I see the question all the time — “We just got engaged! But we have no idea where to start with planning our wedding. Give me all the tips for budgeting, finding vendors, etc.”
A lot of newly engaged couples get really overwhelmed trying to figure out what to tackle first when it comes to planning their wedding. How much should you plan on spending for your wedding? Which wedding vendors should you book first? When should each of these things get done?
All of these questions are valid and definitely worth considering as you plan your wedding! That’s why I’ve put together this list of helpful tips for how to budget for a wedding — from a wedding photographer’s perspective!
Pick your wedding date and set your budget
It’s so easy to get stressed out with all the things now on your plate, but let’s start small!
The first thing you’re going to want to do is to set your wedding date. If you have any dream vendors you want to double check availability with before settling on a date, reach out to them! But you will definitely want to have this key piece of information settled before booking your vendors.
Next, set your total budget for your wedding! Average wedding costs vary by the size of the wedding, location, season, and what it is you want at your wedding, so do some research to determine your total budget for your wedding. For example, a small mountain elopement will have a much different budget than a 200-guest wedding in a mansion wedding venue. Don’t forget to set realistic expectations!
Make a list of your top 2-3 must-have vendors and book them first
It’s so important to make a list of your top 2-3 must-have wedding vendors! These are the vendors you absolutely want to have for your wedding, so these are the ones you will want to reach out to first! Often, these vendors are going to be your venue, photographer, and videographer. But if there is a florist or hair and makeup artist you absolutely want to work with, make sure they are on the list! I strongly suggest limiting this list to 3 vendors, however tempting it might be to add more.
Once you have this list put together, these are the wedding vendors you are going to reach out to first! This is because you want to have the most available budget possible to work with when booking these vendors. For example, you don’t want to spend too much on florals first and not have enough budget left for your dream venue!
I suggest reaching out to these vendors as soon as you have your date picked out. You don’t want to risk them being booked out already, and these vendors often book up fast and far in advance. So don’t wait to reach out to your must-have vendors!
Once your must-have vendors are booked, start booking the rest of your wedding vendors
Now that you’ve secured your dream vendors, you can use whatever is left in your budget to book the rest of your wedding vendors! It’s much easier to find and work with other vendors to bring your wedding to life.
These vendors could include catering, florals, hair and makeup, decor, dj, favors, and more. It can be helpful to gather quotes from these vendors to decide how to split up the remainder of your budget.
Ask the vendors you’ve booked for their vendor recommendations
As a wedding photographer, I’ve gotten to know many other vendors in the wedding industry, and I always love sharing these incredible vendors with my couples! Because I’ve had the opportunity to work with them, I can assure my couples that the vendors I’m recommending do excellent work, both in person and through the photos I take. I also love recommending great videographers who I love working with.
Photographers aren’t the only ones with excellent recommendations to make! Venues often have a list of vendors they love working with, as do hair and makeup artists, florists, etc. Don’t be afraid to ask your vendors who they recommend for your wedding!
Keep track of your spending
Keep a detailed log of your spending to avoid going over budget! Regularly check in with your fiancé (and anyone else who is helping to fund the wedding) to go over the current spending, and to stay on the same page about where you would like to allocate the rest of the budget. I suggest checking in at least once a month as you plan your wedding.
Sometimes, hidden or unexpected costs can come up, so this is a great opportunity to go over that together as well. If unexpected wedding costs do come up, take this time to discuss any needed adjustments to the budget. Don’t forget to be realistic!
BONUS TIP: Book a photographer that includes Engagement Sessions in their wedding packages
This is a great way to save money! Rather than booking a photographer for your Engagements, then booking another photographer for the wedding, find a photographer that includes an Engagement Session in their wedding packages.
Not only does this help you save money, but it also lets you get to know your photographer and get comfortable with them before the big day. I cannot stress this enough: nothing makes your photos more beautiful than when you already feel super comfortable with your photographer and in front of their camera — especially considering you’ll be spending all day with them at the wedding!
Vendors to consider booking as you plan your wedding
Of course, it’s totally up to you and your vision for your wedding when it comes to what vendors you want to book! But I know it’s easy to become overwhelmed and forget some essential vendors as you’re planning your wedding, so here is a quick list of wedding vendors to consider:
- Venue (and Reception Venue if different than Ceremony location)
- Photography
- Videography
- Officiant
- Wedding planner
- Hair and Makeup Artists
- Florals
- Decor
- Wedding Cake
- Wedding dress
- Wedding suit
- Ceremony Music
- Marriage License
- Catering
- Table rentals, flatware, stemware, linens, etc
- Bartending
- Band
- DJ
- Stationery (including engagement announcements, save the dates, invitations and RSVP cards, ceremony programs, table number signs, thank you cards, postage, etc.)
- Wedding rings
- Alterations
- Accessories
- Bridesmaid/Groomsman attire
- Lighting
- Favors
- Gifts for the wedding party
- Refreshments
- Transportation
- Honeymoon
There are many wedding sites that give you suggestions on how to split up your money for your wedding. These are great places to start, but please remember — every wedding is unique, and budget suggestions are not a one-size-fits-all solution. Your wedding priorities might be completely different than what you see suggested on these sites, which is why you made a list of your the top 2-3 must-have vendors, to set your priorities for your budget. Use these sites as suggestions for your budget, but please ultimately do what makes you and your fiancé happy on your big day!
Some awesome sites to help give suggestions on how to break down your budget:
The Knot: What Your Wedding Budget Should Look Like, According to Data
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Some other tips for getting ready for your wedding day:
