.

A good practice is to set aside a small amount of money for unexpected expenses before you start
breaking down your budget. Wedding planning is not a proverbial piece of cake, so it's important
that you leave yourself some wiggle room right off the bat. It's also important that you leave this
money alone until you absolutely need it. This money will come in handy if you find yourself in
need of last-minute alterations, or you need to rent more chairs for last-minute confirmed guests.
Try not to let this money go towards anything you already have budgeted. 

Once you're ready to start splitting up your budget, print off several copies of a budget tracker so you
can play around with numbers and specifics. A good budget form can be found HERE. You will also
need: at least one calculator, pencils, erasers, pens, highlighter, moral support, and chocolate. Once
you've collected the items you will need, select the top 3-5 most important things for your wedding.
Are the decorations your priority? Photography? Videography? The food? Whatever you choose,
highlight them right away. These are the categories you want to base your budget around. 

The best way to really get into the budget planning is to make a budget without putting too much
thought into it. Look at each category, and write down the first number that pops into your head.
It sounds crazy, but putting the first number is scary, and once you have the numbers out there,
even abstract ones, it makes it a lot easier to move forward. If your fiance is involved in this subject,
make a game of it! Each of you write down your numbers individually and compare them. You can
now go back through these numbers and put a lot more thought into each category. 

Keep your calculator close at hand and add up the numbers as you go. Don't be afraid to arrange and rearrange as many times as you want or need, and don't expect this to be easy. But, once you have your budget in place, moving forward with your wedding plans will be less stressful if you stick to your budget. Happy Planning!