marriage

What Canadian Couples Should Know About Credit

When a couple decides to marry, usually there’s an understanding they’ll be sharing things moving forward. This is true for couples in Canada and all over the world. Many newlyweds will share a last name, a primary address, several monthly expenses, and finances.

While these are all important elements in a marriage, finances can be very complicated. Sharing finances should lead to conversations about income, assets, debts, bank accounts, and credit histories, among others. Here’s what engaged and seriously dating couples should know about credit.

What Is Credit?

Generally, the term “credit” refers to a person’s creditworthiness or history as a borrower. This record is often expressed as a number or code, typically called a credit score. This score is based on your debt history and provides insight to lenders on the likelihood of you repaying debt on time. Credit scores not only impact your ability to secure loans or credit cards, but they can also affect employment opportunities sometimes.

What Does a Score Say?

In Canada, an individual’s credit rating is alphanumeric. A number ranging from 1 to 9 indicates your payment track record. A “1” means the person always pays their bills within 30 days of the due date. A “9” means the person never pays their bills. A “0” means the person has no credit history. Letters indicate the type of debt a borrower has:

  • I – This is an installment loan where the borrower makes fixed payments on a regular schedule until an established date. Think of a mortgage or a loan for college.
  • O – This is an open credit account where a balance must be repaid in full after a certain period. Certain charge cards (as opposed to credit cards) work this way.
  • R – This refers to revolving credit, such as credit cards, where the balance and repayment vary.

The type of debt you incur also matters to anyone reviewing your history as a borrower.

Do Married Couples Share Scores?

When two become one in marriage, their histories (and scores) do not merge. Your history is your own, and the same is true for your partner. Should you choose to open an account together or secure a loan together, lenders will review both histories. That shared account will also show up on both of your records. It’s important to discuss current debt and attitudes toward borrowing in advance.

Does Bad Credit Impact My Partner?

The good news is that having a spouse with bad credit doesn’t lower yours by marriage or association. Getting married doesn’t do anything for or against your rating. Joint debt will show up on both reports. Potential lenders will review both your and your partner’s histories if you’re applying for a loan together. If you add your partner as an authorized user to one or more accounts (or vice versa), those accounts will be a part of both histories.

Do Name Changes Impact My Score?

Taking on your spouse’s last name, hyphenating names, or choosing a new name doesn’t impact your score. It doesn’t reset your borrower history. You can initiate a name change with credit reporting bureaus by formally contacting them. Your reports may also update as you register a name change with existing accounts. 

What About Disputes?

If a report shows inaccurate information, you can formally dispute it with credit reporting bureaus. This is true for individual debt and shared debt. Because your and your partner’s credit records are separate, clearing up a dispute on shared debt does not automatically clear it for both you and your partner.

Finances are a complex subject for dating, engaged, and married couples. It’s important to be up on all the facts before you and your significant other decide to make joint purchases and take on debt. Your individual credit histories can’t automatically impact your shared financial future, but they may provide critical insights sooner than later.

Throw a Surprise Engagement Party

Engagement parties have long been a tradition that couples indulge in before getting married. However, younger Canadians have been putting a unique spin on this custom in recent years by throwing surprise engagement parties. This can be a great way to delight the happy couple and show them how much their connection means to their family and friends. Still, you need to go about the process in the right manner for it to work. Review this guide and gain more perspective on how to properly throw a surprise engagement party.

Ask the Right Preliminary Questions

Before you do anything else, you need to ask yourself a handful of questions about the couple. Namely, you must consider whether or not they will appreciate being surprised. Some people absolutely hate surprises, especially individuals who like to have a lot of control over their lives. If the couple likes to meticulously plan every detail of their routine without change, then you may want to nix the idea of surprising them. You should also consider whether the guests can keep a secret. If you’re working with people who love to gossip, you may want to consider other options.

Create the Guest-list For The Engagement Party

Next, you need to figure out who will be invited to the party. This can be a tricky step, especially if you don’t know all the people the couple would want present at the event. Since you cannot ask the couple without giving away the secret, you must work with other friends and family members to put together a succinct list. You must be very careful with who you invite, as custom dictates people who are invited to the engagement party must also be invited to the wedding. Be thorough to avoid any awkward situations for the couple. 

