"Budget" Isn't a Four Letter Word

Let's face it - nobody likes to talk about money. It seems like no matter who you are, there's never enough to do everything you want when you want to do it. This is especially true when planning a wedding.

But, money is a fact of life and talking about it is necessary...especially when planning a wedding. Knowing your limits up front will save you hundreds of headaches down the road. Avoiding the topic will undoubtedly end in disaster.

So, here are a few tips to ease the financial stress surrounding your wedding planning:

1. Honesty is the best policy: It sounds like a cliche, but it's true. Be honest with yourself when making your initial budget. Don't allot $2700 to your dress budget when you know that you can realistically afford $700. Also, be honest with your wedding planner. Part of her job is to help you achieve your wedding dreams while remaining in your budget. There's really no reason not be honest with her; it'll work out in your favor in the end.
   
   
2. Hire a planner: If you're working on a tight budget, hiring a planner may seem frivolous and unnecessary. Actually, a wedding planner is exactly what you need. Planners have been in the business long enough to have made many, many contacts in the area and will be able to negotiate better deals than an individual can. This is because they work in volume; wedding vendors are more likely to strike a bargain with someone who can bring them a dozen weddings over someone who can only bring them one. Wedding planners offer a variety of packages to fit every budget and need, ranging from simply allowing brides access to their preferred vendor list to partnering with a bride to plan a wedding from start to finish. For more information on the benefits of hiring a wedding planner, check out this article from WedAlert.com.
   
   
3. Budgets are guidelines, not law: The purpose of budget is to get all your expenses down on paper so you can see and prioritize them. This does not mean that you can't change your mind, or that surprise expense won't come up that force a change. To get an idea of what you'll be spending your wedding budget on, fill in this worksheet from Real Simple Weddings Magazine. It includes a lot of details that people often forget to allot money to (like postage for mailing your save-the-date cards and invitations) that lead to big surprises along the way.
   
   
4. It's not about giving up, it's about spending smart: Oftentimes people assume that working within a budget automatically means that you're going to have to do without something. That's not true! You just have to spend smarter. Instead of buying your favors, make them. Have a friend bake and decorate your wedding cake, rather than hiring a bakery. Use a student from a local art school as your photographer instead of hiring a professional. Your wedding planner can help here too. She knows endless ways to give you the wedding of your dreams while spending smart.

I hope these few tips will help you as you start to budget for your wedding. Remember, budget isn't a four letter word. Talking about your budget, and talking about it often, will lead to the wedding you want...without putting you in the poor house.