Being able to create a clear and accurate budget makes all the difference when it comes to wedding planning. Even if you decide to use a wedding planner, breaking down the budgeting process so that you can make sure each and every dollar counts is the best way to stay on top of your budget.
Let’s spend some time understanding the dos and don’ts of budgeting so that we can keep the financial surprises to a minimum. Here is a wedding budget breakdown!
What exactly is a wedding budget?
If you want to stick to a wedding budget you’ll need to understand what it actually is.
In its simplest form, a budget is the amount that you plan to spend for your wedding. In other words, it’s a “cap” or “limit” on what your total wedding costs can be. But that’s not all that helpful without a way to track and record your spending along the way, so we’ll want to be a little more detailed.
A realistic wedding budget outlines all of the costs line-by-line accounting for maximums, minimums, and any splurges you might just have to have along the way. We get that money math can be especially overwhelming on top of all the wedding planning you have to do, but we have helpful tips and guidance that’ll make building your wedding budget a breeze from start to finish.
Know your big ticket items
In 2022, the average wedding budget in the U.S. has been steadily around $27k-$31k. So before we get into the actual budgeting part of the wedding planning process, it'd be prudent for you and your S.O. to know what type of budget you can afford.
Once you've got that covered you'll want to know which items are generally the most expensive. This will help give you and your partner a better idea of what your budget will look like near the finish line. These items should be among the first on your wedding budget checklist.
Wedding ceremony & reception ($3,000-$12,000)
Both of these venues are typically considered your biggest expense. But as more modern couples host their nuptials at unconventional locations such as beaches, pastures, forests, and even deserts the cost can fluctuate drastically.
So one of your very first decisions is to decide on what kind of wedding you want: traditional, nontraditional, or something in between? Knowing this will help you create a realistic budget and maybe even save money.
Food vendors ($2,000-$7,000)
Serving a hearty meal will help revitalize your guests from cocktail hour to dinner so that they have the energy to socialize and, more importantly, to celebrate your union by dancing and enjoying themselves. Make sure the food you serve is of good quality by requesting samples of some or all of the meals they’ll be serving for your wedding day. And don’t be shy if you have any recommendations on recipes or meal plans.
Whether you’re serving buffet-style, family style, or have a select menu for your guests to choose from, you will want to have a diverse selection so that none of your guests feel left out.
Photo & video ($2,000-$5,000)
The only thing that stands between you and properly recalling your wedding day are fantastic photos taken by a professional photographer. Photos and videos are an important investment because it’s one of the few tangible things you get to keep besides your rings, the gifts your guests gave you, and maybe your wedding dress.
Capturing all of those special moments from the family portraits and videos of you and your guests on the dance floor, one of the few things you get to take with you after the wedding are memories of it, some of which you may end up laughing at, but are pleasant to look back on nonetheless.
Bar vendors ($1,500-$3,000)
Between cocktail hour through dinner and well after the cake’s been cut, it’s customary to have an open bar. The costs of which depend on whether you decide to include a broad selection of beers, red and white wines, and cocktails or a limited selection. This, of course, is entirely up to you, but generally, the more drinks there are the longer people stay on the dance floor, and the later the event goes on.
If you’re on a budget we suggest limiting your selection to two types of beers, one red wine, one white wine, and two cocktails. Otherwise, if you’re a couple who enjoys a party with a decent selection of drinks, we suggest widening that list to incorporate some more beers, a few cocktails, and champagne for a toast.
Attire & accessories ($1,000-$3,000)
Following the style and color theme of your wedding, you’ll both want to wear something stunning. Whether that calls for a flashy tuxedo and a long and intricately designed wedding gown or something a bit more unique is a personal preference. The one thing you should know is if you’re on a budget, renting your wedding day attire allows you to save big while looking grand with designer dresses and tuxedos.
Flowers ($700-$2,500)
Aside from the purely decorative flowers surrounding the ceremony and the reception, there’s also the bridal bouquet, all wedding party members, as well as the parents and grandparents of the nearly-wed couple who are all traditionally supposed to have some floral so as to identify their position in the party. The list goes on for additional floral headpieces, boutonniere, and bouquets, not to mention quite a few flower petals for the flower girl to scatter as she walks down the aisle.
Depending on what season your wedding date is, combined with your budget, you might opt for a floral that is in season. Luckily, most weddings are in the spring and summer and coincide with a larger selection of flowers. Evening if you decide to have a wedding off-season there are plenty of vibrant Autumn florals that work just as well as your typical summer foliage.
Entertainment ($800-$6,500)
Your average DJ will charge about $1,000 for the evening, whereas some charge upwards to $1,500. But it’s your typical wedding bands that are a bit pricier, starting off at $2,800 and reaching as high as $6,500. With that said though, choosing between a band and a DJ depends on what your priorities are. Technically you get the same thing: music, the difference being the vibes you want to set.
For a more robust wedding where you and your partner absolutely love live music, having a band perform at your wedding could be at the top of your list. But if you’re just looking to dance to an eclectic mixture of various genres then we suggest sticking with a DJ especially if you’re maintaining a strict budget.
Stationery ($4,000-$8,000/set of 100 invitations)
As you may already know, the price of your stationery inherently goes up and down depending on how many guests you decide to invite and how much signage you actually need for the day of.
Even those of you who are looking to indulge in quality wedding invitations and have the budget for it should consider online stationery shops such as Minted which have independent artists designing unique stationery for all aspects of your wedding at a fraction of the cost than your traditional designer stationery.
Wedding cake ($300-$700)
These desserts are just as deliciously beautiful as they are expensive. Though there are a full range of options and flavors that you want to taste test, if you’re trying to abide by a lower budget then consider either a smaller cake accompanied with different types of desserts or have one real cake set atop of another two tiers of faux cake.
Transportation services ($500-$1,200)
Depending on whether your ceremony and reception are at the same location or not as well as the distance and time of your wedding, you’re looking at about a few hours of driving. Some couples put their entire wedding party in one limousine; others divide it up between groomsmen and bridesmaids in a pair of limousines throughout the day; still, other couples rent a fancy car service for themselves.
If you can afford to pay for your entire wedding party to get a ride back to their hotels or homes, that would definitely help ease a lot of the stress guests tend to have while driving back home in the dark.
So now that you know the average wedding cost, it’s time to jump into the thick of it! Become a registered user and gain free access to Loverly’s Masterclass full to the brim with video tutorials, tons of spreadsheets, additional tips and tricks to saving, and more!
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