Pick a Place

One of the more challenging aspects of planning a surprise engagement party is selecting a location. Opting for a venue like a restaurant can make it easier to figure out food and drink concerns, but it also can be more expensive and limit how many guests you can invite. The popular alternative younger Canadians have been taking advantage of in recent years is hosting the party at someone’s home. This can help to create a relaxed and welcoming environment for everyone. If you decide to use a venue, be sure to book the space at least three months in advance.

Plan Activities At Your Engagement Party

To make the event more personal, you may wish to include a variety of activities. Specifically, it can be a good idea to plan games that are centered around the couple and their relationship. For example, you can create a list of questions about the couple and have all of the guests answer them to the best of their abilities. When the answers are read aloud, it can make for a fun and hilarious experience as the couple learns who knows the most about them. Look at sites like Pinterest for more inspiration on party games. 

Figure Out the Final Plan

Once you have all of the details figured out, you must create a plan for the day of the party. How are you going to get the couple to the venue without giving away the secret? Will someone be in charge of spending time with the couple beforehand so that they make it to the venue in a timely manner? You may also want to consider having guests park their vehicles away from the venue where the party is being held. This will help to keep the party a total surprise until the last possible moment. 

Throw a Wonderful Engagement Party

While surprise engagement parties have become a popular trend among younger Canadians, a lot of work goes into planning such events. As long as you’re prepared to handle all the details, a surprise party can be a wonderful way to celebrate a special couple.

Handling Wedding Guests Who Don’t RSVP

Guests who don’t RSVP are the bane of hosts of all kinds of parties, not just wedding receptions. Some experts estimate that up to 20% of wedding guests will RSVP no, while another 60% will RSVP yes. That leaves 20% who won’t respond at all. The reason a guest doesn’t respond isn’t important. Dealing with those non-responders is. Expect to have to call some people on your guest list to find out whether they’re attending or not. Have a plan to minimize your frustration.

Include a Grace Period

Your caterer needs a head count by a certain date. Move your RSVP deadline up about two weeks from that day. This gives you some time to track down those guests who didn’t RSVP. Put some time in your own schedule to handle the situation. You know you’re going to need to deal with non-responsive guests. Planning for it can give you breathing room.

Send Contact Reminders

About a week before the RSVP deadline, send out a reminder by email or text. This gives those folks with good intentions a chance to respond. You should get a few more responses before the deadline. It’s easy to lose track of time and forget to RSVP. Make it as easy as possible to RSVP, either through your wedding website or by responding to the reminder.

Take a Breath

As the deadline gets closer, it’s easy to feel frustrated. Weddings are serious business. Before you start pestering non-responsive guests, shake off those feelings of irritation. Yes, you’re busy and shouldn’t have to track down those guests to get the answers you need. However, your wedding day doesn’t need to be clouded by resentment by you or your guests. Your guests may have busy lives that don’t revolve around your wedding. You don’t know what they’re dealing with. Take a breath and relax.

Make Contact

You and your partner know your guests who haven’t responded. Decide how to make contact with each person on the list. Get help from your wedding party if your list is long. Start by connecting with those who have not responded. If your previous text or email went unanswered, find another way to reach out. Leave a voicemail or meet in person. This is not the time to use a group email or text. Reach out to each guest individually. Emphasize that you’re trying to get a head count for the venue or caterer.

Be Gracious

Instead of yelling at your guests who haven’t responded, take another approach. Guests who don’t respond may be dealing with more than you realize or are embarrassed for not sending in their RSVP. Start by asking if they received your invitation. If they haven’t received it, they don’t even know about the deadline. You want to be able to deal with that situation without making them feel bad.

If they have received the invitation, gently remind them of the RSVP deadline and ask about their intentions. If someone is hesitant, give them a way to bow out. There’s no need to make them feel any worse. You just need a response.

