Your wedding day is the day you’ve been waiting for. It’s the most important day of your life, as well as a period of cherished memories. So it has to be perfect – for you, your family, and all the friends who have traveled long distances to wish you well in your new life together. It’s true that not every component of wedding planning is pleasurable. There is research to be done, contracts to be read, and, of course, a budget to be planned. We understand how difficult it can be to determine how much you should spend on your wedding, which is why we’ve compiled our best advice to help make the process easier. We’re going to give you some advice on how to budget for a wedding.
One of the first things you should do when planning your wedding is to sit down and do a budget planning. Whether you are planning a large or small event, creating a benchmark for your expenses will make it easier for you and your fiancé in the long run, and it can also serve as a starting point for you to become accustomed to creating budgets in your marriage. The most important aspect of sticking to a budget is setting one. All too often, couples avoid having “the money talk” because it might feel awkward, and avoid regretting it in the end. Discuss with your partner how much money you are willing to spend on your wedding.
Figure how much the entire cost of your wedding is.
Do some research and find out how much some of your preferred wedding vendors charge. Do they fall within your price range? Where are you able to save money? Will you have to do some DIY projects in order to afford your ideal venue? Find a venue that is ideal for you and your fiancé. Do your homework. Catering is available at some venues. Some offer free parking for your guests, while others do not. Do you prefer indoors or outdoors? Do you require a weather-permitting option? Do you want to live in the city or the country? Do you like the ceremony and reception to be held at the same location? Or in a different venue, such as a church? All of these decisions have an impact on your budget! Decide on a wedding date. Do your research once more and attend bridal shows or enroll in a wedding course.
Make a wedding checklist.
Starting with the most crucial items on your checklist and work your way down to the least important. You will know where your money should and should not go as a result of this. My advice for doing your own budget breakdown is to take it one step at a time. Don’t let the costs get the best of you! Plan ahead of time how much you want to spend and what your wedding budget will allow. These percentages are a good place to start, and sticking to them will ensure a high-quality wedding with quality vendors without breaking the bank. Below, we outline how much of your wedding budget should be allocated to specific expenses. The percentages are based entirely on industry averages and may not be appropriate for you. Feel free to adjust them according to your needs and priorities—just make sure your adjustments add up to 100%.
50% Percent: Venue, Catering and Rental Costs
The majority of your wedding budget will go toward the big-ticket items, which include renting out your venue space, hiring caterers for food and alcohol, and renting items like tables, chairs, and dinnerware. Some couples include the cost of their wedding cake in this 50 percent portion of their budget. Numerous factors can affect wedding venue prices, including location, wedding date, and venue size. When it comes to the average cost of a wedding venue, there are several expenses that you may not have anticipated, such as the parking fee, taxes, tips, and outside vendor fee.
Some wedding venues may include rentals like tables, chairs, linens, and so on as a part of their packages. However, some do not—or you may not love your venue’s offerings. In these cases, booking a wedding rental company is a must. Wedding rental companies tend to offer a wider selection of items so that you can find tables, chairs, linens, and more that fit your wedding theme and style. It’s very easy for your wedding rental costs to rise so be sure to keep track of your wedding rental costs before they become out of control.
12% Percent: Photography and Videography
When wedding budget planning, set aside at least 12% of your budget for the images and videos of your special day. After all, these are wedding keepsakes that you will cherish for the rest of your life. In addition to paying for the final products, you’ll need to cover the cost of the photographers’ and videographers’ time.
When looking for wedding photographers/videographers, make sure to read the information regarding their pricing and packages carefully because these can vary substantially from photographer/videographer to photographer/videographer and have a significant impact on wedding photography/videography price.
You won’t have to spend any additional travel charges if your wedding photographer/videographer is located near your wedding venue. However, if your photographer/videographer will be going a long distance (typically over 60 miles), you should expect to pay up to $2 per mile or more in additional travel charges.
9% Percent: Attire, Hair and Makeup
Make sure to set aside at least 9% of your budget for your attire. This proportion should, of course, include the cost of the dress and tuxedo/suit rentals, as well as the cost of shoes and any other accessories, such as jewelry or cufflinks. You should also include the expense of your hair and make-up.
Buying a wedding dress & tuxedo/suit is unlike purchasing a piece of everyday attire. You’re going to be wearing this dress & tuxedo on one of the most important days of your life, and so you’ll likely spend quite a bit of money on your wedding attire.
Many brides make the mistake of thinking they can do their hair and makeup on their wedding day.
You definitely want to look your best on your wedding day to slay those wedding photos—so be sure to entrust your hair and makeup to the professionals! Of course, having your hair and makeup done will cost you money, but it is certainly worth it.
