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Subject: |
Wedding Budgets Keep You In The Black (And White!) |
| Date: |
2009-07-20
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Wedding Budgets Keep
You In The Black (And White!)
. . . impress your parents and
prospective in-laws (to say nothing of your fiancé) with your
practical and
effective approach to planning a lovely wedding.
By Robbin Montero
www.a-dreamwedding.com
Wedding costs vary regionally from around $25,000 in
the Midwest to $50,000 and more in the Northeast. The average wedding
in the United States costs approximately $28,000, not including rings
or the traditional expenses of the bridegroom's family.
Because they are expensive, because you want a
beautiful wedding and because you don't want to go into serious debt,
the first step in planning any wedding is a practical one -
establishing a budget. Bridal budget woes will put a damper on one's
outlook and a strain on relationships. A good budget is the foundation
of a joyful wedding day.
Asking for help
Depending on the ages and circumstances of the
couple, family members may be interested in contributing to the wedding
budget. There is no law that says parents must pay for any or all of
the wedding, but it is a good idea to ask if key family members want to
participate financially.
If they are interested, have ideas about the wedding
and rough costs before meeting with them. Read magazines, attend a
bridal show, visit bridal retailers, call vendors for budget ideas.
Many parents make a flat contribution or specifically cover costs of
photography or the wedding dress, for example.
Some budget items will be "hard costs," not
reflective of how many people will attend. Example, your $2,000 wedding
dress will cost that much no matter how many people attend. The cost of
a photography package or video won't change with the number of people
being photographed and entertainment costs are the same no matter how
many people dance. To estimate these in advance, call at least three
vendors for prices.
Again, don't delay the budgeting portion of your
wedding planning–start there. Failing to do so works against you by
reducing options and, possibly, the wedding fund. Once you have a
complete budget picture, prioritize items requiring the longest lead
time, such as finding the site. As you proceed, you will make decisions
about "soft costs"– those items which fluctuate, often with the number
of people to attend, including the catering, beverages, cake, flowers,
etc.
The art of compromise
Most brides thoroughly hone their prioritization and
compromise skills during the wedding planning process. To accommodate a
few more guests, she may switch from exotic to local flowers to avoid
changing the exquisite wedding cake. This is also an important day for
the groom. Is a compromise needed to let him know he is important, too?
Early brides catch the bargains-and
bogus bargains
Be cautious about bargain-rate vendors. Once a
contract is signed, hidden costs can threaten your budget. Catch the
add-ons by asking several prospective vendors what's included in the
price so you can compare values.
Booking and executing contracts twelve to eighteen
months in advance guarantees your rates. Some vendors offer prepay
discounts. Except for customary deposits, only prepay if you know the
reputation and stability of a vendor. You can ask about making a
reasonable deposit and regular monthly payments.
For most couples budgets are a big part of their
life together, so the wedding budget can be a great learning
experience. With or without their help, following a budget will impress
your parents and prospective in-laws (to say nothing of your
fiancé) with your practical and effective approach to planning a
lovely wedding.
"Stress Free, Leave the Details to
Me," is the tried and true philosophy of Robbin Montero, California
Wine Country wedding planning expert and owner of A Dream Wedding www.a-dreamwedding.com.
Robbin is the premier wedding planner in the Northern California Wine
Country, transforming any vision into the perfectly designed wedding
creation. Robbin and her weddings have been featured in The Knot,
Brides, Elite Magazine, Your Wedding Day and Vine Napa/Sonoma
magazines, and ImportantOccasions.com. Travel & Leisure magazine
calls Robbin, "The expert wedding planner in the California Wine
Country."
©2009 Robbin Montero. This article cannot be
reprinted without Robbin Montero's expressed written permission.
Permission granted for use on DrLaura.com
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