A newly engaged couple may have many thoughts running through their heads – will my guests remember this day for years to come? Will the DJ get everybody dancing? Will my backless dress be equal parts sexy and sophisticated?. Nothing will stop your vision of your special day from coming true like finding out that your budget doesn’t allow for all of the romantic and wonderful details that you imagined. Setting a budget for your wedding may not be as fun as selecting a honeymoon location, but it is one of the most important things that you should do, and it should also be the first thing you do.
A wedding budget will help you determine where you will have your ceremony and reception, how many guests will attend, what type of menu you will have, and even help determine the bride’s dress. If a couple doesn’t sit down first and start penciling out some realistic figures, wedding costs could easily spin out of control, adding stress to the couple and their family members. The last thing that a bride and groom want is to not have a dream aspect of their wedding become a reality because they failed to adequately budget ahead of time.
The first thing you will do is determine how much you and your families can contribute to the overall budget. The traditional approach to wedding costs being covered mostly by the bride’s family is not necessarily true for today’s bride and groom. Sometimes both families contribute equal amounts, or for specific aspects of the wedding, and many modern couples pay for their entire wedding themselves.
How to Set a Wedding Budget
Once you have a good idea of how much budget you have overall to work with, it is time to allocate the funds towards specific aspects of the wedding.
The reception will take up an average of 50% of your budget. Did you know that the number of guests that will attend your wedding is the biggest determining factor in your wedding costs? Sometimes the best way to stick with your budget is to consider a smaller guest list.
The bride’s dress, groom’s attire, and wedding rings will account for 10-13% of the overall budget. Knowing this in advance will help when it comes time to go dress shopping. Flowers and the ceremony location average another 10- 13% of your budget. Videos, photos, entertainment and music will require an average of 20% of the total costs.
The last 10% of the budget will go towards gifts for your wedding party, stationery for invitations, and miscellaneous costs like parking. A good rule of thumb is to also save aside 5% for unscheduled surprises.
Your largest expense, the reception, includes much more than just the location. Your food, displays, tents, tables, chairs, silverware, and linen will be part of this budget. If it feels overwhelming to try and figure out the small details of your budget, then let the professionals help. Instead of trying to figure out how many salad forks you need to rent for a cocktails and appetizers afternoon, and the price per spoon if you decide to add dessert, let an experienced wedding event planner help.
Randy Peters Catering is a full service caterer serving the Sacramento area, and our experienced planning team has helped bring wedding dreams to life for years. Our phenomenal food is matched by our passion for detail, and we can take care of the reception details so you can worry about finding matching shoes for your dress, and not matching tablecloths for the gift tables. We can even help you plan pre-wedding events like bridal showers, bachelor and bachelorette parties, and engagement parties.
Come in today for a consultation with our professional and highly recommended team, taste our delicious samples, and let us take your budget and turn it into a magical, once-in-a-lifetime experience.