The Planning Edit
Building Your Wedding Budget
Not a spreadsheet lecture, a way of deciding what this day is worth to you.
VOW Editorial
A wedding budget is not a spreadsheet exercise. It is a series of decisions about what this day is worth to you, and what you are willing to give up for the parts that matter most. Couples who start with values rather than numbers almost always end up happier with both.
Start With the Total, Not the Line Items
Before you research a single quote, agree on 1 number you would be comfortable spending. Include contributions from family and be honest about any conditions attached to them. A clear total makes every later conversation easier.
Then set aside 5 to 10 per cent as a contingency. Taxes, gratuities, delivery fees and overtime appear on almost every invoice, and having room for them keeps surprises from becoming stress.
Choose Your 3 Priorities
Each of you should write down the 3 parts of the day you care about most. Perhaps it is the food, the photography and the music. Perhaps it is the dress, the flowers and the venue. Where your lists overlap is where your money should go first.
Everything else can be simpler. Guests rarely remember the chair style or the favours; they remember being fed well, being comfortable and having a wonderful night.
“Where your lists of priorities overlap is where your money should go first.”
Your Guest Count Is Your Biggest Lever
Every name on the list multiplies catering, bar, rentals, stationery and often the size of the venue. Reducing the list by 20 guests can free up more money than any other single decision.
Draft the list in tiers: the people you cannot imagine marrying without, the people you would love to include, and the people you feel obliged to invite. Build your budget around the first 2 tiers.
Understand How Vendors Price
Some vendors quote per guest, some per hour and some per package. Ask every quote to list what is included, what is optional and what will be added later. Compare like with like.
Peak Saturdays from June to September are usually the most expensive dates. A Friday, a Sunday, or a wedding in May or October can open up venues and vendors that would otherwise be out of reach.
Track It Together
Keep 1 shared document with each vendor, the total cost, the deposit paid, the balance and the due date. Review it together once a month. Budgets drift quietly; a regular check keeps you in control.
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