If you have to leave a voicemail, give them another 48 hours to respond. You can say that if you don’t hear from them, you’ll assume they aren’t coming. If you simply can’t get a hold of someone, it’s a pretty good assumption that they won’t attend. Should they respond later, you may just have to be firm in telling them that you won’t have food for them. Maybe they can still attend, depending on the headcount for the venue. Be prepared to handle those situations on an individual basis. Don’t stress too much over non-responsive guests.

Six Don’ts For A Honeymoon

For Canadian couples who have decided to tie the knot, the marriage ceremony is one of the most important life events. It requires careful consideration, planning, and preparation, from the day of engagement all the way to the end of the reception. Many couples also anticipate kicking off this new phase of life with a honeymoon. Similar to your wedding, your honeymoon also requires careful planning. You want to start your marriage off on a high note. Here are six things you should not do on your special getaway.

1. Going Without a Plan

Whether you envision lying on a beach somewhere in the sun or taking in the bright lights of a destination city, you need to have a plan. What do you hope to accomplish on your honeymoon? This vacation is a celebration of your union, so it’s important to schedule memorable and romantic activities to make the trip special. Planning your itinerary to the letter is going too far in the other direction, but it’s important to make time for the essential things.

2. Not Having a Budget

One of the worst experiences is going on a trip and learning that you don’t have enough money to do the things you want to do. Discovering you’ve under-budgeted for your honeymoon is quite the drag. Instead of enjoying the time together, you’ll be preoccupied with how much things cost. You shouldn’t blow your finances on a single vacation, so it’s important to choose an experience that’s appropriate for your planned budget. If you can’t afford to splurge now, enjoy a modest vacation and save your funds for a future anniversary.

3. Ignoring Rules, Regulations, and Advisories

Can you imagine arriving at a coastal destination in the middle of a hurricane? It’s unwise to book a trip without researching information about the place. There could be civil unrest that makes the desired destination an unsafe place to travel. Some countries require visitors to get certain vaccines or meet other requirements before traveling. Ignorance is not bliss when it comes to planning a vacation. Nothing ruins a honeymoon like being unable to travel.

4. Overpacking On A Honeymoon

The last thing you or your spouse will want to do is struggle with too much luggage or bags that are stuffed with things you don’t need. Think carefully about your destination. Will you really need an evening outfit every night? Maybe you can do laundry at the resort or vacation home you’ll be staying at. What if you want to bring back souvenirs? There are weight restrictions for luggage on most airlines. Limit your bags to the essentials. Your body will appreciate it. 

5. Oversharing Your Honeymoon on Social Media

Some things have to be seen (and shared) to be believed. That breathtaking sunset or main course at a Michelin star restaurant may be Instagram-worthy, but don’t spend all your time sharing every minute of your trip. Remember to be in the moment with your new spouse. You don’t want to miss what’s happening in front of you and between you because you’re posting updates to friends and followers.

6. Not Respecting the Locals and Their Culture

Wherever you go, remember to respect the locals and their customs. Even in locations that thrive on tourism, be mindful of how your actions can inadvertently affect others. What might be acceptable at home in Canada may not be so in other countries. Know before you go.

Your wedding will be one of life’s most important events. A honeymoon that’s every bit as magical as your marriage ceremony is the perfect start to life with the one you love. Keep these tips in mind as you make your plans.

Benefits of Premarital Counseling

When you’re getting ready to share the rest of your life with a new spouse, you’re probably focused on plans associated with the wedding and surrounding events, such as a reception or rehearsal dinner. You’re probably also looking forward to the details associated with starting a new life together, such as moving in together, buying a home or opening joint accounts. With all the preparation that goes into a new marriage, it’s important to think about life with a new spouse after the honeymoon is over. Premarital counseling is a worthwhile investment, offering these potential benefits to you, your spouse-to-be and your union.

Communicating More Effectively

Communication is a critical component of any successful relationship, especially a marriage. A lack of communication or poor dialoguing can lead to or reveal cracks in any union. You and your partner may think that you have productive conversations, but an independent observation from a therapist or counselor can alert both of you to potential issues. For example, you may be great at articulating your point of view, but not so much when it comes to hearing what your spouse is really saying. Premarital therapy can help both of you work on your skills, boosting not only the effectiveness of your conversations but conflict resolution as well.

