When it comes to your wedding budget, you want to do your best to stay on track, right? We’ve already provided some tools to help you plan our your expenses, but you might also be missing out on things. You might be making minor mistakes that lead to major consequences. Today we’re listing out some things to look out for when managing your wedding expenses. These might seem very negligible, but if you’re not careful, they can affect your budget big time! Here are 10 wedding budget mistakes you might be making. Find out more to avoid them now.
(1) Not deciding on your non-negotiable items.
[From: A Sweet Church Union with a Gold and White Banquet That Followed / Photo: Flowerspace Production]
Not setting your priorities will be harmful later on. You might end up spending more on several wedding details leading to a very bloated wedding budget. Decide on your non-negotiable items–items you must have and are willing to allocate more budget to. After this, you’ll know which other items you have be more flexible on and even save on.
(2) Not being realistic about the guest list size.
[From: This Couple Had a Facebook Live Stream So All Their Guests Could Still Attend Their Wedding / Photo: Paul Wong Fine Art Photography]
One of the first things you need to consider when planning your wedding budget is the guest list size. To be honest, this is a common crucial mistake because the larger your wedding, the larger budget you will need. If you’re not realistic about the size of your wedding at the onset, you will end up needing more budget when the final count is in.
(3) Not considering the date or season.
[From: A Classic All-White Wedding in Bali Overlooking the Sea / Photo: Imaj Gallery]
Don’t forget that the date and season of your wedding will matter and will affect your budget. Peak seasons are always more expensive. Weather conditions may also bring in extra costs. Make sure you know the financial repercussions of the season you have chosen for your wedding.
(4) Not familiarizing yourself with hidden wedding costs.
[From: This Bride Designed Almost Every Detail at Her Wedding! / Photo: The Stage Photography]
You MUST do your research and find out about all the possible hidden wedding costs. To name a few, these include trials, legal fees, and more. Make sure you tuck these into your budget well in advance or else you need to shell out more money as these items start popping up.
(5) Not allocating funds appropriately.
[From: A Modern, Black, White, and Gold Themed Wedding in Phuket / Photo: Danae Herrmann]
You need to allocate funds for ALL wedding expenses, even hidden costs, so that you don’t find yourself running out of funds or needing to add more as the date draws nearer. Also always have allowance on top of your initial figure per vendor or category for anything that still pops up. Having excess “just in case” is important.
(6) Not keeping track of your expenses.
[From: This Bride Designed Almost Every Detail at Her Wedding! / Photo: The Stage Photography]
You must keep track of everything, down to the last cent. If you don’t keep track of everything, you will not have an accurate account of where all your money went. You want to make sure you’re on top of your expenses, so don’t miss out on any transaction, not matter how small it may be.
(7) Not having a system.
[From: This Couple Had a Facebook Live Stream So All Their Guests Could Still Attend Their Wedding / Photo: Paul Wong Fine Art Photography]
In relation to number six, the best way to stay on top of your all wedding-related costs is by creating and following a system that you’re comfortable with. You can use an MS Excel file or an online tracking app–it’s really up to you. If you have a system and follow it, you will be able to manage all your expenses properly.
(8) Not accounting for tips.
[From: A Classic All-White Wedding in Bali Overlooking the Sea / Photo: Imaj Gallery]
Are you aware of the unspoken rules for tipping etiquette? If not, read this and make sure you include all the tip in your wedding budget. If not, you’ll find yourself shelling out a lot when it’s time to pay everyone.
(9) Not saving where you can.
[From: A Sweet Church Union with a Gold and White Banquet That Followed / Photo: Flowerspace Production]
Some couples forget to look at wedding planning in this angle: in what areas can we save? Open your eyes to the possibility of adjusting here and there so you can save on some costs. This is another reason why we mentioned that you need to determine your non-negotiable wedding details. Since that is set, you can go over the other details and work on ways to save on everything else. This way, you get the items you really want AND you get to find ways to save at the same time.
(10) Not considering reusable, rented, and resale items.
[From: A Modern, Black, White, and Gold Themed Wedding in Phuket / Photo: Danae Herrmann]
Finally, have you ever considered renting, reusing, or selling items after the wedding? Renting your wedding dress or one of your other evening gowns will drastically help cut on costs. You can also reuse wedding flowers to save on decoration expenses. And lastly, some brides do sell items from the wedding afterwards. Doing this will allow you to recover some of the wedding costs you incurred.
There you have it! Keep these 10 things in mind to stay on top of your wedding budget.
