Your Wedding Budget

Wedding Expenses

Unfortunately, planning the most romantic day of your life begins with some very unromantic and sometimes unpleasant details- namely discussing and setting your wedding budget. Traditionally, the bride’s family shoulders almost all of the financial responsibility for the wedding and reception, but these days the costs are often split between the families. The groom’s family and very often the couple themselves make significant contributions to the wedding fund so the bride’s family does not have to bear the entire cost. Since the average age of couples marrying for the first time is on the rise, couples are often financially able to pay for the wedding they want by themselves. Don’t assume your parents will pay for your wedding unless you have already had direct discussions about it in the not too distant past.

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Financial situations change and it is important to discuss all financial matters with the parties involved. No matter what your financial situation may be, establishing your wedding budget immediately after engagement happens is of paramount importance. Before you make major decisions or sign any contracts, you have to know what you have to spend. Come up with the total amount you have from all the contributing parties. Next, discuss which items are the most important to the two of you, and which items you may compromise on if budget issues start to arise. And trust us, they WILL arise. Everything costs far more than you might think.

Estimating Your Wedding Budget

The following percentages give you a general idea of how much to allot for your wedding; if you splurge in one area, be prepared to cut back elsewhere.

• 50% Ceremony and Reception (includes cost of the site, food, drink, service, rentals, and cake)
• 10% Bride’s and groom’s attire
• 10% Music
• 10% Photography
• 10% Flowers and décor
• 10% Miscellaneous (includes invitations, transportation, favors, etc.)

Core Budget Decisions

Your core decisions affect the cost of the wedding the most. The number of guests, time of day, location, and type of food and beverage will be the key factors in determining cost. The most expensive wedding, for example, is an evening wedding with a seated dinner and an open bar. A brunch, lunch, or afternoon tea is less expensive because the food is usually lighter, less alcohol is consumed in the middle of the day, and daytime events usually do not last as long and require less service help.

While the lines are a little blurry on who pays for what today, the general rule of thumb for divvying up financial responsibilities are:

Bride's Family

Wedding gown

Accessories for the bride

Invitations and announcements like save the date cards

Flowers including wedding party flowers, ceremony, reception flowers; all decor except the bride's bouquet

Wedding cake

Transportation for the wedding party from the ceremony to the reception

Reception food and beverages

Photography

Videography

Music and entertainment for the ceremony and reception

Bride

Groom's wedding band

Her attendants' gifts

Wedding gift for groom (optional)

Groom's Family

Rehearsal dinner

Invitations for rehearsal dinner

Decor for rehearsal dinner

Entertainment for rehearsal dinner

Transportation for wedding party to rehearsal dinner, if necessary

Transportation and accommodations to wedding city for themselves

Groom

Bride's engagement ring and wedding band

Wedding gift for bride (optional)

Honeymoon

Wedding night accommodations

Marriage license

Officiant fees

Bride's bridal bouquet

Groomsmen gifts

His attire

Wedding day transportation for the couple

Planning a wedding? If you need help, check out some of our other articles in our Engaged Matters section of the site. From planning on a budget, honeymoon ideas, wedding etiquette, wedding toasts, proposing, wedding traditions and more, you can get the help you need to plan the perfect wedding. When you shop for your wedding or home through uTANGO, you'll get closer to your $1 Million cash payout. Learn more about how uTANGO makes your life richer.

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