BUDGETING & ORGANIZATION TIPS
Who pays for your wedding and how?
Tradition depicts that the bride’s family is responsible for the wedding expenses. Today, weddings are paid for in several non-traditional ways: sometimes the bride and groom, sometimes the couple’s families work together, sometimes only the bride’s family and sometimes only the groom’s family. In some cultures, the betrothed couples have sponsors who pay for various items in the wedding celebration.
No matter is paying for the wedding, it is very important to decide how much you are going to spend before you begin shopping. It is very difficult to shop for your wedding vendors if you do not know how much money you have available.
An important factor to consider when planning your budget is the number of guests you are going to have. It’s equally important to have a sense of your own priorities as you plan. Knowing what is most important to you will help make your decisions easier.
Following these simple steps will make a world of difference when mapping out your budget:
MAKE A GUEST LIST
The first step to planning the perfect wedding is to plan your guest list. The most variable expense you will have is the cost of providing your guests with food and beverage. There is a huge cost difference between having 100 guests and 150 guests. In order to plan a realistic budget, you must have a good estimate of the number of guests who will attend.
CHECK IT TWICE
To get a more accurate idea of the true number of guests, write out your guest list, then divide the guests into those who will most certainly attend, those who most likely will not attend, and those who are either to go either way. Divide the list of those who are likely to go either way in half, and add them to the list of those likely to attend. This will create a more realistic estimate of your final guest count.
CREATE A BUDGET
Once you have a working guest list, the next step is to decide what items you want to include in your wedding budget and list them in order of importance to you. Once you set these priorities you will know how much money you are able to spend for each vendor.
Staying organized when planning your wedding is all about deadlines. Just as every wedding is different, every couple’s planning schedule will be different too. In some parts of the country, couples can begin to plan their weddings 18 months to two years ahead of time. Other parts of the country won’t allow you to reserve space for your wedding any earlier than nine months in advance.
When planning your wedding, consider hiring your wedding vendors based upon a hierarchy of which vendors can do the least amount of weddings in one day. For example, your photographer most likely can only do one wedding in a day, so they should be among the first vendors you hire. Then move on to vendors who can do more than one event in a day. The following is a recommended order for planning your wedding:
PRE-HIRING ACTIVITIES
- Complete guest list including addresses and phone numbers
- Decide type of wedding to determine color scheme and location
- Finalize budget
- Choose your wedding party
FIRST HIRING TIER
- Hire a wedding planner
- Determine ceremony site
- Determine reception site
- Reserve hotel rooms for out of town guests
- Select photographer
- Select videographer
- Select reception band/musician/disc jockey
- Select ceremony musician
- Shop for and order wedding gown and bridesmaids dresses
- Select hair and makeup artist and schedule trial run when your headpiece arrives
SECOND HIRING TIER
- Select florist
- Select linen company
- Send out save-the-date and reservation forms (done at least six months prior to the wedding)
- Select pastry chef
- Select grooms and groomsmen attire
- Order invitations/stationery/announcements
- Select calligrapher
- Confirm wedding rehearsal time
- Meet with caterer/catering manager and plan menu
- Attend menu tasting
- Plan honeymoon
- Arrange wedding day transportation
THIRD HIRING TIER
- Select wedding favors
- Send invitations to calligrapher (at least ten weeks prior the wedding)
- Mail invitations (6-8 weeks prior to the wedding)
- Enroll at bridal registries (prior to your first shower)
- Plan rehearsal dinner, bridesmaids luncheon, golf outings and any other weekend wedding parties
ORGANIZATION
- Make a list of songs you would like/not-like to be played at your reception
- Purchase bridal party accessories
- Meet with florist and make final floral selections
- Make final linen selections
- Schedule final fittings
- Select ceremony music
- Discuss ceremony with officiate, choose readings for ceremony and arrange for your rehearsal
- Apply for marriage license
- Contact floral and gown preservationists
- Write thank you notes for gifts as they come
- Design transportation inserts for out of town guests
- Give ceremony musicians music requests
- Give photographer checklist for photos
- Give reception musicians music requests and introduction list
- Choose gifts for wedding party
- Break in shoes
- Follow up on guests who did not respond (two weeks prior to the wedding)
- Give final head counts to catering manager, florist, pastry chef, linen company
- Set seating arrangements
- Write place cards
- Pay balances before the wedding (one month prior is ideal)
OTHER DETAILS
If you are planning on having a facial, do it at least a month prior to your wedding. You do not want extra breakouts on your special day.
Do not tan too much prior to the wedding. You do not want to be sunburned or orange on the wedding day. Be mindful of tan lines if your wedding gown is strapless or has a low back.
Plan to relax the last few days prior to the wedding. Get all of your organization completed at least three days prior to the wedding. This will cut down on your stress.
Get lots of sleep and drink plenty of water.
Don’t forget to eat something the morning of your wedding. You should have something in your stomach.
