Planning a wedding is oh-so fun, up until you have to crunch the numbers and count down your guest list. Maybe you have a ton of funds you can allocate toward your wedding, or maybe you want to spend less on your wedding day and more on your honeymoon. Either way, when planning Omaha weddings, you’ll need to create a budget. Here are five steps to help you create a budget for your wedding!
Figure out who’s contributing & count your cash
You’ll first need to figure out if it’s just you and your fiancé paying for your wedding, or if either of your parents or family members are going to help out. This can help you set an overall budget for your wedding. Talk about who is going to pay for what part, and count your cash. The three sources of income for weddings are from you and your fiancé’s savings, your and your fiancé’s current income and anything else your parents or family members are contributing.
Determine your guest list
Once you have your budget set, you can figure out who to invite. You’ll need to determine what type of wedding you want, whether you want a smaller ceremony and a larger reception, or if you want a large outdoor wedding and a large indoor ceremony. Some couples want everyone to be there to help celebrate, and others will limit the number of guests to save money. The number of guests determines the size, but also how much money you spend on vendors to accommodate that number of people.
Discuss your nonnegotiables
Is an open bar a must? Do you prefer to allocate more funds toward a fancy meal? Is there a specific band you want to play that’s going to cost a bit more? These are questions you need to ask and answer. Figure out what you must have at your wedding and budget for those things first. You can also discuss what’s not so important, and spend less money on that aspect. Some brides want an expensive wedding dress, and others will choose to find a cheaper dress so other parts of their wedding can be extravagant.
Do your research on each vendor
There are lots of costs associated with weddings. The dress, tuxedos, photographer, florist, baker, chef, bartender, stationary, venue, rehearsal dinner, rings, transportation, party favors, honeymoon and some couples hire a wedding planner. Do your research and educate yourself on both the obvious and hidden costs, and be prepared for any surprises. Know that weekend weddings tend to cost more than weekday weddings, and certain months are going to be more expensive to rent a venue than others.
Keep track of your spending & find ways to save
We recommend creating a spreadsheet to keep track of the cost of each aspect of your wedding. Google Sheets is a great resource. You’ll need to be realistic so that you don’t go into debt planning the wedding of your dreams. Financial experts say to not charge anything to a credit card that you cannot pay off in 30 days. Ways you can save include editing the guest list, changing the venue, choosing an unpopular day, hosting the ceremony and reception at the same place, not choosing a live band, doing invitations yourself and using fewer vendors.
Book your Omaha weddings at The Club at Indian Creek
The Club at Indian Creek can host your wedding ceremony both outdoors and indoors, and along with our indoor reception space comes a gorgeous veranda overlooking our 27-hole golf course. We would love to host your Omaha weddings! We offer a full spectrum of services that can be tailored to perfect your wedding. Contact us today to discuss your wedding!
Comments