Bridging Differences With Counseling

Despite what you might see or hear in media and entertainment, there’s no one set rule when it comes to opposites attracting. Even if you and your partner have several commonalities in background and values, the two of you will also have differences in perspective, approaches and other opinions that can be the source of marital issues. For instance, the two of you may actually have very different ideas of what life together may look like. Your idea of quality time might be enjoying a movie at home, while your spouse may prefer a date night at a nice restaurant. Small differences can develop into irreconcilable ones without the objective microscope of premarital counseling.

Counseling Together and Building Together

Whether your wedding vows explicitly mention “forsaking all others” or not, the reality is that the two of you are definitely a team. While your opposition isn’t necessarily other people, recognize that your marriage will face challenges, big and small. Remember that you committed to each other and that as a team, you can overcome anything. Pre-marriage counseling for couples can be effective at helping the two of you meet small, early challenges, making you stronger for more difficult trials later in life. No successful athletic team can win without teamwork, and this is also true for married couples.

Understanding Needs

As a couple, you each have individual needs for communication, validation and how you give and receive love. It’s important that each of you understands the other’s needs when it comes to these aspects of life together. When you’re frustrated about something, your partner may think that you need solutions, when in reality, you just need someone to listen. When your companion is upset, you may not hear directly, but you may recognize behavioral patterns. Premarital therapy gives you and your spouse-to-be the opportunity to talk openly and freely about your needs, how you communicate and how you respond to conflicts and expressions of love. Sometimes there are things that you don’t see or notice, and an objective outsider can bring this to your attention in a way that is free of judgment.

There’s a lot to look forward to when marrying the love of your life. It’s a wonderful feeling to anticipate the good times during the wedding ceremony and the honeymoon; however, there will also be external and internal challenges that you will face as a couple. Premarital counseling is a great opportunity to discuss hopes, fears and issues in an environment that is open and objective.

Keeping the Right Mindset as You Plan Your Wedding

Wedding blues got you down and in a negative mindset? You’re not alone. Research collected over the years suggests that planning a big event like a wedding can take a toll on a person’s mental state. From stress to anxiety to the desire to make it all go a specific way, you may find yourself overwhelmed by negative feelings during a time that is supposed to be happy. While it might be difficult to deal with, there’s a lot to be said for adopting the right mindset. Use these tips to stay positive and see what a difference it can make. 

Be Realistic

Perhaps the best bit of advice you’ll receive while planning a wedding is to keep your goals realistic. While it might be exciting to try and plan an event that is as lavish as your dreams allow, you definitely will benefit from being practical about your expectations. For example, you can only control so much. If you want the day to go according to some script in your mind, then you are setting yourself up for disappointment. You need to accept that your wedding is only in your hands up until a certain point. 

Slough It Off

An unforeseen problem like the news of bad weather on the day of your wedding or poor attitudes from some of your guests might cause internal conflict. However, you are never going to benefit from internalizing the frustrations put on you by others. Instead, learn to shake off whatever it is that is causing you momentary distress. Sure, it might be annoying to deal with rain on your big day, but are you going to let a little bit of water spoil all that you’ve put into the plan?

Some things will be easier to slough off than others. When you’re dealing with a problematic family member who wants to add his or her two cents to every decision you make, you may not be able to shrug it off with the same ease. For scenarios like this, try and work out a solution that will keep the effort you put in to a minimum while still helping you feel better about the situation. 

Try To Smile

Did you know that smiling can actually help you feel better when you’re in a negative mood? When you smile, it activates the part of your brain that produces the hormones related to happy feelings. Though you may not be feeling your best, try smiling for a little while. As time passes, you will start to notice that your own mood has been improved somewhat. Your emotions are in your control to a degree, though it might not always feel that way.

The smaller irritations in life have a way of seeming less significant when you maintain the right attitude. While this action should never be a substitute for actually dealing with significant problems or bad thoughts, smiling through the small stuff that appears can do wonders for how you feel overall.

