Wedding Bells and Budgeting

It’s one of the biggest days of your life and it’s over in a flash, a whirlwind of guests, celebration, and food. The pure happiness of finding that special someone that you will be spending the rest of your life with. However, the days leading up to your wedding may not be as invigorating and joyful with the stress of planning. It’s important to put a budget into place so that your wedding bliss doesn’t quickly turn into wedding regret. Here are some tips to help you say ‘I do’ to savings.

What’s Your Worth?

In order to determine a budget, you must first figure out how much money you have to spend. Take a look at your savings account, monthly income and any contributions that may be coming from your parents or loved ones. Set a realistic budget that won’t drain all of your funds.

Find Ways to Save.

There are plenty of ways to have your dream wedding without breaking the bank. Have your wedding during the off-season or pick a Friday or Sunday to save some money. Don’t go overboard with your guest list either. Food and alcohol contribute to a huge portion of your budget. Instead of spending thousands on flowers, make your own center pieces. Sometimes the simplest arrangements are the most elegant.

Track Your Spending.

Once you’ve started securing your items for your wedding, make sure you track it. Keep a spreadsheet of everything that you have purchased to make sure that you do not go over budget or end up spending more on something that you intended to.

Plan for Surprises.

No wedding planning ever really goes as scheduled. It’s important to put some money aside for any surprises that may come your way or any last minute additions you may have forgotten about.

Budgeting and planning well in advance will help you truly enjoy your day. Still need some assistance with it? Pioneer’s Personal Finance is here to help.