Weddings are expensive, maybe the most costly investment you’ll ever make. A lot of memorable days make up a person’s life. But none of those days cost nearly as much as a wedding can. According to The Knot, the average wedding in the US costs $33,931.
Seeing as not everyone who gets married is a millionaire, you have to wonder where all the money is coming from. If you’re in the process of mastering your wedding budget, here is a breakdown of who pays for what during weddings.
Who pays for what in a wedding?
Traditionally, when it comes to the ceremony, the bride’s family pays for the church and all other costs involved there. They also cover the costs of photographers and videographers. The groom’s family pays for the marriage license and the fee of the officiant.
Regarding their attire, the bride’s family usually pays for the dress while the groom’s family pays for the groom’s outfit. Other attendants pay for their own clothing. The bride’s family pays for the groom’s ring and vice versa.
The bride’s family pays for all the floral arrangements for the ceremony and reception. They also pay for the bouquets and corsages of the bridesmaids and flower girls. The groom’s family takes care of the bride’s bouquet and the rest of the floral accessories.
The bride’s family also pays for the transportation of the wedding party from the ceremony to reception.
The bride’s family pays for the engagement party as a form of introduction for the groom into their circle. They are also responsible for sending out the invitations for both the engagement party and the actual wedding. Meanwhile, the groom’s family traditionally pays for rehearsal dinner.
The groom’s family also pays for the complete honeymoon. But you can still find ways to cut costs for your honeymoon by comparing various prices for destinations, hotels, and flights. Often rent a private jet cost is more affordable than you may think.
Remember that these are just traditions that you can follow or stray from. The actual breakdown and expenses assignment will all depend on your financial situation and the arrangements you have made. Whoever is paying for the wedding, keeping the cost down is your shared responsibility.
In the meantime, here are some wedding cost-saving tips to help you.
How to save cost when planning a wedding
— Determine a budget and stick to it
The first and most important thing to do is to determine a budget and make sure you stick to the budget. Figure out how much you want to spend on the wedding. Take into account how much you and your fiance make and how much you are willing to spend on a wedding. Base it on how much you can realistically raise given the amount of time you have.
If your families will like to help out, try to find out how much they are willing to cover or which parts of the wedding they are willing to pay for and factor that in your budgeting process.
Also, you can approach wedding planning companies such as ParadiseWeddings.com, and with this, avoid extra expenses that you will make if you plan your wedding alone. Paradise Weddings is a great wedding planning company that has designed more than 100 wedding ceremonies, and each of them was better than the previous one. Thus, you will never regret it if you approach them
You can also consider taking out personal loans to finance the wedding. But doing this doesn’t mean you should take on more debts than you can pay back. Consider your income and the loan rates to determine the type of loan you can afford to take. This is so that you don’t find yourself in debt for years after the wedding.
Doing this will help you to make the right budget for your wedding. And once you have made the budget, don’t stray. Don’t add things that were not included in the budget. And always purchase items that are within your budget.
Whether it is your wedding dress or the venue, you should compare prices and choose the one that best fits your budget.
— Save wherever you can
Since you are planning a wedding and trying to save on it, try to cut costs wherever you can. Do away with unnecessary expenses and concentrate on important things. Be extra considerate when you’re faced with what you think are unnecessary expenses.
There are so many things you can do to save money. Try eating in more and having dates indoors instead. If you both have cars, it may be time to give one of them up. Take your own lunch to work, make your own coffee at home. Really, there are so many things you can do to save some extra money.
— Look out for opportunities to earn
Figure out different ways to make some extra money. Whether it’s taking on a fund-raising project, or trying out a second job. You can even try selling old stuff online or through a garage sale to get some money.
Raising every bit can help. It may be time to test that side business idea you’ve always had. If you are a very crafty person who loves making objects, try making more of these and selling them to raise more money.
Just don’t let these projects take your attention away from the wedding planning.
— Find the best deals
Speaking of wedding planning, when it comes to your suppliers. Finding the best deals should be a no-brainer. There are loads to be saved in these transactions. Work with your vendors and be straightforward with what you want to accomplish.
Talk with different vendors, see what they have to offer. Compare the prices and your budget and choose the one that best fits your budget. But just because you are on a budget doesn’t mean settle for something you are not happy with.
Choose the best deals, ones you are happy with, that is why it is important to talk to different vendors. Photographers at https://www.sparkweddings.com/, for example, say top quality service doesn’t always require top dollar.
Honestly, paying for a wedding is one of the biggest financial decisions a person makes in life. It’s up there with buying a house and paying for children’s education. Save up. Be smart. Ask for help. You’ll be fine.
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