#My happy planner budget templates how to#

This is because you might find yourself matching the site, food and musical entertainment to the overall upscale tone. Generally speaking, the more formal the affair, the more expensive. Similarly, weddings on Saturdays and Sundays tend to be more costly than those hosted on a weekday. Plus, many couples choose to go more low-key on elements like lighting, music and decor. An evening wedding reception is usually more expensive than a brunch or afternoon reception, not only because of higher catering costs for dinner, but also because people tend to drink less during the daytime. An event hosted in the middle of wedding season, which spans from May through October, will likely come with higher costs. Highly sought-after seasons and days of the week are pricier for obvious reasons. This Is the Reason You Need Wedding Insurance Here's the inside scoop on protecting your special day. Also, be aware that many popular locations have headcount minimums, meaning they won't host a wedding that's too small, and some may also have a per-head minimum that requires your event to be a certain size. Some-such as a city park-come with no (or low) fees, while others, like a grand ballroom, might cost you the equivalent of a year's college tuition. Likewise, certain venues are more expensive than others. Tourist towns can also up your wedding price tag during peak travel season. New York, Chicago and Los Angeles are the obvious culprits, but small towns and remote destinations can entail greater costs if things like flowers and talent have to come from afar.

Some cities and towns are just more expensive than others. Plus, with a smaller wedding, you'll save more on other details, including decor, stationery, favors and rentals, because you won't need as much of everything. As a result, changing the guest list size is the surest way to increase or decrease your costs.

There's a per-head cost for food and liquor, and these two are typically the biggest expenses of the whole wedding. The size of your wedding has a massive impact on the amount you'll spend. For example, you might cut back on the floral spend to account for your catering bill.' Sit down with your S.O., as well as anyone else who might be financially contributing to your wedding, and have an honest conversation about what you have to spend, and how you should prioritize the investments. 'Couples may need to compromise and cut back on spending in one area to get what they want in another. 'The best way to stay on budget is to be realistic about what you are willing to pay each step of the way, from the venue to the vendors to your dress and accessories,' explains Kristen Gall, retail expert and president of Rakuten Rewards. What you can actually afford will impact how you spend your budget. It's imperative to be honest about your wedding day expectations from the start.

#My happy planner budget templates how to#

Here are five key factors to consider when determining how to allocate your wedding budget. This means that no two wedding budgets will look the same. As mentioned above, a number of factors go into how you actually spend your money. Now that you know what a typical wedding budget breakdown looks like, it's crucial to familiarize yourself with the top things to keep in mind when allocating your funds.