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.
