December 2022

Wedding budgets can feel a little daunting and they can definitely be a buzzkill on the "all rainbows and sunshine" feeling most people expect to have around their wedding but a budget is a MUST if you ask us. Establishing a wedding budget helps you determine not only how much you can spend overall, but also how to prioritize certain items, where you can find wiggle room and it ensures that you don't begin a newlywed life with a mountain of debt. Building a wedding budget can seem daunting, but with some careful planning and a bit of organization, it's a manageable task. Here are some quick tips for getting started: 

1. Determine how much you can afford to spend overall:
The first step in building your wedding budget is to figure out how much money you have available overall to spend on your big day. This will depend on your individual financial situation, as well as any savings or contributions that you may receive from family or friends. Be realistic about your budget and don't stretch yourself too thin. It's better to have a smaller, more manageable budget than to overspend and start your married life with financial stress. We never advise that couples use credit cards as their primary budget method unless they have the cash flow to immediately and/or quickly turn around and pay those credit cards off. This event should be an enjoyable celebration of your love rather than something that feels like a second mortgage payment. 

2. Make a list of your priorities:
Once you have a sense of your overall budget, the next step is to determine what aspects of the wedding are most important to you. We advise every couple to choose the top 3 things they care most about and to put their energy/money there. 

For some couples, FOOD might be the most important aspect of the wedding. For others, it might be having high quality video/photos of the entire day. Whatever feels most crucial to you is where you should spend most of your budget money. Prioritize those top 3 items and then look for places you can save/make up the difference. 

One of our favorite examples of this budget method comes from a wedding we held in early 2022. The bride, Shelbi had fallen in love with a gown that was outside of her budget but because she was able to borrow ALL of her wedding decor from us, she saved thousands and was able to reallocate that money toward purchasing her DREAM dress. Although there might have been some areas of compromise in the decor, the dress MADE the day for Shelbi so the trade off was worth it. 

3. Create a detailed breakdown of your expenses: 
The next step in building your wedding budget is to create a detailed breakdown of all of your predicted wedding expenses. This should include everything from the venue and food to vendor fees, rentals, florals, decor and more. Be sure to include both the fixed costs (those that are set in advance) and the variable costs (those that can vary depending on your choices). This will help you see where your money is going and make adjustments as needed.

4. Choose wedding vendors who know and respect your budget 
Although we do not lock our booked couples into using specific wedding vendors, at The Stone House at Silver Creek we provide a list of our favorite bartenders, DJs, florists, caterers, photographer and more because we know finding budget conscious wedding vendors can be a pain. Vendors have bills to pay too, don't get us wrong. We always want service based businesses to get the payment they deserve but there are definitely areas where vendors can give and take to make their services fit a couple's budget. For example, we advise our couples to hire a bartending service that allows them to buy their OWN alcohol rather than purchasing the alcohol from the bartending vendor. This ensures that the couple can not only save money on the booze but it also gives them full control over what drinks will be provided at the wedding. 

5. Set aside a contingency fund:
It's always a good idea to have a little cushion in your wedding budget (a contingency fund). This is money that you can use for unexpected expenses or for last-minute changes. We've seen small things crop up from time to time - from accidentally booking the wrong dates with vendors to last minute mishaps, it's always an excellent idea to have a few dollars you can tap in to if things go off rail a bit. 

Building a wedding budget sets the entire tone for planning your big day. By determining how much you can afford to spend, prioritizing your spending, creating a detailed breakdown of your expenses, shopping around for the right wedding vendors, and setting aside a contingency fund, you can create a wedding budget that works for you and helps ensure that your wedding is both beautiful and affordable.

Another way we personally work to save couples money in their wedding budget is by giving every booked couple access to our extensive decor library! From drapery and table runners to lanterns, vases, votives, florals and more, our library consists of all the basics needed to pull together a wedding to remember (without breaking the bank). Choosing wedding vendors who have your money in mind (and not in the "I'll charge you for all you're worth" way) can literally make or break your big day.