The most stressful thing about a wedding is budgeting. Everyone has their dream wedding in mind and sometimes what one wants their wedding to be like may not exactly be what they can afford. Some can go as far as taking out loans for their weddings or some may have to resort to the cheaper options. Whatever decision one may take, it is important to remember that there is life after the wedding. Here are a few tips on the initial budgeting of the wedding.
1. How much are you willing to spend?
The first thing you should consider is how much you are willing to spend on the wedding and this will act as a guideline as to the service providers you will use.
2. Who is paying for what?
It is awkward to ask but this is a particularly important question. After getting different quotes from service providers, list everything that is needed in an Excel sheet, and share it with the close families. Some will offer to cater for the PA system or the venue. This will help you as a couple to see what you need to work on to make the day perfect.
3. Consider the cost
The type of wedding you choose to have has an impact on the budget. Sometimes an evening wedding may be more expensive than a day wedding because one may find that an evening wedding has extra costs on lighting, smoke machines or even security.
4. Consider the guest list size
Guests are the biggest expense at a wedding. The venue, décor, stationery, and food costs are all determined by the guest list. Therefore, the guest list will either decrease or increase your expenses.
5. Consider the date and time
Wedding venue costs depend on the time of the year. In Zimbabwe, the most popular and expensive wedding months are April, May, August, September, and December. Costs will be cheaper in the other months especially in November where very few people wed as there is a myth that says people should not wed in November. These are a few tips on how to budget for a wedding. Having put these considerations now comes saving for the day, which will be covered in the next issue. Happy budgeting!
