Let’s be real- the money talk can be stressful. Budgeting is usually one of the parts of wedding planning that couples are dreading, but it's so important to put a name to every dollar from the get-go.

I’m here to help! Grab yourself a cup of coffee or two and let’s get right down to it! I’m going to simplify these steps and make this part of planning your wedding as easy on you as possible. Here is some guidance for determining your wedding budget that will set you up for success.

Determine Who Pays For What

If any family members will be contributing toward paying for your wedding, this is the time to get those details sorted out. If parents or other family members want to contribute a certain dollar amount, determine what that is early on. They may even choose to pay for a certain vendor (or vendors) altogether. Sometimes couples will make the mistake of assuming their families are contributing a certain amount, but once they talk it out, they realize this is not the case. Don’t put yourself through that stress! The money talk can be awkward, but it’s so much better to get this communicated at the very beginning of the budgeting process. That way, you have a plan and can move on to step number two…

budgeting tips

Set A Personal Budget For Yourselves

Now that you know who’s contributing financially to your wedding, figure out what you and your fiancé will personally be spending on your big day. It’s important to think about what is reasonable for the two of you to spend. It’s also vital to consider where this money will be coming from. For example, will you be using savings to help pay for the wedding? Will you base it off of your expected annual income and make payments?