Confront Bad Thoughts and Keep a Good Mindset

Plenty of people give in when confronted with negative thoughts. Instead of challenging an idea, they will allow it to overcome them and dictate their decisions. If you’re stressed from planning a wedding, you may find yourself snapping at friends or acting out of character. This is likely due to the fact that you are not addressing your real thoughts or feelings about a specific situation. When confronted with negative thoughts, be sure not to push them away. 

Keeping the right mindset can do wonders for your ability to feel your best when planning your wedding. Develop a strategy that you can repeat whenever you feel stressed and see how it changes your attitude overall.

Limitations Of a Canada-United States Border Wedding

Thinking of hosting a wedding on the US/Canada border, well there may be some limitations to consider. In the middle of a global pandemic, it’s quite common for travel restrictions and changing governmental mandates to put a wrench in your plans. This is certainly true for wedding arrangements and even more so for plans that involve international travel. Whereas many couples have opted to go virtual for their nuptials, at least one couple has gone the distance of getting married on the Canada-United States border. With the border closed for non-essential travel, here’s what you should know about saying “I do” where the Great White North and the States meet.

Checking Your Reasons

Before you start making plans, you and your partner should decide if an in-person ceremony is what you really want to do. You also need to consider your motivations for doing so. Couple Karen Mahoney and Brian Ray decided to marry at the border because she really wanted her Canadian parents and her 96-year-old grandmother, her only living grandparent, to witness her nuptials in person. According to Mahoney, arrangements could’ve been made for air travel, but she thought the health risks, especially for her near-centenarian grandmother, were too great. Your wedding day is a high priority for you, your spouse-to-be and loved ones. The decision to not go virtual should be clear and carefully considered.

Remove Limitations and Get Permission

Securing a venue beforehand is a key requirement for any event. For a border wedding, you’ll need to make sure that you have permission to gather on both the Canadian and American sides. The Canadian-US border is over 5,500 miles and stands as the longest international border on the planet. There are many places where your union can possibly be solemnized, including Canada’s edge with the state of Alaska to the west. Some places are separated with fencing, while others are open and may or may not have markers. If you’re considering this type of ceremony, you’ll need to find out which places are public, private and willing to accommodate weddings.

The Peace Arch Park is an international park made up of the Canadian Peace Arch Provincial Park and the American Peace Arch Historical State Park. As such, the overall park straddles the border where Highway 99 in British Columbia and Interstate 5 in Washington state meet. This area was a very popular place for bi-national couples to get married, either with a ceremony on one side or two ceremonies, one on each side. Since the pandemic, the Canadian side has been closed but the American side has reportedly allowed Canadian visitors.

Understanding Limitations

You can best prepare for a border event by understanding your limitations. While you might be able to exchange vows nearly everywhere, you should prepare for the possibility that loved ones may only be able to watch. You may not be able to hug some family members and friends. Having a reception and breaking bread may not be allowed. For a successful ceremony, everyone must be clear about the boundaries, literally.

Prioritizing the Essentials

The typical marriage ceremony involves all the frills and features that the couple or their supporters are able to pay for. Recognize that with a border event, you’ll need to figure out the true essentials and make sure those are covered. For example, most marriage laws require the presence of an authorized officiant, two adult witnesses and a formal declaration of intent to marry. Regardless of your setup, make sure that these particular details are taken care of. Other traditional elements such as a ring bearer or flower girl or a fabulous white bridal gown should probably be reconsidered.

While there may be over 1000 ways to have a wedding, your options are significantly reduced in a pandemic. Virtual ceremonies are a go-to for many, but a ceremony at Canada’s border with the United States may be an option for bi-national couples. The good news is that it can be done, but extra planning and preparation are a must.

Do You Need a Wedding Planner Anymore?

There are many benefits to hiring a planner but are they worth it now? Planning a wedding in the digital age is a very different process than what it used to be. Since there are countless websites and online resources available to couples these days, many assume that there is no need to hire an official wedding planner. However, think about this decision before jumping to conclusions. There are still plenty of solid reasons you might want to bring a professional in to assist you with putting together your big day. Look over these points to gain some perspective on your options. 

