Congratulations! You’ve just gotten engaged and your mind is a whirlwind of ideas. You head straight to your Pinterest page and create the board you’ve been impatiently dreaming of for months, entitled “Our Wedding.” Just typing the words makes you giddy with excitement as you start scrolling through the sea of wedding eye candy. But before you go all pin-crazy, here’s some advice for keeping your wedding finances in check.
Your budget is the number one, most important aspect of wedding planning. You have to decide on your wedding budget before you can begin looking at anything else. Unfortunately, Pinterest photos don’t show a price tag, so before you get carried away with photos of venues, dresses, and flowers, have a good idea of your wedding budget.
What type of wedding do you want? Outdoor garden ceremony or a church ceremony? Full course meal at a grand hotel or a simple cocktail reception at a golf course? Intimate party for fifty or an extravaganza for five hundred? You, your fiancé, and your parents need to discuss the type of wedding you’d like to have and the associated costs.
Who will document your memories? Costs for photographers vary greatly. Pinterest is full of stunning works of art from these vendors. Do a bit of research on the internet and choose a few photographers whose styles speaks to you. If they are within your budget, ask to meet with them. I always suggest meeting with more than one so that you have something to compare to. Make sure that you not only like their photos but that your personalities match and you feel comfortable with them.
And what about the dress? It’s so easy for brides to get swayed in the direction of a dress that is over their budget. When you go to the bridal salon, have an open mind. They will ask you what your budget is. Try on only the dresses that are in your price range (even if your mother brings you a dress that she thinks is perfect for you) or you run the chance of falling in love with a dress you can’t afford. You’ll leave either disappointed you didn’t get the dress you wanted or spend more than you intended to.
Flower costs vary from season to season. If you have a tight budget, go with flowers that are in season. Specialty blooms can cost a lot more, so keep this in mind when bringing pictures of bouquets to your florist consultation. A good florist will suggest flowers that are similar in colour and style if the ones you like are out of your budget.
Décor is another area where brides can get swayed into spending more than they have. Décor costs can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands. Keep in mind when you see a photo of décor that there are many factors to consider: linens, lighting, chairs, centrepieces, draping, etc. These costs can add up quickly.
When planning the party, you’ll see many photos of food and entertainment on Pinterest. Those hors d’oeuvres, the martini bar, or that ten-piece band you’re envisioning can add to the overall budget. Talk to your venue. They can recommend food that works with your budget and can refer options for music that won’t break the bank.
Overall, have fun! Pinterest can be a great tool for creating the vision for your wedding day. Just go in knowing that everything comes with a price tag. Have a good plan in place when you start booking your wedding vendors.
