In continuation with my guest blog series, I’m happy to welcome back NJ wedding planner Carina Castro of Luxe Events. Carina’s insight and expertise helps her client’s achieve the wedding of their dreams.
“The Art of Budget Planning: Tips to Get You Started!”
by Carina Castro
The dreaded “B” word. The one part of wedding planning that is no fun – budgeting! Once you’ve decided on what you can spend and whether or not family will be pitching in, you’ll need to work out a budget plan — preferably before meeting any vendors. It’s all too often that brides fall in love with a venue only to find out it is way out of their budget.
Here are some tips to help you as you and your fiance crunch your wedding day numbers:
Knowledge is power. In order for your budgeting to work, it has to be realistic. Find out what local vendors charge for their services. You can’t base your budget on what your parents paid for their photographer 25 years ago or what your friend in the Midwest paid for her entire wedding. You may quickly realize that your original budget is not realistic. Adjust your budget after getting the estimates.
Focus on what matters most. Decide what’s most important for you and your fiance and allocate your resources accordingly. If you are “foodies,” your focus will be on selecting a great caterer and menu that you and your guests will enjoy. If you love to dance (like I do!), then hiring the right DJ and selecting the play list will be one of your top priorities. Listing your top priorities will keep the focus on what matters most to you. You can then find ways to cut back on the remaining list items.
Stay organized. You will quickly realize that staying organized during your wedding planning will make life easier. Download a wedding budget spreadsheet or create your own. If you’re using a template, remember all the items listed are just a guide.
Taxes/Tips. Forgetting to account for tax and tips can throw off your budget. When getting service quotes, make sure to ask if tax is already included and find out what their tipping policies are. These may not be included in your final price, but either way, it will avoid surprises later on.
Don’t count on wedding gifts. Many couples make decisions that ultimately put them over their budget, in hopes that they will make their money back with their wedding gifts. However, it almost never works out that way and at best, you’ll be making half of it back.
Budgeting, like dieting, is never fun. It requires a watchful eye on our spending and usually means we have to make sacrifices along the way. However, there’s more to lose by not paying attention to the numbers. Being clear about what you have to spend and how you will use your resources is empowering and will make it that much easier to ensure you still have money for life after your wedding!
Want to use this article in your e-zine or website? You can as long as you include this complete statement:
Event Planning Entrepreneur Carina Castro publishes the “Luxe Events” bi-weekly e-zine. Get your *FREE report: “How to Plan a Luxe Wedding for Less: 5 Simple Ways to Cut Costs” at www.LuxeEventsNJ.com
About Carina Castro
Carina Castro is an Organizational Psychologist and owner of Luxe Events. She works with busy NJ and NYC brides and keeps them stress-free throughout their wedding planning process and on their wedding day, so they can relax and enjoy the moment.
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