The budget is a big, if not the biggest, consideration during weddings. In fact, it is one of those things most couples would try to iron out first before anything else. Still, people simply run into the dreaded doom: going over budget. To be honest, it is not that surprising. People tend to overestimate what is inside their wallet and underestimate their spending caps. What is not very obvious, though, are the situations in which couples fall into this dilemma pit. To help you with that, here are some of the common times couples are just a few steps away from going over the wedding budget:
When you fall in love with ‘pretty things’ hard
There is so much wedding inspiration online now. With just a few clicks and taps, you can come up with a vision board and see for yourself the things you have only been dreaming of. It is a productive exercise since it allows you to know what you want, but the problem pops up when it feels like the Instagrammable and Pinterest-worthy details — the custom neon signs, the hanging florals peppering the entire outdoor tent, and the personalized save-the-date cards — become must-haves. That you feel like you really cannot do away with them.
Once you entertain this thinking, you will soon find yourself swiping your credit card without a pause. Stick to the real essentials of the event, the venue, the food, the photography, and of course, on the day wedding coordinator. UK-based event experts share that once you get these priorities out of the way, that is when you splurge on the pretty things. If necessary, also quit scrolling incessantly through your social media timeline.
When you keep adding guests to your list
It is no secret that the more guests you have, the more costly your wedding will be. In most instances, at the initial phases of wedding planning, couples often have a relatively short guest list. But, as their in-laws and other relatives get involved, that is when the ‘suggestions’ for more people crop up. Your mom may feel like her college besties need to be there, or your dad’s drinking buddies should be invited. How do you go about this? From the very start, set an ideal guest count. From there, split it up into thirds: a third for your relatives, a third for you and your fiancé’s friends, a third for your parents’ friends. Once that is all set, explain it to the people who have the habit of ‘recommending’ people to be added on the list. Hopefully, when they see that there is an equal distribution happening, they will not feel like you are just being sour grapes. Once you have the specific guests locked in, do not add any more, as much as possible.
When you set your budget unrealistically low
Why do people do this? Simple: they often set their budget without a good research of the costs of vendors in the market. Do not rely solely on your mother-in-law’s advice of the expenses (she may be throwing in figures that are already five, ten years old). Rather, see wedding cost guides online. If you already hired a wedding planner, work with them closely in determining current costs. With this, you will be able to set up a realistic budget that will not leave you surprised later on when you talk to suppliers.
It is easy to slip into a money pit when you are planning the biggest day of your life. But try not to fall for that. The last, most unromantic thing you need in starting a life-long relationship is debt.