Although it may seem like a daunting task, setting a budget for your wedding doesn’t have to be a long and painful experience.  There is a simple way to set your budget! It may seem easier to simply skip to the cake tastings, but setting and sticking to a budget is one of the first and most important steps of planning your wedding.  I’ve included some simple steps to help you decide the best way to set your budget.

First:  Decide who is paying for what.

Are you and your fiancé paying for your wedding?  Are parents or other family members planning on contributing?  It is important to have honest conversations early on to determine who would like to chip in for what parts of your wedding.  Figure out if family members would like to pay a certain amount or if they have their heart set on paying for a particular aspect of the wedding.

Then:  How will you set your personal budget?

Once you have determined who is contributing and how much they will be paying for, it is important to decide what your personal budget will be.  There are a variety of ways to go about making this decision.  Do you have savings set aside that you are planning to use for your wedding?  Are you using a specific percentage of your annual income? Will you be determining your personal budget based on the national average?  Once you know how much you and your family will be contributing, you have your basic budget! (Yes, it is that easy!)

Next:  Factor in decisions you’ve already made and are committed to.

You will need to take into account anything you have already committed to.  If you have already made bookings, that part of your budget will already be set.  Are there other non-negotiable items? What is at the top of your priorities? Pick a few things that you know you will want to splurge on.

Now: Take into account averages:

According to a 2017 study from The Knot, the average wedding in the United States costs over $33,000.  Many factors affect what the cost of your wedding will be—guest count, location, and what percentage of your budget you will be spending on the items you have prioritized.  For a rough idea of how much each item will cost, use these national averages:

~Venue:  $2,700-$10,500

The price you will spend on your venue depends on what is available locally and the style you want.

~Wedding Planner:  $950-$2,500

~Videography:  $1,000-$2,500

~Photography:  $1,200-$4,500

The price of videography and photography is determined by how much experience a photographer has.  Depending on how much you are willing to spend, you will get more time covered at your wedding, a second shooter, or additional shoots (engagement photos).  Luke and Savannah Photography offers a professional service with the expertise you deserve. Contact me, and we will talk about how to make your budget work!

~Dress:  $400–$1,700

~Tux:  $400–$1,700

~DJ:  $750–$1,400

~Catering:  $1,800–$7,000

The cost of catering totally depends on how many guests you are planning on having and options that are available locally.

~Cake:  $300–$689

~Rehearsal Dinner:  $1,300–$1,500

~Remember to factor in the price of renting a limo, hiring an officiant, wedding hair and makeup, ceremony music, a band, rentals, and flowers.  All of these “smaller” costs can quickly add up.

*Averages taken from weddingwire.com/cost

Finally:  Be realistic so that you can stick to your budget.

The more realistic you are with your budget, the easier it will be to stick to it.  Setting your budget with some wiggle room will help you have the wedding you want at a price that is for you!  We love working with couples with a variety of budget levels, so don’t be afraid to contact us to see how we can fit into your budget!

Have your budget set and ready to go? Time to book your photographer! Book us here.