Prioritizing for Your Budget

Each category below presents two perspectives: the high priority and the low priority scenario. If you fall somewhere in between the two extremes then you will probably want to stick to the average amounts spent on that item. To find out national averages for a variety of wedding expenses, you can register for a wedding page on Wedding411. Once you register and login, the budget tracker on your personal page will not only help you to organize your own budget, but will show you the national averages for each item. To find out averages for your area, ask around...talk to recently married couples, those in the midst of planning, and wedding professionals in your area. If six or seven caterers tell you their mid-range price per head is $20, then that is probably a pretty good average for your area.

Flowers: On the one hand, you may feel that on your wedding day, you should be surrounded by beauty. Perhaps you have always loved flowers. Maybe you feel that a wedding's not a wedding without a large amount of bouquets, boutonierres, and arrangements sitting and hanging on anything that will stand still. If this sounds like you, then you will want to make flowers a priority in your budgeting, allowing a larger amount of money than the average bride in your area would spend. On the other hand, you may be of the opinion that flowers die in a few days and therefore it is ridiculous to spend a large amount of money on them. Or you may decide to take advantage of a ceremony or reception site that doesn't require any additional decorations, such as a spring garden or a church or synagogue already decorated for a holiday celebration. If either of these scenarios sounds like you, you will want to make flowers a very low priority and budget an amount smaller than the average.
Food: Some couples feel that the food they serve at the reception is a tribute to the friends and family members who have brought you forward in your life to the precious time of your wedding. By wining and dining your guests you are thanking them for coming and for the impact they have had on your life. If this sounds familiar, you will want to make catering a high priority on your budget. Other couples feel that the food at your reception is just a nice party perk and has no special meaning. These brides aren't interested in using food as a means of "pampering" guests, though they may pamper guests in other ways. For these couples, catering will be a good place to save money on the budget.
Photography and videography: The photographs and video of your wedding will be two of the very few things that will remain for years after your big day is over. For the rest of your days, they will help you to fondly remember one of the high points of your life. During the first year of your marriage, photographs and copies of videos will be welcomed by many relatives as holiday gifts. Framed photos and a lovely album may also start the decor of your home as a married couple. For those who agree that photographs and/or videos will be a joy for years to come, photography may be a budgetary priority. On the flip side of the coin, some couples may treasure their memories more knowing they had a more lavish meal, more beautiful flowers, more extravagant attire, or a more expensive band than they would have been able to afford had photography been a bigger priority on the budget.
Attire and personal care: A bride and groom may feel that on this important day, when cameras will be clicking away left and right, they want to look and feel fabulous beyond the bounds of the day-to-day. This couple may want to allocate more funds for the most exquisite attire, professionally coiffed hair, and a professional skin care and cosmetics consultation. Other extras include manicures, pedicures, massages, facials, or a day at the spa. Some couples may even want to include personal attendants in the pampering as a thank you. There are other couples who feel it's very important to just be themselves on their wedding day...extravagant hairstyles, clothing, makeup, and expensive nail treatments will make them look like different people on a day when they are celebrating who they really are. In that case it makes sense to spend less on the wedding attire and special adornments, and more on more personal statements, like special wedding favors or an especially personal meal.
Wedding favors: Some couples will feel that these small gifts given to the guests express too much to be overlooked. Your favors may convey gratitude, joy, fun, or some feature of your personalities. They may celebrate your guests. They may celebrate the couple or the institution of marriage. But they will definitely make the celebration. Couples who feel this way will want to set aside a larger amount of time and money for the selecting, purchasing, and possibly the assembling of favors. In contrast, some couples feel that rather than expressing their sincere gratitude, favors trivialize the role of the guest by providing a throw-away or token gift that guests don't appreciate. Of course if you feel this way, you will want to limit or eliminate the cost of favors from your budget.

What's your priority? Find resources for flowers, food, and wedding planning on Amazon!

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