Planning a Wedding by the Numbers
The State Of American Weddings In 2017: Costs, Trends, and How to Save Money
Talking about money and budgets when Planning a Wedding by the Numbers doesn’t feel very romantic. You want the day to be about the ceremony, the music and the party. Planning a Wedding is stressful, though, and setting a budget as the first step establishes expectations early reducing stress later.
Via: InvestmentZen.com
Planning a Wedding by the Numbers
The State Of American Weddings In 2017: Costs, Trends, and How to Save Money
Talking about money and budgets when Planning a Wedding by the Numbers doesn’t feel very romantic. You want the day to be about the ceremony, the music and the party. Planning is stressful, though, and setting a budget as the first step establishes expectations early reducing stress later.
In general, weddings are more expensive each year. Even modest events cost more than $30,000 in our modern era, not including the honeymoon. Marriages are also happening later in life, meaning the bride and groom foot the majority of the bill. Being realistic about what the two of you can and should spend goes a long way toward beginning married life on the right foot and wedding-debt free.
Start with prioritizing the individual elements of the wedding like date, location, food, music, etc. For example, if the location is at the top of the list, accept that you will compromise on the date and time of day. Conversely, if the date is important, your first choice of venue might be too expensive or already booked.
Once you finish the priority list, start assigning dollar amounts or a percentage of your total budget to each item. There are a number of free and low-cost budgeting templates available on the internet. Or, go old school and write it down on lined paper.
Now that you know what you can spend on each item, talking to vendors becomes easier. Your budget helps set expectations with the vendor and allows you to walk away from those that won’t negotiate.
Try to pay cash for as many things as possible. If you must use credit, pick a low interest rate credit card that offers rewards, like miles, points or cash back.
You desire the “perfect” day–and it will be because it includes the two of you, not because you spent lavishly. Remember, the wedding is just one day of a many-day marriage with more experiences to come.