How to create your own wedding budget
Yay!!! You’re engaged. Congratulations!
Now that that’s happened… What do you do now?!
Well, for starters, you’re going to need to figure out how much you want/can spend on your wedding day. This is an important number but a tricky one to come up with! Allow me to break it down for you just a little bit with some average percentages of what needs to be allocated for different aspects of the wedding day. Bear in mind that these are just averages from theKnot, and your budget may look a bit different. For example, you might spend more in one area than what is listed here, and then less in another!
You might also notice, that the total of these categories don’t add up to 100. This is indeed on purpose. Everyone’s wedding budget looks different, so depending on your budget, you would pull from this list to fit into your financial statement!
Venue: 30%
This, unsurprisingly, will probably be the highest cost of a wedding. The one plus side to spending a bit more on a naturally beautiful venue is that it could save you money in other areas, such as decor or florals!
Catering: 23%
Catering is also a pretty substantial piece of your budget. This percentage includes cost of food per head. It’s definitely worth it to check out packages that your venue offers regarding catering, or if a catering company includes alcohol and dessert!
Band or DJ: 13%
Live entertainment always makes a wedding day so memorable. And trust me when I say that it is a LOT easier to have a DJ in charge of music, than a friend or family member! They’ll also take over announcements! Typically, 13% of the budget is allocated toward the person in charge of the music.
Wedding Ring/Band: 7%
Don’t forget to include wedding bands in your wedding budget! This does not include the engagement ring, and as a general statement, bands can be much cheaper!
Photographer: 7%
If you were to ask me, having an extremely talented photographer is one of the more important “must haves” for your wedding day. Not only are they the way to remember your day… They also can be so fun! Make sure you feel comfortable in front of your photographer.
Alcohol/Non-alcoholic drinks: 7%
Something so often forgotten are non-alcoholic drinks! If you have some guests that don’t drink, or children attending your wedding, it is so important to ensure you have something for everyone! It also can be a plus to have some “sobering liquids” for the people that maybe have one too many ;)
Flowers: 6%
Florals come in right at about six percent of the overall budget. Flowers can entirely transform a venue that lacks some pizzazz! In addition to this, bouquets and boutonnières are very popular too!
Videography: 6%
Similar to photographers, a videographer is a fun, really awesome way to look back on your special day. Most couples I talk to regret not having a videographer present! If you’re able, definitely invest in a videographer!
Couples attire (dress and suit): 6%
The suit and dress are, of course, a staple for the wedding day. I think this percentage can fluctuate more than some of the other categories, but on average, Theknot found it to come in at about 6%, including accessories and shoes!
Wedding Planner: 5%
Having a wedding planner on your wedding day can help you fully enjoy your day. A professional wedding planner or coordinator can make all the difference when it comes to your wedding day!
Lighting and Decor: 5%
Lighting and decor is another important aspect to your wedding day. Not only will it make it so that you can personalize the venue— it also makes for an awesome dance floor.
Guest Entertainment: 3%
Guest entertainment is truthfully an extra element that is important to consider should your budget allow it. This includes interactive or unique experiences, like live painters, dancers, Photo Booth, caricature artists and more!
Stationary: 2%
Wedding invitations, save-the-dates and RSVP cards are incredibly important for the obvious reasons! In addition to these paper goods, this budget also can cover ceremony programs, venues, thank you cards, name cards and whatever else you are adding to your beautiful day!
Hair and Makeup: 2%
Put aside a good 2% of the overall budget for your hair and makeup. While you don’t necessarily that have to front/cover the cost of all your wedding party members, I truly believe it’s important to take their budgets into account as well when booking an artist!
Cake/Dessert: 1%
Some venues might include dessert within their packages, but most couples decide to outsource to find a dessert(s) for their wedding!
While there might be some categories not included in this list, I can confidently say most of them, and the important ones to remember, are listed! Remember that it’s crucial to decide what are the top priorities when you’re figuring out how to divvy out your funds!