So I’ve never been married, and I’m not even engaged (I don’t have any cats – yet), so I really don’t know anything about budgeting for a wedding. That’s why today’s guest post comes from an expert in wedding budgets, and I wanted to share this valuable info with all you future bridezillas out there asking the question, “how long does it take to save for a wedding?” Here is a quick budget plan for brides:
It’s easy to get carried away when you’re planning your wedding. You see your dream venue, dress, caterer and floral arrangements and before you know it you’ve blown your $10,000 budget and are left counting the change.
If you’ve recently got engaged, you’re probably trying to work out how long it will take you to save for a wedding. Luckily for you, we’ve got the perfect solution. This quick budget plan is ideal for busy brides, and can help you work out how long you need to spend saving.
Every bride from big spenders to savvy savers can take full advantage of this guide; so no excuses ladies! Here are our top frugal wedding tips:
1. Estimate what you can (realistically) save
If you’ve already got a wedding date in mind, estimate what you can save in that time. Hopefully you won’t have given yourself a small time scale!
Take a look at how many months (and more importantly, paydays) left until the big day. Have a goal in mind for how much you think you’ll need to save, and then work out how much you think you can put aside every month in the run up.
You might have a pool of savings you can dip into for this too; after all, what else are savings for if not for a special occasion like your wedding day?!
2. Ask for help from your families
Tradition dictates that the bride’s family foot the bill for the majority of the wedding. Of course, this isn’t always appropriate for the 2013 couple, but you can still ask for a little help from your loved ones.
Ask both sets of parents if they could help you out in anyway, and try and ensure that both sides give an equal amount. Don’t push it and ask for a ridiculous bursary; be grateful of any amount that anyone offers.
3. Do the math
Once you’ve done this, add up how much you think you will have to spend. You should then subtract 10% as you should always leave yourself something aside for emergencies, run overs, and costs you hadn’t factored in. Once you’ve got this figure, it’s time to budget.
The busy bride’s budget
Here is a quick budget for the average US wedding, based on a total budget of $25,000 (yes, that’s how much weddings are estimated to cost!). You will need to alter these percentages accordingly, depending on your plans for your wedding day.
This is just a guideline and will differ depending on your personal preferences, how much you have to spend, the size of your guest list and more. You may also place heavier weighting on some items, and wish to spend more money here. But here is a quick guide for you to work on:
- Reception venue, food, cake and bar – 47%
- Photography – 13%
- Wedding gown and Bride’s accessories – 8%
- Music – 7%
- Wedding rings – 6%
- Flowers – 5%
- Transport – 3%
- Groom’s suit rental – 3%
- Invites and other printed decor – 2%
- Gifts for bridal party and groomsmen – 2%
- Hair and makeup – 2%
- Favours – 1%
- Officiant – 1%
This fuss-free budget guide could help you to split your money accordingly, and have a great day no matter how much cash you’ve got to splash. The most important thing to do is to enjoy every second of your big day though; don’t worry too much for the finer details!
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