Planning and Budgeting for a Wedding

Personal finance management is one of the techniques that every individual needs to have to be successful. Such skills can enable one to plan and budget for significant life events, such as trips, vacations, weddings, or buying a home. This paper is about planning and budgeting for a wedding. It describes the factors to consider when arranging planning on funding any particulars of the wedding that results in the event’s success. It also outlines the need for considering minimized budgets to achieve a similarly unforgettable wedding day. It can be puzzling to ascertain the best funding for one’s wedding, mainly if one has never organized a large event. For instance, it is not easy to meet a couple’s expectations when their finances cannot afford to address all they want. However, a wedding is a momentous day for a couple and should become a memorable one. However, it must not leave one to become a debtor because of poor planning and the need to impress everyone.

A Successful Wedding Plan and Budgeting

Planning for a successful wedding is essential and possible by following certain principles. Some of the essential considerations include knowing the kind of wedding one desires, discussing the wedding budget, and deciding on the budget’s non-negotiable elements.

Determination of Kind of Wedding

Visualizing the kind of wedding one wants is crucial since it makes them visualize the expected budget. According to Laskey and Stirling (2020), some of the elements to consider when choosing the wedding one wants is to include the type of reception venue and the number of guests to attend. One can gain inspiration for wedding planning based on the adverts as well as television programs. However, they should not desire what they cannot afford. In the initial stages, one should not concentrate more on small details as they will eventually occur later. One needs to think about the anticipated feelings during the event. Most importantly, a couple’s priorities should dictate the wedding budget and its overall effect.

Talking about the Wedding Budget

It is imperative to call everyone who pays for anything associated with the wedding day to talk and brainstorm on what should be prioritized to make the day a success. This is important because if guests can decide on their own, it could result in expenditure on products or services that may not be needed at the expense of other necessary ones. This opportunity also enables one to have experience with financial planning and objective setting. Moreover, having conversations around the wedding budget lays a firm ground for starting life after the event. The expenses should be divided into reception, ceremony, photography, wedding planner, dress and tuxedo, and other unforeseen elements. Table 1 below shows the proportions of each category in terms of percentages.

Table 1. Proportions of wedding particulars.

Particulars Proportion
Reception 50%
Ceremony 15%
Photography 11%
Planner 11%
Wedding gown 8%
Additional costs 5%

These proportions can be modified at will but are recommended for a successful event based on the preferences of the wedding planners. For instance, if one would like to have more photos taken than decoration, then the wedding committee can vary the ratios accordingly.

Deciding on Non-negotiable Factors

Based on the adopted percentages, the team should take a moment and reflect and decide on critical elements that must be included in the wedding planning even if their prices are relatively high. For instance, these can be practical or frivolous elements such as type of reception needed, type of dinner for the reception, range of guests, flowers and decoration, and the band invited to the ceremony. Since these are all dynamic elements of the plan, it can proceed based on the budget constraints. Moreover, the wedding committee should come up with wish lists collectively or assign individuals to work on this particular planning aspect. However, the couple should discuss what they both need to make their day a success.

Breaking Down the Wedding Budget

It is essential to realize that some money must be set aside to cater to unforeseen eventuality or unexpected expenses during the budget breakdown. Moreover, the budget is likely to evolve with time-based on different factors that come as the preparations continue. It is crucial to be flexible trying to remain within the budgeted range. This is expected because the wedding is considered one of the most important events in a person’s life; thus, caution must be taken to make every dollar count. It is also vital to estimate what value can result from any specified amount relative to another. By looking at the differences in quality and expenditure, the team can decide on the best approach to wedding planning.

Budgeting for Different Wedding Choices

There are several types of weddings that a couple can choose, depending on the cost they are willing to spend in the event. The following suggestions comprise weddings costing between $100 and $30,000, which can help the couple decide on the type of occasion to choose.

A Simple Courthouse Elopement

This wedding costs up to $100 if the couple spends the money, as shown in Table 2 in the appendix. However, the costs may vary depending on one’s jurisdiction. For instance, in some states, the document can cost as much as the entire $100, photography can be reconsidered (Laskey & Stirling, 2020). This approach works best when the couple is trying to minimize their wedding costs to a minimum possible range. In other areas, the money is enough to cater to premarital counseling, which keeps the parties engaged with each other.

