How to set a wedding budget - and stick to it!

Weddings are one of life’s most exciting and memorable moments. Often for those involved a wedding day can be described as "the best day of my life!”

As we are all aware, weddings can become very expensive due to the sheer amount of work involved from various suppliers and logistics to bring this celebration together. So how do you make sure your perfect day fits within the budget you have in mind?

My tips on how to keep the budget under control and make sure you are aware of all options before committing to costs:

Prioritise

• Write down a list of what’s important to you and your partner on the big day. Highlight what is a non-negotiable for you and allow yourself room to find the right suppliers for that category.

Track Your Costs

• Set a budget in an excel spreadsheet, allocating rough amounts for each line item and update as you go. Once you start to receive quotes/cost indications update the spreadsheet to reflect the correct amounts

Research, Research, Research

• Do your research. Look around for different suppliers and you might surprise yourself with what you find!

Do It Yourself

• Can you do a bit of DIY? For my own wedding, this was a fun part of my bridesmaids and I getting to prep for the big day with simple things like rose petal confetti cones, arbor floral arrangements, Polaroid Camera photo booth set up. Think of other things like using pre-made templates online such as Save the Date Invites, Thank You cards, Table Setting cards and the list goes on. Etsy can be your best friend too if you want to support local businesses and artists!

Guest List

• Guest list. This one’s tricky and can be hard to bring down. It ultimately depends on how connected you and your partner feel to the guests, the role they have played in your relationship to date, and the role you see them playing in the future. My final question on this topic - would you buy this person dinner on a regular night?

Off-peak Wedding

• Off-peak wedding. Would you consider this? Many vendors will offer cheaper prices to weddings being held during the cooler months, so why not explore this option, and see how it compares.

At the end of the day, the celebrations will come down to you and your partner, so make sure it’s what you want. Whether the wedding is big or small, create the perfect day that suits your needs.

I hope these tips help you plan your perfect wedding day, doing it your own way, keeping the budget anxiety away!