All right, so time to get to one of the hardest parts of your wedding… The Budget! Put down your boxing gloves and ensure that you both are happy with the price point you have agreed upon and know that once your amazing day has come, you won’t be upset about the bill after. Remember it’s always possible to achieve the look you are going for at the price you are happy spending.

Photo: Contributed

So once you have the number in order, you need to start putting things into place. Some of us are lucky to have some family support on the financial front. It’s important to be thankful and respectful of this, however don’t feel like you need to change your vision to make sure they are happy. This is your day, so just be sure that they are heard if they would like to have some input but don’t sacrifice yourself for it.

Now I know that most know this - your reception is most likely going to be the largest expense of your wedding, usually about 40-50 percent. Working out a price per head before you start looking at your venues is always helpful, that way you can search within your price range. Never the less if you find one you love, venues are usually flexible on their menu and are more than happy to help you create a menu that works for you and your wallet.

Just because you have used up a large portion on your dinner and drinks, you can’t forget about photography, DJ, videography, cake and floral. I understand you can usually find great deals on these items but sometimes it’s not always the best option. Choose someone who has your “Style”, especially with photography, because a photographer is more than just a person with a camera. You need to have complete trust in their abilities as these are the memories you will be left with for a lifetime and get to celebrate every year! Sometimes you need to adjust your budget in a certain area to get the cake you always imagined or your perfect bouquet. It’s okay to then choose a less expensive option in another area. For example, maybe you don’t need the draping on the ceiling and lanterns will be just the right accent instead.

Like I had mentioned, the most important part is coming up with a suitable number as your base and working out the details from there. It’s important to visualize what areas you plan on putting your hard earned money into as sometimes the little costs just start adding up and you lose track. Cue the drum roll… I have a cheat for you brides and grooms out there that may have trouble seeing the picture; a budgeting spreadsheet, courtesy of Milestone events, including pie chart and all, so you can really see where everything fits into the end result.  Please send me an email for your copy of this complimentary chart.

Hope this week has helped you breathe a little easier and understand that you can have the wedding of your dreams! Next week we will be going over Invitations, something we actually look forward to getting in the mail!