How to Create your wedding budget for your wedding in 2023

by wedding planner & photographer Thysiamore Original

Setting a wedding budget is a difficult task. The largest and most expensive party you’ve ever thrown to date will probably be your wedding. To create a budget, you must add up your funds, keep a thorough spreadsheet to ensure that you don’t go over during the planning process, be ready for unforeseen expenses, and be prepared to make significant cuts if you do go over your overall budget. Although it’s challenging, putting in the time and effort now will ensure that you have a happily ever after (wedding debt-free). Here’s how to create a budget for your wedding that you can stick to.

Budget Breakdown

• Venue and Catering: 20 % of your budget
• Photography and Videography: 15 % of your budget
• Wedding Attire and Beauty: 15 % of your budget
• Music/Entertainment: 10 % of your budget
• Favors and Gifts: 5 % of your budget
• Transportation: 5 % of your budget
• Stationery: 5 % of your budget
• Cake: 5 % of your budget
• Décor: 10 % of your budget
• Others: 10% of your budget

Now, I know you probably set aside an amount for the budget. You do not want to be caught by surprise in any way, so setting aside 15% of your entire budget as a buffer will be a wise decision. 

TME LUX WEDDING TIP

How to Create your wedding budget for your wedding in 2023

#Tip 1-  Start by Creating a Mood Board

A mood board will help you both know your preferences for what you want for your wedding.  Having a mood board can help you know what to include in your wedding budget. Seeing pictures of your vision board, Support, will allow you to see the quality and presumed cost of your wedding theme.

Check it out: why mood boards are important in planning your wedding.

#Tip 2-  Create a Spreadsheet

Create an Excel workbook or Google Doc to include everything that goes into planning your big day in order to keep track of your expenses. Wedding planners do this all the time. Subdivide the cost of each category into its component pieces. Make line items for the dress, accessories, and modifications under the heading “bride’s attire,” for instance.

Provide all the relevant information in the columns. Each spreadsheet needs to have the following information: the vendor contract, the expected cost, the actual cost, any additional service charges and tips, the cost of parking and transportation for off-site vendors, and taxes. Use the auto-sum method to add as you go and create a line for your total.

Download here: free wedding budget spread sheet sample for your wedding.

#Tip 3- Check with your Cash Support:

You and your partner’s personal savings, financial assistance from family and friends, funds you can set aside from your monthly income, etc. Your family will benefit from seeing a real copy of your mood board and spread sheet once you’ve completed them since it will help them understand what you want and how much support you need. You can go back to your spread sheet after collecting all of the cash from your cash support and eliminate any expenses that your existing cash cannot cover.

#Tip 4 – Be ready for surprises

When planning your wedding, be ready for surprises. Some are under your control, while others are not. Remember to set aside your Buffer to cater for such surprises, and make sure to have specific details of your vendor’s actual cost and not hearsay.

How to Create your wedding budget for your wedding in 2023

TME LUX WEDDING TIP

#Tip 5 – Find ways to Save

• Venue: Find spaces where the venue providers can provide chairs, tables, table setups, and general venue decor if possible, or you can bring your own decorator and venue stylist; if it doesn’t go overboard with your budget, this is a way to save on cost.

• Guest list: only invite guests you can cater for. You don’t want guests at your wedding complaining that they haven’t had food, drinks, gift bags, etc. Only invite guests who are very important to you.

• Stay on the clock: Hire your vendors on time. Do not hire vendors two weeks or even a month before your wedding; this can attract extra expenses, or as we call it in Africa, “Express”.

• Have the ceremony and reception in one location: The wedding party and guests’ transportation costs can be reduced as a result.

• Skip the live band: A DJ will run you a couple of thousand dollars, but the well-known bands might cost a lot.

• Place all of your own paper orders: This calls for purchasing or making the necessary inserts for your wedding invitations. Place cards, table numbers, maybe programs, and other items will be on your order list later. A lot of this stuff can now be done independently at home thanks to technology. The soon-to-be newlyweds pick the proper paper (the majority of internet businesses will offer free samples), print them on their own printer, then assemble, pack, and mail them. Make sure to do it yourself, even if you decide to order printed materials from a stationer. Having your wedding planner help you or handle it for you will cost you more because of her markup and the likelihood that she will receive payment.

• Decline upgrades. Saying no to pointless upgrades is a crucial part of a wedding budgeting plan. Take what is included in the package or the cheapest alternative you can manage. Sometimes, couples may add tens of thousands of dollars to their budgets because, for instance, they dislike the pattern of white-on-white tablecloths. Or they find the chairs used for the ceremony to be unpleasant.

• Use fewer providers. Consider selecting a vendor to supply more than one service for your big day if they provide additional services, such as lighting for your location or edible wedding favors. If you buy more from one vendor, you’ll always get a lower price, plus you won’t have to pay several setup or delivery fees, as you would if you hired different vendors for each distinct activity.

TME LUX WEDDING TIP

We hope these tips help you understand why setting a wedding budget is important.  Please tell us how it has been of help to you in the comments section below.  You can share it with a friend or family member who is having their wedding ceremony in Cotonou soon.

Need someone to help you work with your budget for your wedding? Let us know.

Need the best Photography and videography team, with awesome posing techniques to cover your wedding ceremony in Cotonou. Contact us.

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Email: thysiamoreempire@gmail.com,

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