8% Percent: Decor
Typically, wedding flowers, décor, and lighting comprise about eight percent of a couple’s total wedding budget—so be sure to plan to spend accordingly!
A décor expert can work wonders, so one option is to hire someone to assist you with your decorating. There are a few important factors that will affect the cost of a professional wedding decorator. One factor is your location; decorators are usually more expensive in large cities or other high-income areas. Another consideration is how much effort the decorator will put into your wedding, from design to decoration selection.
Your wedding florist will enhance the beauty of your wedding day by creating stunning floral arrangements. The cost of your wedding flowers will vary depending on your style and requirements. The average cost of flowers for a wedding varies so widely because there are so many different types of flowers! The most expensive flowers include peonies, gardenias, and hydrangeas. If you’re on a tight wedding flower budget, decorating your reception with lots of greenery is an inexpensive (and on-trend!) option.
7% Percent: Entertainment
Music is an important part of a wedding reception, so hiring a professional to coordinate the music is essential to ensure that everything runs smoothly. When it comes to numbers, we recommend allocating 7% of your budget to music.
If you want music that is warm and energetic but also flexible and adaptable to the moment, hire both a live band and a DJ by looking for a specialized company that can supply both.
When choosing a live wedding band, make sure you have a detailed and accurate quote. There are no hidden costs, no last-minute surcharges, and they will provide you the total amount upfront.
3% Percent: Wedding Planner
When it comes to preparing your special day, hiring a wedding planner may make all the difference. After all, when you have a professional in charge of all the arrangements, you can rest assured that your celebration will go off without a hitch and make sure you stay within your wedding budget.
For busy couples, a wedding planner can be a lifesaver, ensuring that the planning process and the actual event run smoothly. They may also offer various wedding planning advice and tips as a professional who has gone through the process before. It’s crucial to understand that wedding planning isn’t a one-size-fits-all service; your wedding vision is unique, and a wedding planner will take special care of it.
3% Percent: Wedding Rings/Bands
There isn’t a wedding ring cost rule. On average, couples spend 3% percent of their budget on wedding rings.
A wedding ring could be anything from a plain gold band to a diamond encrusted one — it all depends on what you want to spend. Remember that the wedding ring doesn’t need perfect grades. As long as your partner thinks it’s perfect, that’s enough. You don’t have to spend an excessive amount on a wedding ring. The cost isn’t the point. It’s about you and your partner starting on a new chapter of your lives together.
If you want a fancy wedding band but can’t afford one, start with a less expensive ring for the ceremony and keep the more expensive option for a future anniversary gift. This is a great method to stay within your wedding budget while also giving you a built-in present idea for later.
2% Percent: Stationery & Invitations
When it comes to wedding invitations and stationery, there are numerous options to choose from, so make sure to select paper products that complement your style and wedding budget.
Whether you go bespoke with the help of a stationer and calligrapher or you choose a pre-designed template to work off of, we know you’ll find stationery that perfectly complements your wedding without going over budget.
Using technology to create your wedding invitations can help you save a lot of money in the long run. Traditionally, wedding day details are supposed to be sent via mail in an invitation suite. With so many digital wedding invitation options available in today’s world, many couples are choosing online options that not only save money but also preserve a few trees.
2% Percent: Transportation
Many couples prefer to hire transportation to ensure that their guests arrive at the correct venue at the right time. This may involve hiring a bus or shuttle service to transport guests to and from the hotels. Others prefer to hire a limo for the wedding party or a lavish getaway car following the ceremony. Set aside at least 2% of your total wedding budget for transportation.
2% Percent: Officiant
Set aside 2% of your budget to cover the costs of hiring an officiant to legally marry you and your partner.
While the cost of a wedding officiant varies based on where you live in the country as well as a number of other factors, the average cost in the United States is $300, with the majority of couples spending between $200 and $450. Keep in mind that these are only averages, and wedding officiant costs can vary greatly from city to city and officiant to officiant.
2% Percent: Favors and Gifts
The last piece of your wedding budget breakdown includes the cost of party favors and gifts for those who made your day extra special. It’s a good gesture to give your guests wedding favors, whether they’re edible or keepsakes, and don’t forget to buy gifts for your wedding party and family members! Many couples choose to give their guests a memento of their wedding as a parting gift. It’s a modest gesture that will make a big difference.
Most people have no idea how much of your wedding budget is spent on vendors. This takes me to a question to which I’m sure every bride-to-be may relate. How are you supposed to know the average; standard to spend on this stuff when meeting with potential wedding vendors and receiving pricing from them? You don’t have to cut back on the number of professional wedding suppliers you invite to be a part of the big day, regardless of how big or small your wedding budget is. It all comes down to deciding which wedding suppliers are most important to you in producing a “one-of-a-kind” wedding reception and which takeaways you want your guests to remember long after the night is over.
