Engagement Season is here! Let's talk about Budgets!

It is every wedding vendors favorite time of year: Engagement Season!  The question has been popped, the answer has been given and the planning starts now!  Over the next several posts, we will touch on some very important topics to be considered while making plans for your big day.  These tips are designed to help alleviate stress and provide points to ponder during your planning process.  And no matter how frustrating the process may get, always remember that love always wins!

I will admit that I love to shop!  Let’s buy all the pretty things!!  However, my shopping budget doesn’t always match my enthusiasm.   Yes, I know, nobody likes to talk about money when it comes to planning the biggest day of your life, but trust me, it is an absolute must!  

The easiest way to determine your working budget number is to determine *who* is paying for the wedding.  Will costs be shared traditionally between the parents? Only one set of parents?  Are the newly engaged couple paying for all of it or making a contribution?  If you can get past this point in the wedding planning (with your sanity intact) it will make for a much smoother planning season.  Knowing how much you can spend will help you to split the money between your vendor categories in order of preference. Here's a piece of free advice....ready?  Always spend more on photography than any other vendor.  The flowers will die, the food will be consumed but the photos will last a lifetime! 

When you are in control of your budget, you can make decisions as to which important aspects will make your day special and what could you do without?  Make a list of “wants vs. needs”; focus on the needs and follow up with the wants.  Budgets do not have to be constricting if you have a plan from day one.

"Once you agree, then pinky swear and spit-shake that you will both stick to the budget." — Dave Ramsey

When estimating wedding expenses, one of the most overlooked areas is the cost of manual labor.  Table bussing staff is a necessity for clearing your lovely dinner tables that need once the meal has been finished.  A thoroughly cleaned reception space will help provide an inviting ambiance that will encourage your guests to gather and visit throughout the night. Look at it this way, do you want to sit around dirty tables with food remnants for 2-3 hours?  If your answer is no, then I can assure you that neither do your guests.  It is the talent of the "behind the scenes" staffing that helps make your event a memorable wedding.