Planning an Affordable Wedding

I will be attending a wedding this weekend, and it reminded me of how costly and stressful planning a wedding can be. There are so many things to buy or rent, and people to invite, so it is no wonder the cost of a wedding can get out of control so quickly. The first thing you need to do when planning your wedding is to put things into perspective and prioritize the most important things. Some aspects of the wedding may largely be forgotten as soon as it's over, but others may be with you or shared with others for decades to come. Knowing what is most important to you can help you focus on where it pays to save.

Typical Budget Breakdown

The average wedding budget is broken down something like this:

• 40% on food, cake, and alcohol
• 3% on the facilities for the reception
• 8% on flowers
• 10% on entertainment
• 14% on clothing
• 7% on a photographer
• 4% on invitations and other printed supplies
• 4% on gifts
• 2% on transportation
• 8% on miscellaneous items

To help you get a better idea of what your budget is and how much should be spent on the various categories, make sure you check out the wedding budget worksheet. If you plan ahead and focus on the most important aspects, you can have an affordable wedding.