You have more control of the cost of your wedding than you may think. There are many statistics on the average cost of weddings but the bottom line is found in your budget.
Way back when in the world of weddings things were much simpler and less costly, a budget wasn’t necessary for the average wedding. The bride’s family assumed full financial responsibility which basically consisted of the bride’s attire and the flowers. The bridal bouquet was typically paid for by the groom. The groom wore a suit sometimes borrowed, photos were taken by family and friends, in most cases there were a total of 2 attendants/witnesses dressed in their Sunday best and the reception consisted of a pot luck luncheon in the basement of the church.
Today there is an average of 4 attendants each; the reception consists of a social hour, a full meal with cake and/or desserts, a dance and more socializing. There are invitations, photographers, videographers, the DJ, decorations, thank you gifts and the list goes on. Therefore, creating a reasonable budget before making any decisions and sticking to it is a must.
Do your research before discussing your financial needs. Most service providers can not give an exact estimate in cost because there are so many variables, but you should be able to get a good idea. At this point the potential cost of the celebration is most important.
However uncomfortable, your next step is discussing who will be contributing to the financial responsibilities. If you’re serious about sticking to your budget and keep an open mind, anything is possible.
I’ve witnessed several workable arrangements between the couple and their families. The most common scenarios are:
1) Parents contribute a set dollar amount to be used for toward the total cost of the wedding.
2) Both families divide the total cost evenly.
3) The bride’s family pays for the meal, the groom’s family pays for the social beverages and entertainment and the couple assumes all other financial responsibilities.
4) The couple assumes all financial responsibility.
I don’t recommend a loan or credit card, however convenient you still have to pay it back and its convenience tends to blow the budget.
I do, however, recommend setting up a checking account to be used specifically for the wedding. This helps stay on budget and acts as a check list.
The next task is your guest list. This is a huge factor in the cost of your wedding. The number of guests you invite greatly affects the cost of your celebration.
Once your budget and guest list has been established, you’re ready to proceed in booking your venue for the ceremony and celebration and all of your other service providers.
Be sure to research and ask questions of all of your service providers, after all they will be working for you. Do keep in mind that they are also working for other couples who are just as important as you.
I look forward to writing my next blog which will address choosing the service providers that fit your wedding needs and budget.