To Lower Your Stress Levels

Though it might not be as stressful for everyone, putting together a wedding has a way of making a person feel tense. From selecting vendors to narrowing a guest list to creating a theme for the event, it doesn’t take much to feel overwhelmed when you glance at your to-do list. One of the biggest reasons to consider hiring a planner is to keep your stress levels as low as possible. The last thing you want is to burn yourself out emotionally in the days leading up to your nuptials. 

One of the main goals of any planner you meet is to make life easy on you. The less you have to worry about, the happier the professional you hire will be.

Remember All the Details

With dozens of websites offering couples free tools and resources related to wedding planning, it can seem like your work is all cut out for you in advance. Unfortunately, there are endless details that get overlooked by couples during the planning phase. From budgeting mistakes to forgetting about minor-yet-crucial details, a main reason to hire a planner is to remember each and every point associated with planning the event. Your planner has the experience and knowledge to cover all concerns that come along.

Save Money by Spending Money

On the surface, it can seem as if hiring a planner is an expense you can’t afford to take on. In truth, it is often a service you can’t afford to miss. While you are paying a bit for the service itself, an exceptional planner is one who guides you along the most cost-effective option for your budget. In order to help you maximize your budget, your planner will provide you with cuts you can make, alternatives to expensive services, and insight on essentially any financial snag you might hit along the way.

Act as a Point of Contact

Another interesting advantage that comes with hiring a planner is that you’re given a single point of contact for almost every decision you need to make. Whether you have questions about your floral arrangements or need to see if the caterer can accommodate a vegan option, your planner is who you will turn to for any decisions that must be made. Instead of keeping track of dozens of phone numbers and contracts, your planner will be akin to a comprehensive resource you can use for whatever issues you may encounter.

Receive Some Surprise Discounts

While you shouldn’t expect a discount, working with a planner usually helps couples get better deals with vendors. This is largely due to the fact that planners create relationships with other business owners in the wedding industry. Since they are bringing more clients through their doors, vendors will often return the favor to planners by giving some exclusive or enticing offers along the way.

The internet can sometimes make it seem like it is totally possible to take on any challenge in life without outside help. Though this might be true to a certain degree, it is far from a universal truth. If you want to make the most of your big day and see results you can take pride in, look at what hiring a wedding planner can do to help you along.

It’s a Lovely Day for a Microwedding!

A global pandemic has turned life upside down for couples wanting to solemnize their union around family and friends. Social distancing mandates and travel restrictions have impacted the ability to gather in large groups for special occasions. Microweddings have emerged as a popular option for couples looking to celebrate with a reduced guest list, usually 50 participants or fewer. Some people are discovering that they are a great option even as places are opening back up and removing restrictions. Explore all things related to this ceremony type and hear how it might be the perfect way to say “I do.”

What Is a Microwedding?

As the name suggests, a microwedding is a wedding ceremony that’s on a much smaller scale. Ceremonies of this type usually have no more than 50 guests, which are limited to the closest of friends and family members. They’re distinct from elopements, which are usually of a sudden and somewhat secretive nature, involving the couple, an officiant, witnesses, and not much more. It’s also not the same as a “minimony.” A portmanteau of “mini” and “ceremony,” a minimony is a very small gathering of 10 or fewer that solemnizes the union with the understanding that there will be a sequel event at a later date that resembles a traditional celebration. Think of a microwedding as the halfway point between a typical marriage celebration and an elopement. 

What’s the Point?

Although microweddings present an opportunity for couples to tie the knot during restrictions on public gatherings, they’re not just about a limited guest list. Many spouses-to-be use them as a chance to focus more on the details, resulting in a heightened experience for each guest. Imagine having a wedding reception where guests enjoy a multi-course meal with wine pairings, prepared and curated respectively by a top chef and a sommelier. That would be more feasible and affordable for a guest list of 50 or fewer, as opposed to several hundred guests. A microwedding may be less expensive overall, but significantly more expensive on a cost-per-guest basis. 

Can My Microwedding Be Special?

