After the engagement, the excitement of the upcoming wedding is something that people look forward to.
We dream of a wonderful wedding day full of joy and there is an overwhelming excitement when you know you will get to celebrate with your loved ones by your side.
When it comes to planning, we often underestimate how much work goes into having a successful wedding day.
If you don’t budget properly, you might end up having a sour post-wedding, but you can avoid that by planning adequately.
Every wedding budget includes common things like décor, food and transport, but you also need to have enough cash set aside for these things:
1. Pre-ceremony costs
You need to budget properly for the costs that might come up before your wedding. For example, you might decide to have a spa day to keep you relaxed and get your skin ready for the camera so you will need to add those extra expenses into your budget.
You might also need to plan on fuel costs as you move around for rehearsals and venue searching so these are things you need to think about. If you forget to factor in those areas, you might have to keep digging into money you had saved for something else. Planning for these small details makes a huge difference.
2. Delivery fees
Something sneaky that can mess up the budget you had planned is delivery fees. This can be delivery costs for your cake, décor and other items you wanted for your wedding.
Organize yourself beforehand for these costs and remember to confirm if the delivery fees are included in the items you’re purchasing.
3. Accessories
The star of the show during any wedding is the bride’s dress. When you’re setting up your budget you might get so caught up in planning for your ultimate wedding dress and forget about the accessories you might need.
You should budget for the shoes you will wear, the hair accessories like a veil and hair clips, necklace, earrings and other details that can cause you to go above your budget when you’re already tight on cash.
If you’re on a budget, you can decide to only have essential accessories and leave out the rest.
4. Security
Disruptions can turn any wedding into a nightmare and that is why you should consider budgeting for security. No one expects to have any mishaps and uninvited guests but it is always a good idea to prepare for anything.
You should consult and find out which options you have that can fit into your budget.
Alternatively, you can work with the venue to beef up the security in case you expect some interruptions or just for extra safety if the wedding will continue into the wee hours of the night.
5. Photography and videography costs
There are many things you can skip on your wedding day but hiring a professional photographer and videographer shouldn’t be one of them.
You need photos and videos to keep the memories alive for a long time and you definitely don’t want to end up with awkward and blurry images that were done by someone inexperienced.
The best thing to do is to find an affordable videographer and photographer as you organize your budget.
