Your Wedding Budget - How Much is Too Much?

To come up with the right wedding plan, the first thing to consider is the budget. How much can you afford to spend? Who's going to provide the budget? Will it be the groom's sole responsibility, the bride's, or would both parties be contributing to the budget?

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In some culture, tradition may dictate who will spend. In the Philippines, it is customarily the groom and his family who are expected to shoulder expenses for the wedding. However, some families are open to the idea of both the bride and groom sharing the expenses.  Whatever the case may be, it's important that the couple is in agreement with this issue.

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So, how much is too much?

Setting the right budget really depends on the couple's financial capability. If a couple have savings and they would like to spend lavishly for this most special occasion, then that is their choice. 

However, a wedding doesn't have to be extravagant just to be special. Let's not forget that there will be other expenses to face after the big day. Yes, even with a limited budget, a wedding can be most joyous, intimate, and memorable.

If you're working on a small budget, make sure that every cent is spent wisely. List all possible costs such as the venue (for the ceremony and reception), food, the bridal gown, gowns and suits for your entourage, flowers and decorations, wedding tokens, photo and video coverage, bridal car, wedding invitations, wedding ring, etc. Right from the start, allocate your budget accordingly.

Planning early gives you the chance to shop around, compare prices, negotiate with vendors and choose the best deal. Buying in bulk will definitely save you a lot so it's a good idea to make a list of everything you need first before going out to purchase.

If you live in the Philippines, shopping at wholesale markets such as Divisoria is a must as everything there definitely costs much less than anywhere else- from wedding gowns, bridesmaids gowns, head dress, veils, wedding tokens- I personally recommend going out of your way to shop there. You'll really enjoy huge savings!

We've bought my maid-of-honor's gown there for P2,500 and I tell you, gowns like that cost around P4,000 to P6,000 at malls and boutiques. The one we bought was even more beautiful! Don't forget to shop around first before buying! When shopping at Divisoria, patience is really a VIRTUE! Don't hesitate to ask for a discount or haggle. Most of the sellers would give you the price you want if you ask them nice.

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Should you buy/order or make your own?

We've decided to make our own wedding invitations to save budget but it turned out to be more difficult than I thought it would be. If you have plenty of time, making your own invitations may enable you to save more. Find wholesalers of craft papers or specialty papers so you can buy materials for less.

But if you don't have that much time and you haven't made similar projects before, it may be more practical to look for an affordable professional printing service and have your wedding invitations printed. It could be a more practical option.

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From the list you made, which one is your priority?

No doubt, you may want to spoil yourself on your wedding day even if you are on a budget. That's perfectly understandable. Choose one or two things you want to splurge on.  For instance, you can spend a little more on the venue or the ring and spend less on the other aspects of the occasion. Bear in mind that you don't need to spend a lot on everything!

Weddings are supposed to be a day of celebration of being united by LOVE. This is what you want to share with your family, relatives and friends. Money-matters shouldn't get in the way.

What's your view about wedding budget? How much is too much? We'd love to hear it! Leave a comment :)