HOW THIS ONE WORD WILL SAVE YOU MONEY FOR YOUR WEDDING

Do you know the first question asked by vendors when talking to couples about their wedding?  - After what is your date?  …. What is your budget? 

And the most frequent answer?  Not sure or I don’t know yet? 
 

Brides and Grooms….. I have seen so many couples start out planning their weddings with no clue as to how much they can afford to spend. Yet these are the same people who knew exactly how much they could spend when they went car shopping, or when they looked at buying a new home.  

So why does this ‘once in a lifetime’ event that can cost in the double digit thousands cause the most rational person to bury their head in the sand when it comes to putting a dollar figure on their dream wedding?  

And you know what? I don’t know if I know the answer to that. I think it might come from reality meeting fantasy. We have this vision in our heads and if we start putting dollar signs to it, then it either won’t happen the way we want or it’ll cost way more than we expected and have to go into debt. Or have to change the plans…and that can be embarrassing.
 

So what’s a girl (or guy) to do?   

Well the most obvious answer is to make a budget. Well yes and no.

I said that was the most obvious answer. I didn’t say it was the correct one.   

I think we have to change our mind set about the word Budget.  According to the dictionary, budget means: an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time which makes sense. 

But the adjective for the word is inexpensive. It is synonymous with words like cheap, economic, low-cost, discount – you get the idea – words that give you the ‘bargain-basement’ feel. And that is not the vibe you want for your wedding is it?  

Now that we’ve determined the very word "budget" can fill people with dread because it brings to mind restrictions. Let’s turn that around and put a positive spin on it. First, rather than a ‘budget’ let’s call it something different. How about a Spending Plan, or Dream Wedding Funding or plan or Nicole and Darren’s Dream Wedding Plan – your choice. 

Freedom Comes with a Plan

Having a framework or some boundaries can be very freeing. Knowing where you’re spending your money as opposed to having no idea where it is going – can be a very powerful feeling. When you went to look at buying your car, you knew you had so much for a monthly payment, so you went out looking for vehicles that fit into that budget. 

The same will be for your wedding costs. With your 'Dream Wedding Fund', you’ll allott so much for the venue, the photographer, flowers, attire, etc. Now you can research who fits into that price range.  How freeing is that?  

No more guess work or disappointment when the photographer extraordinaire you had your heart set on won’t cut their price in half to accommodate your budget. You’ll either know ahead of time you can’t afford it or you’ll make other choices so you can.  

I had one couple come to me after helping them put their Spending Plan in place and said: 

“Budgeting for our wedding was the most freeing thing we had ever done. It freed us of stress as we knew how much we could afford without going into debt."  - Jennifer & Adam

It also helped them to avoid dozens of financial mistakes like booking a venue before researching it and choosing costly out of season flowers.

What are you spending on that truly brings you joy?

Let’s take that Dream Wedding Plan and optimize it with the goal of your future happiness – aka a debt-free wedding. With that in mind, this newfound awareness allows you to choose to spend your money on what matters to you most. Sometimes we spend on things that don't actually make us happy but rather what we think is expected of us or will make others happy.

How much of what you were planning to spend is for you and your wants? 

Your next step is to sit down with your fiancée and decide what do you really want and need, and what your expectations are that will fit into your budget – oops! I mean Spending Plan. Will it bring you joy?

Everyone has an idea of what they can afford to spend on their wedding whether it’s large or small. Having it down in black and white gives you the freedom to negotiate and to eliminate choices out of your budget. This allows you to work towards a debt-free wedding and you'll save money, while still being true to yourself, your partner and your relationship.

Check out my blog - How to have a Debt-Free wedding to learn some tips on reducing your costs and stress levels.    

Happy Planning~~~

If you are engaged and planning a wedding, I hope you found this post helpful. Also something that I am sure will be a great asset, is the opportunity to read the first 2 chapters of my book Get Wedding Ready - 6 Simple Steps to Get You Down the Aisle & Keep You Sane - absolutely free!