Maritus

A wedding is known to be one of the most exciting times of your life, but planning your wedding can also be one of the most expensive things. When there is no set budget, costs can go wild. No matter if you are opting for a grand celebration or a close intimate gathering, a well-planned budget will ensure that your special day is beautiful without straining your finances.

This guide takes an in-depth look at wedding budgeting, with actionable tips to make sure you can have your dream wedding—without breaking the bank. Let’s dive in to learn more about wedding budgeting.

How to Begin Your Wedding Budget?

Assess Your Total Funds

Find out how much you have for the wedding. This will incorporate your savings, any money your family will contribute financially, and what you additionally expect to spend on the wedding costs.

Set Clear Priorities

Determine what’s Important to You For some couples, it’s the venue; for others, it’s photography, catering, or the wedding dress. Prioritizing is the best way not to end up spending more on unimportant things.

Use Budgeting Tools

Wedding budgeting apps like Mint, Zola, or WeddingWire can be effectively used to track spending. These tools make it easier to track costs, prevent overspending, and ensure transparency in your financial planning.

Plan for Unexpected Costs

Always reserve 5-10% of your budget to cover unexpected costs, from last-minute requests to guests or additional vendor fees.

Wedding Budget Breakdown: How Much You Should Spend on Each Expense

Venue and Catering

Often, this is the largest chunk cost for you, comprising 40–50% of your total budget. Do your research on multiple venues and consider off-peak dates to save money.

Photography and Videography

We then recommend that you dedicate approximately 10-15% of your budget to professional photographers and videographers, as capturing the moments of your special day is paramount.

Outfit of The Bride And Groom

Wedding outfits are also significant but budgeted accordingly. Allot 5-10% of your budget for clothing, including accessories and alterations.

Décor and Flowers

Floral arrangements, centerpieces, and decorations are expenses that should account for about 5-10% of your budget. Think about renting decor or using seasonal flowers to save money.

Entertainment

Creating a fun environment, and music and entertainment are essential for that. Allot 5-10% of the budget for DJ, live band, live artist performances, and other entertainment because no wedding is complete without entertainment. 

Invitations and Stationery

For printed materials like invitations, menus, and customized signage, merchandising if opting for, try allocating 3-5% of your budget. Going with digital invitations helps you save some money.

Miscellaneous Expenses

Spend 5% of your budget on ancillary costs such as wedding favors, transport, and unforeseen expenses on the day if they arise.

How To Cut Costs On Your Wedding Without Losing Any Quality

Get Married in the Off-Season or Midweek

Most venues and vendors offer discounts during non-peak seasons or weekdays. If you’re flexible in choosing your wedding date, try choosing a less-demand time. This is a great way to save a significant amount of money without compromising on the quality of your big day.

Go for a Versatile Venue

Choosing a venue that includes catering, furniture, decor, and other necessities can help you escape the extra costs and hassle of renting individual items. It also streamlines coordination and eases logistical stress.

Use Digital Invitations

Printed invitations, especially if you want premium paper and design services, can get expensive. Digital invitations are budget-friendly and eco-friendly, which gives you more room to spend money on something else.

Rent Instead of Buying

Wedding clothing, decor, and even tableware can often be rented for a fraction of what it would cost to buy them. Incidentally, this enables you to enjoy high-quality elements at your wedding, without the long-term expense.

Throw a Brunch or Lunch Reception

Evening receptions are often pricier due to the cost of elaborate multi-course meals and alcohol. Brunch or lunch receptions are more affordable meal options and still allow for guests to be well-fed.

Wedding Costs You Should Prepare For Before Saying “I Do”

Wedding License & Lawful Fees

Fees differ depending on where you are so make sure to include these in your plans. Avoid surprises by researching the necessary permits, officiant fees, and any documentation fees.

Vendor Gratuities and Tips

Gratuities are not always included in contracts when you first book vendors like caterers, photographers, and hairstylists, but they’re generally assumed. By reserving 10-20% of their service fee, you acknowledge their hard work.

Additional Setup and Teardown Fees for Decor

Others charge extra for setting up or cleaning up after your event (especially if your decorations need a lot of labor). Input these costs from your venue in advance so you don’t pay these fees at the last minute.

Overtime Charges

If your wedding time goes over the time you booked, vendors and venues may charge you additional fees for the extra time. To avoid this, keep a strict timeline for the event and communicate overtime policies to vendors in advance.

Last-Minute Alterations

Wedding dresses and suits frequently need last-minute adjustments before the big day, bringing unanticipated expenses. Factor in any potential tailoring needs so you’re set should any last-minute adjustments be needed.

Wedding Budget Myths You Need to Stop Believing (Seriously!)

• Myth: DIY is always cheaper: DIY projects appear to save money, but materials, tools, and time can be expensive. Hiring a professional may be cheaper and less stressful in some situations.
• Myth: You need to be on budget for a small wedding: While trimming the guest list brings down costs, luxury microweddings with top-tier venues, gourmet catering, and elaborate décor can be pricey.
• Myth: Destination weddings are too expensive: Despite the common perception that they are all too expensive, on the contrary, they can often be much more reasonable due to a lesser number of guests attending, all-inclusive packages, and the fact that many of these venues already boast natural beauty, so you’ll save on decorations.

Always research your options before assuming some choices will save you money. Each wedding is individual and prices will vary based on individual choices and decisions.

How to Keep Track and Manage Wedding Expenses?

• Use a wedding budget app: It is now easier than ever to track payments, set spending limits, and categorize expenses in real time with the help of wedding budget apps like Zola, Mint, or WeddingWire.
• Organize vendor contracts: Store all agreements, invoices, and receipts in one place, whether in an actual folder or a digital drive, to prevent hidden costs and last-minute surprises.
• Record/payment due dates: Keeping track of payment due dates ensures payments get made on time so that there are absolutely no hiccups in your wedding plans.
• Designate a trusted person to monitor spending: A close friend, family member, or wedding planner can be included in the mix to help keep tabs on what you’re spending and to alert you to potential overspending.
• Regularly review your budget: Regular budget review helps you to understand if you are overspending anywhere and make the necessary changes timely

The Importance of Hiring a Wedding Planner for Budgeting

A wedding planner is essential to covering all aspects of your wedding without overspending. They have negotiated many times with vendors and may get a few discounts and good deals, which might be unknown to a couple. Planners also save you money by helping you divide your funds accordingly so that you don’t blow your budget on things you don’t need.

They also simplify the budgeting process by monitoring each expense and making sure that every dollar counts. They can also offer priceless advice on how you can save the most money, allowing you to have your perfect wedding without breaking the bank! From logistics to vendor coordination, they take loads off your plate (literally) and allow you to just enjoy your day. Their expertise helps you set a realistic budget and manage funds over time so there aren’t last-minute financial surprises.

Maritus Offerings

A wedding budget carefully formulated ahead of time is critical, and we at Maritus know this! Our expert planners curate cost-effective solutions tailored to your vision, ensuring every element aligns with your financial goals. We provide full-service, end-to-end wedding planning, from venue selection and vendor negotiations to decor and entertainment. We partner with the best vendors, so we can negotiate the greatest pricing without sacrificing quality. You just sit back and enjoy a relaxed and magical wedding experience and let Maritus take care of the nitty-gritty.