It’s no secret that having a wedding can be expensive. You have your dress, the venue, the florist, the dj or a band and your wedding planner. But what about those unexpected cost? Here’s the break down on the national average costs for a wedding:
| Food service | $4,745 |
| Event location | $3,621 |
| Full-service wedding planner | $3,232 |
| Bar service | $2,442 |
| Event rentals | $1,719 |
| Photographer | $1,663 |
| Live band | $1,637 |
| Wedding dress | $1,212 |
| Wedding bands | $1,182 |
| Videographer | $1,017 |
The Knot reports the average couple will spend $29,858 for their wedding. And the expense of a wedding can certainly be much higher than noted above, depending on where you may live. Although the above figures may or may not be reflective of the area you reside in, the venue and food/alcohol will certainly be the most expensive part of your budget. If you’re looking to have top shelf alcohol or you want the “best of the best” food, it will cost you. So it’s very important to determine who and how you are going to pay for your wedding. Will you pay for it yourself or will you have contributions from your family? Next, set yourself a budget. This should help you to stay on track. If you can manage the expense of a wedding planner, you’ll fin that he or she will be worth it. Most planners will find creative ways to stretch your budget so you don’t deplete immediately and has experience and relationships with local vendors.
So establish your budget. Then prioritize what’s most important to you. Spending a little extra on your photographer for fabulous photos may be more important to you then overly dramatic centerpieces. Most vendors will work within your budget so have an open conversation about what you’d like and what your budget allows for.
The next thing is to determine how many guests you’re inviting. A few extra guests will cause unexpected costs to your bottom line. So have an honest conversation about who should truly be invite. Do you really need to invite your 3rd and 4th cousins and don’t forget “plus ones”, as they add up and will ultimately affect your bottom line.
Happy Planning!
Mary Homer – Fairy Tale Weddings & Events
http://www.fairytaleweddingsandeventsbymary.com
contributions by CNBC and The Knot
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