| So you are engaged to get married but don't | | | | The attire for the wedding includes such things as |
| have a lot of extra money to spend for the | | | | the wedding dress, viel, tuxedoes and bridesmaid |
| wedding? No problem you can still have a beautiful | | | | dresses. Depending on your own style |
| wedding for nearly half the cost. The key | | | | preferences and choices this category of items |
| ingredient to have is a budget worksheet and | | | | can run between 8 to 12%. |
| budget plan before doing anything. By spending | | | | Rings |
| the time to plan ahead and budget your major | | | | Rings are such an important symbolic part of the |
| expenses you will ensure success in saving | | | | wedding. You do not want to forget the cost |
| money. You will not be caught on a whim and | | | | associated with them. Typical costs will run |
| spend over the amount planned. Not having a plan | | | | between 2 to 5%. The main differences here will |
| is a recipe for disaster because this often means | | | | be between the metal used and the diamond |
| you are searching for crucial items last minute | | | | chosen for the ring. Design rings and signature |
| which can really add up. | | | | pieces can often run 2 to 3 times more then a |
| Below are some of the more common categories | | | | custom made ring. Many jewelers are happy to |
| that comprise a standard wedding budget form. | | | | custom make a ring for you. |
| You will want to at first include all of these | | | | Flowers / Decorations |
| categories and then latter you can easily go in and | | | | There are a variety of expenses in this category |
| delete any categories that are not needed. | | | | which include everything from flowers to |
| We have given some estimates of the percent a | | | | reception decorations. Typical costs will run |
| particular cost should be in relation to the total | | | | between 6 to 10% of the total budget. |
| budget. For most items we provided a range of | | | | Outside Sources of Help |
| costs. If the item is very important to you then | | | | Often Deejays and photographers are important |
| you should plan on the higher end of the range | | | | to the wedding and reception and a cost that |
| and if it is not important much at all use the lower | | | | should be figured in. The prices can vary widely |
| range. Just make sure that it all totals only 100% | | | | depending on their experience level and other |
| in the end. | | | | factors. |
| Location, Location, Location | | | | Photographers |
| This is one of the most important keys in Real | | | | Photographers are important as the wedding |
| Estate and in Weddings alike is location. It is | | | | pictures will be one of the lasting memories of the |
| important to leave a category of your budget for | | | | wedding ceremony and reception. It is important |
| the location of the wedding and the reception. | | | | to choose a photographer carefully and to find |
| Wedding Site: | | | | one that you can work well with. Typical costs for |
| There are so many places to get married that | | | | a photographer will run between 9 to 14% |
| the list is endless. The cost can vary greatly from | | | | Deejays |
| a simple backyard wedding to an incredibly | | | | Again there is a wide amount o differences in the |
| expensive formal church wedding. Typical costs | | | | prices charged by different Deejays. It is |
| for the wedding site will run from 3% to 5%. | | | | important as always to do some comparison |
| Reception | | | | shopping on the phone before going out to |
| The Reception is one of your biggest expenses | | | | interview the select few. Typically costs associate |
| and should be planned for carefully. Again the price | | | | with Deejays are between 6 and 10%. |
| and percent of your total wedding budget will | | | | Gifts and Stationary |
| vary depending on the site. Plan ahead, do some | | | | These are important ways to interact with your |
| comparison shopping and visit the a few sites | | | | guests. Stationary includes everything from |
| first. Typically costs will run around 48% for the | | | | wedding invitations to thank you cards. While the |
| reception. This includes the food, site rental, | | | | gifts will include the more traditional gifts like the |
| drinks, cake and favors. | | | | Bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts. Typical costs in |
| Other Important Details | | | | this category run between 4 to 8%. |
| Along with the site rental and reception costs | | | | It is important to work up a and develop a |
| there are things that need to be planned for | | | | budget breakdown and to know where your |
| ahead of time. These are all included below. Keep | | | | costs are going to come from. Before adding any |
| a careful eye out for the things that you think | | | | numbers to your wedding budget checklist you will |
| are important to your wedding in particular and | | | | want to prioritize the budget and develop a |
| things that don't matter so much. | | | | worksheet. Then you can go and start adding in |
| Attire | | | | numbers and fleshing out the wedding budget plan. |