Wedding Budgets.... a tough thing to figure and stay within? Not at all. Find out what you actually have available to spend, and then portion it.
First: Talk with your parents, grandparents, your fiance, and find out how much you have to spend. Then subtract $2,000 for "last minute" changes/essentials that you forgot. You're probably thinking... what? Those last minute "gotta have" nylons, or late decision to have a pedi and mani cure, a thank you massage for your mom, a bouquet of flowers that the fiance' have delivered to you to the salon the morning of the wedding, extra bevererages at the reception, gassing up the car for the wedding night.... etc.... Don't plan without knowing who is chipping in how much for this exciting event.
Second: You and your fiance need to communicate what is most important to you both (it's your wedding.... not GreatAunt Elle's.)
The average for a Copper Country wedding costs somewhere between $15,000 and $27,000 for 100 - 150 guests.
Average percentages for a wedding budget:
Third: Now that you know where the money is coming from and what is the most important items to you both, you can build the budget. For some, the ceremony is the most important part of the day. Emphasis should be on the flowers and musicians. For others, the dress and photographer are more important.
Remember, that just because something is the national average, does not mean that it is the right amount for you - you need to decide this for yourself. Take your top two or three items that are important and merit them a slightly higher percentage. For every percentage point you raise, you will need to lower something else by the same amount. In the end, your percentages should add up to 100 percent.
You must also keep in mind that the national averages do not take into account:
Honeymoon
Marriage License
Soloists/Musicians
Dress Alterations
Favors
for the Wedding Party
Jewelry
Stamps for Invitations and Thank You Notes
Hair/Nail Appointment
Dry Cleaning of Wedding Gown and/or Preservation
Fourth: Find out what costs are not negotiable such as the marrage license. The church, museum, or park that you are hosting the wedding/reception at is sometimes negotiable by choosing a different date or location. If you have to change your percentage here, you'll have to change it elsewhere to keep that 100 pecent.
Fifth: Be honest with your professionals. Don't take their time looking at $6,000 wedding dresses when you know that you have only budgetted $2,000. Before you book hair styling for the wedding party, decide if you can afford it or if the wedding party has the option to pay/go someplace else that they prefer/can afford. If you have a $250 budget for your wedding party of 8, ask your professional florist how to best to stay within the budget. They can offer "substituting" other flowers that look like or are the same color as, what you want if you need to trim the budget. Friends may be able to dj all or half of the reception if you need to adjust that portion. Rehearsal dinner can be a simple as hosting a party in the family backyard or local park. Think about your wedding party when you ask them to pay for the dresses, tuxes, etc. Can they afford it? Would it be more affordable if they had dresses that they could later alter to wear to other occasions or tuxes that are suits that they could wear at another location? Think outside the box.
This is a good start for planning your wedding.... ask family, friends, and other vendors who/what they'd recommend for ideas for your wedding. However, in the end, make it YOUR special day!
Give us a call and let us help you stay within your budget for wedding flowers!
Jen
Kukkakauppa Flower Shop
906-482-2060
Second: You and your fiance need to communicate what is most important to you both (it's your wedding.... not GreatAunt Elle's.)Average percentages for a wedding budget:
- Wedding and Engagement Rings (15%)
- Wedding Dress and Veil (5%)
- Reception (Site and Catering) (35%)
- Photographer/Videographer (10%)
- DJ/Band/Entertainment (4%)
- Invitations/Stationery (4%)
- Flowers (10%)
- Cake (3%)
- Wedding Party Gifts (2%)
- Rehearsal Dinner (2%)
- Officiant/Ceremony Fees (1%)
- Decorations (3%)
- Limo/Bus/Car (2%)
- Tuexedos (1%)
- Pre-Wedding Parties (3%)
Remember, that just because something is the national average, does not mean that it is the right amount for you - you need to decide this for yourself. Take your top two or three items that are important and merit them a slightly higher percentage. For every percentage point you raise, you will need to lower something else by the same amount. In the end, your percentages should add up to 100 percent.
You must also keep in mind that the national averages do not take into account:
Fourth: Find out what costs are not negotiable such as the marrage license. The church, museum, or park that you are hosting the wedding/reception at is sometimes negotiable by choosing a different date or location. If you have to change your percentage here, you'll have to change it elsewhere to keep that 100 pecent.
Fifth: Be honest with your professionals. Don't take their time looking at $6,000 wedding dresses when you know that you have only budgetted $2,000. Before you book hair styling for the wedding party, decide if you can afford it or if the wedding party has the option to pay/go someplace else that they prefer/can afford. If you have a $250 budget for your wedding party of 8, ask your professional florist how to best to stay within the budget. They can offer "substituting" other flowers that look like or are the same color as, what you want if you need to trim the budget. Friends may be able to dj all or half of the reception if you need to adjust that portion. Rehearsal dinner can be a simple as hosting a party in the family backyard or local park. Think about your wedding party when you ask them to pay for the dresses, tuxes, etc. Can they afford it? Would it be more affordable if they had dresses that they could later alter to wear to other occasions or tuxes that are suits that they could wear at another location? Think outside the box.This is a good start for planning your wedding.... ask family, friends, and other vendors who/what they'd recommend for ideas for your wedding. However, in the end, make it YOUR special day!
Give us a call and let us help you stay within your budget for wedding flowers!
Jen
Kukkakauppa Flower Shop
906-482-2060
