Wedding Budget Worksheet

With an average wedding in 2005 costing $25,000 (without the honeymoon!), you need to be clear about how you plan to achieve the wedding you want.  You can have the perfect wedding whatever your budget, but not without careful planning.

Many brides and grooms pay for their own weddings, or at least pay a substantial chunk of it.  Talk to all the parents involved and decide what everyone can contribute and what works for your situation.  The conversation may not be easy, but consider it good practice for later in your married life!  You need to determine 1) how much you can afford in total, with everyone's contribution; and 2) when they will give you the money or pay for the items.  (You need to know if someone else will have to front the money and be reimbursed later, for example.  If your dad is supposed to pay for the liquor, you don't want to surprise him with the bill at the reception.)  Be clear and specific up front, and there will be no unpleasant surprises or hurt feelings later.

Traditionally, the groom pays for: engagement and wedding rings for his bride, rehearsal dinner, his clothing and that of his family, marriage license, fee to officiant, bride's bouquet, corsages and boutonnieres, the honeymoon and gifts for attendants and bride.  Attendants pay for their own clothing.  The bride and her family pay for everything else.  THIS IS TRADITION, NOT ETIQUETTE, NOT A RULE, not even the most common way of doing it any more.

Before you make your choices, determine what is essential to your vision of your wedding and what can be changed if necessary.  You will want to make sure you budget enough money to get the most important items, and only compromise on other things if you must.  For example, to one bride the photographer and the DJ might be the most important to her vision; to another, the perfect dress might be number one and other details less critical.

Print our worksheet and keep it with you as you make decisions and consider vendors; it can be a great tool to keep you on track with your wedding budget and your wedding vision.

Wedding Budget Planning Worksheet