Table decorations. Drinks. Bridesmaid gifts. Expenses for your wedding can start adding up really fast!
Budgeting and tracking expenses for your wedding is critical. As items and receipts begin piling up, it is increasingly important to keep track of what you spent and where. From a spread sheet, to a check book register, to an iphone app – the way you keep track doesn’t really matter. Find what works best for you – or more importantly – find a method of keeping track that is easy and you know you will maintain. For example, a check book register may be easy, but if your check book stays at home in a desk drawer, that might not be the best solution. On the other hand, if you enter your receipts regularly every night (does anyone actually do that…?), maybe the register is right for you.
Regardless of the method, find one, and stick to it. Forming a budget and keeping track as you go is the best way to make sure your wedding planning runs smoothly and free from cash shortfalls. It’s easy to get carried away at the flower shop, only to realize later that you spent money that should have gone towards Bridesmaids gifts. (Or a wedding videographer.)
Ok – you say – so keeping track of expenses might be the easy part. But how do you build the budget?
St. Louis Best Bridal has put together a sample budget based of off average wedding expenses (note that the percentages are of average total wedding costs without including the honeymoon):
Ceremony: 2-3%
Marriage license/name change fees, site/officiant fees, aisle runner, etc.
Rehearsal Dinner: 4-5%
Site rental, food, beverages, etc.
Stationary: 2-3%
Announcements, Save-the-Date cards (or video!), invitations, envelopes, etc.
Photography: 11-15%
Engagement, videography, photography
Reception: 50%
Site fee, catering costs, bar cost, etc.
Gifts: 2-3%
Music: 4-6%
Ceremony & Reception
Wedding Attire: 7-10%
Wedding gown, headpiece, veil, lingerie, hair and makeup, tuxedo, jewelry, etc.
Flowers: 6-8%
Ceremony, bouquets, boutonnieres, etc.
Wedding Rings: 4-6%
Transportation: 2-3%
Extras: 1-2%
Lodging, welcome bags for out-of-town guests, wedding night accommodations, etc.
* Budget provided by St. Louis Best Bridal Spring-Summer 2012.
These percentages are by no means the final say over budgeting, but they can at least help you get started if you are feeling lost or overwhelmed.
– The Tower Studios Team
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