Any wedding planner will tell you that before taking steps to plan your wedding, it's important to set a budget. In order to get started, you'll first need to sit down with whomever is contributing financially to the event, and check out your own accounts if you are paying for some or all of the wedding yourself. Budget planning can be a stressful first step, but don't let it burst your bubble. The budget plan can be quite painless if you get the facts, check out your accounts, and get creative if you need to. Simultaneously with planning out the financial aspects, make a list with your fiance of the 3-4 things that are most important to you for the wedding. That list will be the things that you should definitely splurge on. On the other hand, consider parts of weddings you've been to that you can't even remember or didn't care about in the first place. Those are the places where you should save. Most people's lists will be different, and that's ok! That's what makes each couples wedding unique.
The following is a list of wedding details and some ideas on splurging and saving:
Photography/Videography: Your wedding photos will (hopefully) last a lifetime. The big day that you have worked so hard to create should be captured in time with your photos and will surely be shared with loved ones for years to come. There are multiple ways to capture the moment, so be sure to do your research on photographers in your area, or be more creative with less expensive photo stations set up at the ceremony/reception. Photography pricing can range anywhere from a few hundred to thousands of dollars. Most photographers offer different packages and it's usually possible to pay for a master copy of the pictures and develop them yourself rather than pay for the photographer's album. Many couples are also choosing to do engagement photos with a professional photographer. If you like to try something unique with your bride- or groom-to-be, set up a more informal photo shoot before or soon after the wedding in a funky, urban location or maybe outdoors in a rural area. Brides can purchase an inexpensive, white dress for the photo shoot, and you''ll only be paying the photographer for 1-3 hours rather than a full day of wedding photography. I will say that working with recent brides, I have yet to hear someone say they wish they would have spent less or skimped on photos.
Venue: The locations that you choose for your ceremony and reception lay the scene for the style of wedding you'd like. Once you've found your wedding style, start contacting wedding venues that may fit the look you're after. It's usually possible to quickly get pricing on venues by calling or e-mailing the wedding coordinator at each location. While larger hotels are typically pricier that other venues, you are paying for the service, set up, and rental of the facilities and their tables, chairs, linens, and staff. You'll get a better rate, however, if you choose a Friday, Sunday, or daytime wedding rather than a Saturday night. Food may be more expensive at a hotel or country club that provides the food and alcohol, while banquet halls and city-owned venues will often allow you to bring in outside caterers or alcohol that you provide. To me, venue ranks high on my list of what's important. I love the idea of tying in the location with your wedding style. Get creative with this--consider outdoor amphitheatres, renovated barns, museums, or historic hotels.
Cake: This is a place that you can definitely save. Think back to the weddings you've attended. Do you even remember the cake? Check out the cakes your local grocer can make, or ask a cake decorator for the price of cupcakes. Cut a small cake at the wedding, and set out a dessert tray with offerings like mini eclairs, truffles, and key lime tarts. It's important to serve dessert at the wedding, but there are plenty of ways around paying over $1000 for the cake.
Invitations: Here's another place you can save. Invitation prices can cost thousands, or you can print your own at home for a hundred. The price of stamps is rising, and invitations already cost more than regular envelopes because of the weight and shape. FineStationary.com offers a wide selection of chic choices that you customize online, so you can keep the cost down and avoid doing all the work yourself. If you love the work of a certain invitation designer, ask them for ways to scale down the cost, like using less expensive paper, or choosing invitations that require less handmade details.
Gown: You probably already have a vision of wedding day attire, and the gown is important, as you want to look and feel your best on this special day. Gowns can be purchased at a $99 sale, or you can spend $4,000+ designing a custom look. The wedding gown sets the tone for the rest of the event, and the bride is in the center of the spotlight for the entire wedding day and night. Regardless of what you spend, make a point to find a gown that makes you feel absolutely gorgeous. There should be no regrets in your gown choice!
Most wedding websites offer budget planning tools and checklists, and most are very thorough and detailed. Try these if you need help getting started!
http://www.brides.com/planning/budget
http://www.elegala.com/budget.html