Creating a budget for your wedding can be very overwhelming. We are sharing a few simple tips we recommend, to help relieve a bit of budget planning stress.
Decide On Your Total (realistic) Budget
Weddings are very expensive – we all understand that. In
Chicago, the average cost is around $30,000. That doesn’t mean that if your budget is $10,000 you cannot have the
wedding you’ve always dreamt of. It just means that you need to stick to your budget even more closely.
Realize that at least 50% of your budget will go towards the venue, food and drinks.
If your family or your fiancée’s family will be helping with the cost of your wedding, find out what they are willing to contribute to and factor that into your budget.
We recommend setting aside at least $2,500-$3,000 as a “just in case” fund.
Rank What’s Important to You & Your Fiancé
Think about what is the most important to you and your fiancée. On your own, you should each put down a list of what your top categories are, ranked in order of importance. Then put your lists together and see where they overlap.
- Food
- Bar
- Flowers
- Music
- Photography
- Attire & Jewelry
- Table Decor
- Paper Goods & Invitations
- Favors for guests
Track Everything Closely
If you are working with a wedding planner, they will help you stay on track with your budgeting. You will want to refer to your budget often!
Happy planning!
