Weddings are a rite of passage for many couples across the world. In the United States alone, 2,126,126 people got married in 2019. In addition to love, people get married for any number of reasons. Getting married means growing your collected income, improving your longevity, sharing your worries or concerns with someone else, building a family tree, improving your life, and never having to go on another awkward date.
No matter the reason, the process has to begin with that ultimate step: the wedding. This event must be significant for those involved, as the actual marriage costs are spectacularly budgeted. The average cost of a wedding was $24,675 in 2019, which in many cases puts many couples in some form of debt. Which is why it’s important to discuss wedding budgets in advance.
Below are some tips on preparing for what, for many people, is the most important day of their lives.
Set a wedding budget.
Many of us have been married at some point in our lives. We can all agree that the wedding was costly. Remember when we mentioned before that the average wedding in the United States cost is $24,675? This is an amount that many people have to grapple with when setting a budget for a wedding.
Whether you can get your wedding to a manageable smaller size or wind up going with a larger affair, you still need to budget either way. You’ll need to factor in the costs for such wedding items as wedding invitations, the venue, catering, the DJ, wedding ceremony ornaments, bridal jewelry, the groom’s tux rental, announcements, date cards, wedding stationery, wedding directions signs, and so much more.
Don’t break the bank for just this one day. Set aside funds for things you both can enjoy, such as an unforgettable honeymoon.
Plan for afterward.
As a part of the pre-wedding planning process, you’ll also want to plan for what’s going to come afterward. This is somewhat tied into your wedding budgeting, as you are trying to build a financial plan for each period/ stage of your relationship. Planning for what will come after the wedding might help you save money on the wedding itself. For example, after receiving numerous homeowners insurance quotes for a new home, you’ve decided to prioritize buying the insurance rather than going with a high-priced wedding venue.
After you get married, things are going to change on a major scale. You’ll be moving in with your significant other. You might even decide to purchase a new car for the household. You’ll also have to look at doing a host of other things that will be costly. This might include purchasing the aforementioned homeowners’ insurance policy, a new home, or a new burglar alarm for that new home; planning for post-wedding expenses can go a long way with helping you to set a proper budget for the actual wedding.
Select a theme.
The great thing about a wedding is that you can personalize it as much as you want. One way of doing this is to set your own theme. You can do this with specific wedding colors, seasonal or style inspirations, or an actual theme (the Roaring Twenties, Star Wars, or Mardi Gras). Try to choose a concept like this much earlier, rather than later, so you can have time to prepare for your special day. The more time you have to plan, the better represented your theme will be.
Work on your guest list as soon as possible.
Building a guest list for your wedding can be one of the most nerve-racking parts of the process. This will depend on the venue that you choose and your overall budget. It’s best in cases like this to sit down with your partner and cull the attendees’ list as early as possible. You have to accept that many people won’t be able to make it to your special day, and you know what: don’t feel bad about it.
After going through lists of family, and close friends who will attend the event, you can then see what spaces you have left. Those people who aren’t able to attend will have to understand that your budget can only go so far. Making these difficult decisions at the beginning of the process can go a long way to helping you prepare for your wedding.
