If you have been following along with us for any length of time, one of the first things you have more than likely heard us suggest be done several times before doing any wedding planning is set a budget. Your budget tells you everything. Literally. It is the who, what, why, when, and where of your wedding. There are, though, still couples we meet with who just didn’t know to do just that before doing anything else. So today, instead of telling you what to do, we thought we would switch it up and tell you what you should not do. Here are 3 things you should not do before determining your wedding budget.
Invite people
Weddings can be expensive. There are massive details and intricate details, and at the end of the day every single one of these details will add up to a cost. But the details alone are not what can cause weddings to be expensive. Don’t get me wrong, they can carry a hefty price depending on the dream, but even that number will grow when the number of people you invite to take part in the dream grows. When you invite people before you have set a budget, you aren’t taking into account the depth of what they are receiving with those you hold closest to your heart. Everything you do for one of your guests, you have to do for all. In other words, everyone will need a seat, a program, a napkin, a meal, and on and on.
Book Vendors
Can you imagine securing a venue with the grand ballroom of your dreams and caterer who makes your taste buds dance? In this dream, there is seating large enough for a dinner of 300 guests. But once you firm up your budget, you realize you only have enough money left to invite 75 people. Configuring your budget first allows you to be better equipped with an understanding of what is feasible for your financial comfort zone. It gives you an opportunity to focus and take into account what you can and cannot live without.
Set a date
Setting a wedding date is a really important thing when it comes to your wedding planning journey. When you set a date, you are more than likely taking into account the availability of all the pretty you see in this beautiful fairytale of a dream wedding you want and need as it relates to weather and your dress. You may also think about additional special details like what certain times of the year mean to you and your soon-to-be, and most of all the convenience for your family. What you may not realize is that some dates are going to cause your wedding to cost more than other dates.
Some dates will increase the costs of items like flowers due to Mother’s Day or Valentine’s Day. Costs can increase for food due to Thanksgiving and Christmas approaching. Additional costs can be associated with holidays as well. Vendors won’t get to spend the day with their own family so they may charge more for their time. We aren’t telling you to avoid these days. We are simply making you aware of the possible increase in costs associated so you can make the decision that is best for you. Setting your budget before setting your date can help with that.
Our goal in this post isn’t to scare you, but to help you realize the missteps that can take place when you start the process without knowing how much road you have in front of you. Your budget holds the key to your planning journey. Be careful with it and work it to your advantage.
Until next time…
be sweet & happy planning!
~Tish
(photo credit: Simone Elise Events and Camille Leigh Photography)
Premier Wedding Planning and Event Studio Owned by Husband and Wife Planner and Event Designer Team Darius and Tish Clay. Simone Elise Events offers Wedding Day Event Management Services, Full Service Wedding Planning Services, and Wedding and Event Design Services for all your Wedding, Social, and Corporate Events. Simone Elise Events caters to Weddings and Events in Memphis Tennessee and surrounding Tennessee areas.
For more about us, visit: simoneeliseevents.com/about-us
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