City Hall Wedding

A city hall wedding can cost as much as $500, as there are additional elements that the couple must pay. In particular, the bride and the groom can incur costs, as shown in Table 3 in the appendix. It is crucial to understand that a wedding done at this venue may attract more guests planned by the couple unless they make it strictly for the invited guests only. Moreover, the charges may fluctuate depending on different factors that affect the operation of the local authorities as well as trends in event management.

Backyard Wedding

A backyard wedding may be more complex and costlier compared to a city hall event. This wedding type may take between $3,000 and $4,000, depending on different charges of other particulars in the area. It is important to note that this type of occasion does not pay for the venue. In particular, table 4 in the appendix shows the possible costs of each specific element.

Wedding at a Small Destination Ground

Another ubiquitous place that the couple can consider is a specific destination ground, such as a beach, where the couple can hire for services from different providers. The wedding party can pay for various services ranging from the venue, catering, photography, entertainment, and rentals. The increase in the number of particulars offered in this type of wedding can cost between $15,000 and $20,000 based on different factors. If the couple does not have financial constraints and wants their day’s ultimate experience, this can be one of the best choices. The experience derived from this particular event is spectacular as it only involves the invited guests only, who may have to travel a long distance to grace the occasion. The expected expenditures are shown in table 5 in the appendix.

Conclusion

The success of a wedding depends on several factors, such as planning and budgeting. A couple can decide to use any marriage ceremony depending on their budget. However, when budgeting, many plans occur to ensure that the day can be fruitful. During planning, the parties can engage their wedding committees to keep everything running smoothly. The couple can hire event planners if they choose complex wedding types such as a destination wedding, but a simpler ceremony requires less effort.

Reference

Laskey, B., & Stirling, L. (2020). The dress: Theme and self-presentation in online Australian wedding planning fora. Convergence, 26(1), 55–81.

Appendix

Table 2. The Cost of a Courtroom Wedding.

Particulars Cost Rationale
Marriage certification $75 Paying for the service at the marriage attorney’s office
Photography $25 Take pictures to commemorate the event together with the witnesses of the wedding.

Table 3. City Hall Wedding Cost.

Particulars Cost Rationale
Venue $75 Paying for the venue offered by the local government such as the mayor’s office.
Food and drinks $300 Providing drinks and beverages to the attending guests.
Decorations $50 Create decorations on the walls and entrances. This is mainly to add vibe into the occasion.
Wedding certificate Paying for the service at the marriage attorney’s office.
Photography $75 Taking pictures to commemorate the event together with the witnesses of the wedding.

Table 4. Backyard Wedding Cost.

Particulars Cost Rationale
Venue 0 Venue can be provided at the compound at no cost. The compound can belong to the family or a friend.
Food and drinks $1000 Providing drinks and beverages to the attending guests.
Clothing $500 The bride and the groom can rent cloths for the occasion.
Wedding Certificate $100 Paying the attorney’s office to issue the couple a marriage certificate.
Flowers 0 The backyard is often decorated.
Planning $100 Paying the wedding planner for the effort put into seeing the day become a success.
Photos $450 Taking pictures to commemorate the event together with the witnesses of the wedding.
Entertainment/band $200 Inviting a special band to entertain the guests during the event.
Decorations $1,500 Create decorations on the walls and entrances. This is mainly to add vibe into the occasion.
Dessert $200 Provide guests with food during the entertainment and gifts session after the religious services.

Table 5. Cost of Wedding at a Small Destination Ground.

Particulars Cost Rationale
Venue $1000 This type of wedding requires the couple and the bridal team to travel to a given destination and pay for accommodation services a few days before the wedding.
Food and drinks $1000 Providing drinks and beverages to the attending guests.
Clothing $500 The bride and the groom can rent cloths for the occasion.
Wedding Certificate $100 Taking pictures to commemorate the event together with the witnesses of the wedding.
Flowers 0 The backyard is often decorated.
Planning $100 Paying the wedding planner for the effort put into seeing the day become a success.
Photos $2000 Taking pictures to commemorate the event together with the witnesses of the wedding.
Entertainment/band $200 Having the band entertain the guests during the ceremony.
Decorations $2,500 Create decorations on the walls and entrances. This is mainly to add vibe into the occasion.
Dessert $400 Provide guests with food during the entertainment and gifts session after the religious services.
Rentals $3,000 Paying for the day’s rented items such as chairs, tables, lighting, and lines, among others.

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