Wedding Budget Do's and Don'ts

Whatever your wedding budget is, there are certain things you should and shouldn't do. Read on for tips on saving money the right way:

Do hire a caterer who'll allow you to supply your own alcoholic beverages.

Don't have a cash bar.

Do cut your guest list in a sensible way.

Don't "accidentally" forget to invite your annoying cousin.

Do negotiate with your vendors.

Don't demand discounts from vendors.

Do book a photographer for her time minimum to shoot the ceremony and family shots. Also, ask friends to take party photos.

Don't ask your 17-year-old niece to be in charge of photographs.

Do connect an iPod to speakers. Create fabulous playlists, rent a good sound system, and bring an extra iPod.

Don't hire your brother's garage band to get the party going.

Do avoid unncessary details such as elaborate favors and napkin rings.

Don't hold back on food and drinks. Hungry and thirsty guests aren't happy ones.

Source- Brides Magazine, January 2011; Photo Credit

Setting your wedding budget

Did you know that the average wedding cost is $28,000? With a number like that, I'm sure you can see why determining your budget is so important and why it can be overwhelming.

Here are some tips to help you plan your wedding budget:

Speak to everyone who's contributing to your wedding. Sit down with everyone who is going to contribute to your wedding and discuss how to reasonably split the tab and come up with a total number.

Assign totals for each service accordingly. When you've come up with a reasonable budget total, you'll then have to figure out where the money will go. Create a list of items, vendors and details that you'll need and how much you'll allocate to each. After doing that, you can tailor each amount to your style and priorities. For example, if your wedding gown is very important to you, you might splurge in that area and cut back on the floral arrangement.

Get a system and begin saving. You need to set up a reliable way to record your savings and spending. You can use anything from sophisticated software to regular, old spreadsheets to do this.

Bank it. If you already have money saved for your wedding, speak with your financial institution about the best way to accumulate interest leading up to the the big day. Be sure to open an account that is separate from your personal savings so you you won't be tempted to dip into that account.

Save smart. If you're starting from zero with your wedding savings, think about paying for as many of your expenses as you can with a credit card that collects benefits such as frequent flier miles, rewards or cash back that can go to your honeymoon travel.

Source: How to set your wedding budget. Photo from: big-wedding-tiny-budget.com