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Budgeting for Your WeddingFind other tips & info in Articles and Information
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| That dreaded word...budget. But looked at in the right context the budget can help you stay on track financially and still have the wedding of your dreams! It all depends on priorities. You don’t want to start your married life together deeply in debt because of your wedding. Sit down with your fiance’ and decide together what is really important to the both of you for your nuptials and agree on an overall figure. Dallas wedding cost and Fort Worth wedding cost are estimated to be around $20,000. Yours will be higher or lower depending on your particular budget. Who pays for what? Traditionally speaking the bride’s family paid for most of the wedding related expenses. They included: wedding consultant, invitations and announcements, wedding gown, reception, flowers, photographer, videographer, music, groom’s wedding ring, transportation of bridal party to ceremony and reception site, groom’s wedding gift, and bridal attendants’ gifts. The groom’s family paid for: engagement and wedding ring, groom’s tuxedo, bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres, corsages, fee for officiant, marriage license fee, honeymoon, bride’s wedding gift, attendant’s gifts, and the rehearsal dinner. The members of the bridal party pay for their own dresses and tuxedo rentals. They also pay for their own transportation to and from the host city. The bridesmaids may host a shower or luncheon for the bride and the best man may arrange for a bachelor party for the groom. However, today’s wedding costs are typically shared by the families. In many cases the bride and groom are older and well established in their careers and they pay for the entire wedding themselves. In other instances the families spilt the cost three ways. However the wedding is paid for it is important to have mature and candid discussions regarding finances with all parties involved so there are no misunderstandings. One of the reasons that couples often pay for the wedding themselves is control. If they are paying for the entire wedding themselves they get to make all of the decisions. On the other hand, if you are accepting money from your parents you need to keep their opinions in mind. Whether you are choosing from Dallas wedding venues or Fort Worth wedding venues expect the reception to take up the bulk of your cost-approximately 50%. There are many ways that you can save on the reception costs. You can choose a slower time of the year to get married. If your schedule allows, you may choose to have your reception during an off-peak time such as Friday night or Sunday afternoon or Sunday night. Saturday night is considered peak time by reception locations and you are going to pay a premium. Another consideration is the formality of your reception. Do you plan on having a black tie event in a ballroom or a more simpler affair like say in someone’s home? Will you have a seated dinner, buffet or just hors d’oeuvres? These options can vary widely in prices. There is no right or wrong answer to these questions, but you need to think about them in your overall budgeting. An early afternoon wedding is going to be cheaper than an evening wedding. Weddings around holidays may be higher in cost. The availability and costs of flowers are going to vary according to the time of year. We suggest that you buy a planner with a budget checklist in it that you can fill out and keep with you as you shop. Or you can use a spreadsheet to keep up with your expenses. Some couples open up a wedding checking account. This helps them keep a watchful eye on what they are spending. This is your wedding and you should consider what is important to you. Decide between you, your fiance’ and your parents what is important to you and carve out a budget from there. Remember to shop around and get different quotes. Don’t be afraid to negotiate a lower price either. If you want to splurge on one category cut back on another. Be flexible. |
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