Think of your wedding budget as a cake. Everything that a wedding budget covers has a slice of the cake. Some brides have bigger cakes, and that is just how it goes. It is up to the bride how they would like to divide their cake (their budget) throughout the wedding planning process. Some brides have items that place higher on their necessity list. Don’t let the word budget scare you. Budget in this sense is not cutting your wedding down to the bare minimum, it is instead the amount you have in your head that you are willing to spend on the special day. So here are some of the main wedding budget details you cannot miss out on!

FIRST THINGS FIRST

One of the first questions you should consider when breaking down the wedding budget is “who is paying?” Traditionally, the bride’s family will cover the wedding, and the groom’s family will pick up the bar tab. Again, that is traditional. Even more power to couples who pay for their own wedding! Next, guest count. This can change the cost of a wedding drastically. Guest count factors into catering costs, the venue capacity, and chair and table rental services. As with the guest count, take some time to determine your bridal party size. This group of gals is there throughout the whole wedding planning process. Costs surrounding bridesmaids will include their gifts, bouquets, dresses, hair and makeup, and morning of attire.

FIND YOUR PRIORITIES

This is where a cake budget layout will look different for each bride. Find your priority vendors. Make sure you spend adequate money where you would expect excellence. Some main vendors you may want to save extra room in your budget for are the photographer, videographer, caterer, HAMU artist, and DJ. Our biggest tip for you is to focus on quality over quantity! Reduce the amount of mediocre event elements and accentuate the main items for each vendor. When finding priorities, make a non-negotiable list! These are must-haves for a bride that cannot get cut from the wedding budget. This may be phenomenal floral centerpieces or a videographer that makes your day come to life over & over again.

DON’T FORGET!

So many things can fall through the cracks when planning your wedding budget. They are no less important either! So don’t forget these crucial items. Just like you tip at a restaurant, it is common courtesy to leave a gratuity for vendors. This is a way to say thank you for the exceptional service they provided you on your day. Continuing with saying thank you, many brides like to gift their bridesmaids after they plan parties, the parents of their fiancé, and their groom on their wedding day. Okay, you said yes to the dress, but now you need it altered! Do not be afraid to spend a good amount of money on this. You want your alterations to match the original quality of the dress. Finally, can we talk about the honeymoon?! Consider this a part of the wedding planning budget, as it traditionally follows soon after the wedding.

Brides! You only get married once. Don’t be afraid to carve out room in the cake for your important details. Riding Tandem has an amazing team of planners that would love to help you turn your vision into reality on your special day.

Set up a consultation with Carlie, book our services, or download the budget breakdown here!