Top 10 Wedding Budget Tips

Engagement season is upon us and soon the planning begins. Weddings can be expensive! Having a solid budget as you begin the planning process will help you keep your spending in check. Here are my Top 10 wedding budget tips.

1. Know who’s paying what.

The first step in figuring out your budget is knowing who’s contributing funds. Sometimes the bride’s family will cover the whole cost of the wedding, but more often it’s a combination of both families, as well as the bride and groom. Discuss with everyone involved how much they’d like to pay or consider having each family cover a particular part of the wedding, like the flowers or catering.

 2. Keep your funds organized.

Consider putting all your wedding money in a single checking account, so you can easily track your spending without confusing your wedding budget with your daily expenses. Local banks such as Y12 Federal Credit Union and First Horizon offer free checking accounts and online banking. Speaking of organization, see my Extra Tip below for some fantastic organizer binders!

 3. Be honest about your spending limits.

Tell potential vendors your budget upfront, so there are no surprises when you’re ready to book. Even if a particular vendor is out of your budget, they may offer a special discount for certain circumstances, such as getting the opportunity to work at a new venue or booking a weekday. Knoxville has an abundance of wedding vendors for every budget. 

 4. Budget for the small details.  

Don’t forget to include the small but essential things in your budget, like stamps for your save-the-dates and invitations and even marriage license fees. None of these items may cost much, but when added up, they can easily put you over budget if you don’t plan ahead. And don’t forget tips for vendors who go the extra mile!

 5. Be careful using credit.

Credit cards are a great way to pay for wedding expenses. You can rack up reward points that can help pay for your honeymoon. But be careful not to overdo it with credit. Don’t charge more than you can pay off in the next 30 days.

 6. Be aware of extra costs.

When booking vendors, ask about any additional costs so you can be sure your budget will cover them. A good wedding planner can help immensely with this! Professional wedding planners know the ins and outs of vendor fees, and they can be very helpful when working with multiple vendors. Some vendors even offer discounts if you are working with certain planners. It never hurts to ask.

 7. Prioritize your wants and needs.

Allocate a little extra money for the things that matter most to you, whether that’s the music, the food, photography, or your gown. Focus your time and money on the parts of your wedding that you care most about.

 8. Skip the high-priced extras.

There’s no reason to pay more for upgrades you don’t need. Don’t let vendors pressure you into extras you’re indifferent about. Instead ask yourself, “Is this item important to me or my fiancé?” If it’s not, consider cutting it and saving your money for more important things.

 9. Do your research.

When building your budget, look into the general costs for vendors in your area. You don’t want to under-budget and then be unable to afford the photographer, caterer, or florist you want. Again, Knoxville has an abundance of wedding vendors for any budget. Ask friends & family for references.

 10. Plan to go over budget.

Add some cushion into your wedding budget. A good strategy is to designate about 5% of your budget for unplanned costs, like replacing a piece of wedding décor that breaks at the last minute.

Extra Tip:

Purchase a good wedding organizer to help keep everything in order. Amazon has some great options like these from The Knot and Green Wedding Shoes:

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Weddings can be expensive! Having a solid budget as you begin the planning process will help you keep your spending in check. Here are my Top 10 wedding budget tips.

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Shanell Bledsoe Photography – Knoxville Wedding Photographer