Focusing on celebrating with a smaller group is more than just having an expensive menu. Some couples are going big when it comes to the details. From destination weddings to splurging on staples such as a high-fashion gown or over-the-top cake, celebrants are taking the opportunity to realize fairytale ceremonies with microweddings. A smaller guest list allows the happy couple to spend money on transportation and lodging for cherished guests. You’re free to think outside the box when it comes to your big day. Instead of a typical wedding followed by a reception, you could do something different like a ski trip that combines the ceremony and the honeymoon. You could say “I do” in sexy swimwear on a beach somewhere sunny and relaxing.

What Are Some Other Perks of Microweddings?

Microweddings offer flexibility when it comes to other details of the big day. Consider these ideas for your nuptials:

  • Alternate venues: A smaller guest list means that your wedding and reception can be held in other venues, such as museums, breweries, or other places of interest. Many of these venues can accommodate smaller parties, pandemic or no pandemic.
  • Ceremony broadcasting: You can video or film your event and post it online on social media or a wedding website for many more people to see, which is a great way to include others who aren’t as close to you or your partner.
  • Focusing on the few: There’s a lot going on, and it’s hard to see and spend time with everyone who has been invited. At a microwedding, you can spend more meaningful time with the few.

For Canadians who are ready to make things official, microweddings are here to stay. You and your spouse-to-be can spend your resources on accommodating a few over the many. This can eliminate a lot of the stress that comes with typical weddings.

Don’t Make These Common Mistakes With Your Wedding Budget

Everyone knows that planning a wedding costs a good chunk of change. However, plenty of couples struggle when it comes to figuring out how to best use their budgets. Though there are plenty of obstacles you can expect to encounter, there are also just as many solutions. Review these common wedding mistakes and learn how you can maximize your budget throughout the entire planning process. 

No Budget Breakdown

Setting a budget is Wedding Planning 101. Still, you might not be creating a budget that accurately reflects your wedding expenses. First and foremost, you must figure out if anyone will be helping you pay for any of the costs. If you’re making assumptions that family members will be contributing to the expenses, you could be in for a very unfortunate awakening when the time comes to pay the bill. Reach out to anyone who offered to help, get an exact idea of how much those individuals can put forward, and create a realistic budget.

The breakdown of the budget should also include any and all fees. From the tips you give the catering staff to the gas your car needs to get to the venue on time, any amount you have to spend should be documented and accounted for in your budget. 

No Budget Tracking

Though it is far from easy, establishing a budget is actually the simplest part of the financial side of your wedding. What more couples seem to struggle with is tracking their spending. It doesn’t do you much good to know how much you can afford to spend on a service if you fail to remember how much you have already spent. If a particular vendor costs a bit more or less than you had initially accounted for, you absolutely want to make sure your budget reflects this change. 

Monitor your spending in whatever method works best for you. Some people find an app downloaded on a digital device is the perfect solution. Other couples use the traditional pen-and-paper tactic to have a physical budget they can refer to at all times. 

No Flexibility

No matter how much time you put into creating a budget, you never know what circumstances can arise and create drastic changes. Your vendors can only control so much when it comes to costs. In fact, many businesses will only provide general quotes on price at first. This is because there are all kinds of factors that can change what a service will cost. Though it can be frustrating to learn you need to spend more on a cake or bouquet, you will find that flexibility helps you get the most out of your budget. 

When you know how to roll with the punches, you stand to land better deals. Should a vendor alert you to a problem, having an amiable response to the news increases the odds the business will want to work with you to find the most cost-effective solution. 

No Free Services

Some vendors will allow for a free trial in order to show a couple what they can do. However, this is not always the case. In fact, many vendors have begun to charge potential clients for the trials because of the expenses related to conducting them. Before you attend a trial and assume that it won’t cost you anything, ask directly. Should you sit through a hair appointment and learn you now owe several hundred dollars, it can severely eat into your budget in a way that you didn’t anticipate. 

Budgeting for your wedding can be a major headache, but you can find relief by taking your time. Have a plan from the start that covers all major expenses and takes common mistakes into consideration and you are likely to see the best possible results.