| INFO@WEDDINGSINSURREY.CO.UK Tel: 07782 636808 |
|
|
Print-friendly version
Home Page > Plan the Day > WEDDING PLANNING TOOLS > 10 Ways to Set a Wedding Budget - Isabel Smith Wedding Design
10 Ways to Set a Wedding Budget - Isabel Smith Wedding Design
"DO YOU TAKE THIS WEDDING BUDGET" 10 WAYS TO SET - AND STICK TO - THE RIGHT BUDGET FOR YOUR BIG DAY  With reports placing the average cost of a 2010 wedding at £18,000 to £21,000 - but with the average household income averaging just under £30,000 - it’s easy to see why wedding debt is a hot topic at the moment, particularly in times of recession. The problem is that brides tend to run out and buy a pile of wedding magazines as soon as they get engaged - and promptly fall in love with the pictures without any real understanding of what it costs to achieve the look. Whilst it’s understandable that every bride wants the perfect day, after the food is eaten and the band has finished playing, there are just two people left, who have chosen to make a commitment to each other - and that’s what the day is really about.So here wedding planner Isabel Smith (www.isabelsmithweddings.co.uk) offers her top tips for setting - and sticking to - a realistic wedding budget that won’t result in worries about a big bill clouding the start of married life... 1. “Begin by looking to your own finances - how much of your savings are you willing to put towards the wedding? And how much can you realistically save each month without struggling to pay the bills, or completely compromising on your luxuries to the point that you no longer enjoy yourself. Set a rough date or time of year for the wedding so that you can calculate how much you will have saved when the time comes. 2. Have a frank conversation with any family members who offer to help to pay for the wedding. You need to know exactly how much they are offering since it will of course affect your budget - but you also need to re-assure them as to where their money will be spent. Not only will this make them feel more comfortable but it can also prevent them from trying to exert too much influence over your wedding plans. 3. Take a realistic approach to debt – some borrowing for your wedding is ok. A couple of hundred pounds on your credit card when you know you have a bonus coming next month offers no threat to your long-term financial security but I would NEVER advocate taking out any loan or putting your property at risk for the sake of your wedding. 4. Make a list of all the things that you will need to pay for. The internet offers loads of great spreadsheets that can be downloaded for free – I particularly like Pink Wedding Days (www.pinkweddingdays.co.uk) as it offers the opportunity to enter your budget at the top and will automatically calculate roughly how your money should be divided up. However, no single spreadsheet ever covers absolutely everything, so it might be worthwhile downloading a few and collating a really comprehensive list. 5. Build in a contingency – no matter how comprehensive your spending list, there will always be little extra costs that crop up, or delivery charges that you hadn’t thought of. Around 10-15% of your total budget should be adequate. 6. Make preliminary calls about costs to suppliers. Even if they are not the suppliers you intend to meet with, getting an idea of the different packages available and industry averages will help you decide how much you should be allocating to the various elements of the wedding AND give you realistic expectations of what you can expect for your cash. 7. Decide upon your priorities. Having now gained a good idea of how the average budget is divided up, think about what your main priorities are for the day, as you may wish to allocate a little more to these areas. These should also be the things you source first after the venue because if you go slightly over, you can take the shortfall from things lower down the list. 8. Be strict with yourself. Saving money is a lot like dieting – whenever you want the doughnut, ask yourself whether you want it more than fitting into your jeans. Do you want the new shoes or do you want the wedding cake your saw at that wedding fair? Discipline is the one area that brides often fall down in. 9. Don’t be afraid to negotiate with your suppliers. It may sound obvious, but post credit crunch, wedding vendors are often feeling the pinch as much as you are, so a frank conversation about your budget and expectations can produce excellent results. It doesn’t work every time - not every supplier is willing to offer a discount – but is certainly worth a try 10. What you lack in funds, make up for in effort and creativity. Whether this means making your own invitations, trawling sites like eBay for bargains or negotiating harder with your suppliers, if your budget is getting squeezed, you’ll need to compromise on something - and free time at your weekends might be it.” Following a successful career at some of the country’s most prestigious wedding venues, Isabel Smith set up Isabel Smith Wedding Design in 2009 to offer a unique approach to wedding design and management, tailored to the individual requirements of each client. For more information about the services offered by Isabel Smith Wedding Design, call 01494 444 877 or visit www.isabelsmithweddings.co.uk. Or follow Isabel on Twitter @ISweddingdesign. |
|
| Weddings in Surrey Surrey, KT12 3JT, United Kingdom - Show map - Tel: 07782 636808 Email: INFO@WEDDINGSINSURREY.CO.UK Copyright © Weddings in Surrey 2012. Web design by 7Soft.co.uk. |