Setting a wedding budget for your big day can help avoid stress and ease financial burdens. Learn how to shape your dream wedding without going into debt!

Everyone loves a wedding! From social media to TV to magazines in stores, it seems like everyone, everywhere says that you have to go all-out on this once-in-a-lifetime occasion. But no one wants to talk about the cost. You should definitely take pains to make sure you have a dream wedding—but you shouldn’t leave yourself broke on account of it! No one wants to wrap up the best night of their lives only to wake up the next morning and find out they’ve put themselves in a financial hole because of the festivities. Therefore, it’s imperative to set a clear wedding budget before you dive into planning your special day.

It’s easy to get carried away while planning your wedding—the venue, menu, vendors, dresses, all of this can quickly mount in cost without a clear budget in place. Clearly establishing the monetary boundaries of the event allows newlyweds to begin the new phase of their lives on the right financial footing. To avoid unnecessary stress during the planning and remain debt-free once the guests go home, you need to discuss your wedding budget in advance.

The Inclusions

Begin listing down the non-negotiables, and things you do want to splurge on. This will set the foundation of your wedding budget. Depending on the couple and their priorities, these necessary inclusions can vary greatly. At a minimum, this preliminary list should include the number of pre-wedding events and venues, the marriage license, wedding attire, decor, food, and rental fees. Now allocate a fixed budget to these items.

This is also the right time to establish a vague headcount. Many couples find building the guest list difficult, but with a proper understanding of how much you can actually afford, you can finalize this step without guilt!

As the wedding budget starts coming together, you’ll be able to highlight places where you can save money. This is also the right time to where you can bring down certain costs or get discounts. If friends or family offer services that you need at your wedding (like photography or catering), ask if they could perhaps give you a discount in lieu of a wedding gift.

The Sky Is NOT The Limit For Your Wedding Budget

When it comes to the wedding budget, there are limits!

Your income and savings will help you in building your wedding budget and timeline. Calculate what proportion of your salaries can you set aside every payday. Total this up to figure out how long it will take you to reach your ideal budget. If your parents or family members are contributing to the expenses, write them down too.

Base the length of your engagement period on this cash flow. You can always opt for a longer engagement if you can’t reach your budget goal on time. Or perhaps revisit your wedding budget breakdown and alter a few expenses to make everything fit. The goal is to enjoy your special day without worrying too much about the financial aftermath.

More Research, Fewer Surprises

Wedding expenses should come with a disclaimer regarding all the hidden fees! If you want to avoid them, start reading the fine print. For example, did you know that just paying for the cake might not give you the right to cut it? You may still have to pay a “cutting fee” just to dig in! It sounds unreasonable, but if you haven’t done your research, you’d have to pay it. What else will you do? Fight with vendors at your wedding reception?

There are any number of little expenses that may not be at first appearance but will inflate your wedding budget quickly. Tipping to the vendors, seasonal or weather expenses, transportation costs, event set-up—the list is endless. Thus, it’s important to sit down with each vendor and review these costs. With research and discussion, you can keep these costs at a minimum.

However, remember that there is no perfectly planned wedding budget. Even if you have been thorough with your calculations, chances are high that something will still emerge unforeseen. Therefore, always set aside a little extra, just in case.

Don’t Lose Track of The Wedding Budget

Establishing your wedding budget is the first part. Now, you have to actually track the cash flow through the process.

With so many expenditures occurring at the same time, it can be difficult to keep track of everything. One way to address this is to create a separate checking account for wedding-related expenses—this way, you know exactly how much has been spent on the wedding at any given time. There are also a number of apps you can use to help properly allocate your wedding budget.

Creating a Google spreadsheet is yet another alternative, for couples who aren’t as tech-savvy. The collaborative capabilities will also let you share the link with your partner and other contributors who can view and edit in real-time. This will save you hours of unnecessary or redundant phone calls and texts!

Browse Afarose’s Virtual Bridal Shop

One of the most important parts of the big day, of course, is your dress. In the midst of the hustle and bustle, don’t forget to take the time to find the perfect fit!

Of course, traditionally shopping for the wedding dress is an arduous task in its own right. Trekking between sometimes as many as 10 different brick-and-mortar shops, eating up your time, only to find something you only maybe like. What if there was an easier way? Why not shop for your wedding outfit from the comfort of your own home, with Afarose?

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Afarose is your online one-stop bridal shop for the big day. All the dresses offered are made to order, so you can be sure of the perfect fit for your special day. Because Afarose doesn’t have the massive overhead costs of traditional, physical boutiques, you get bespoke designer dresses at an affordable cost! Beautiful pieces like the elegant Zada, voluminous and joyous Remy, and intricately lacy Ann will be sure showstoppers on your special day.

To ensure you get the perfect custom fit, Afarose also offers virtual styling appointments and try-at-home options. What are you waiting for? Find the perfect outfit—that’s also within your budget—today at Afarose!