How Much Does A Wedding Cost? Get Married Within Your Budget

Asking newlyweds or a wedding planner for the typical things couples spend on during their weddings is one of the best ways to make a wedding budget list.

However, if you don’t have anyone to ask and don’t want to forget anything at the last minute, here’s a list of things to buy.

When planning a wedding, there are several items to rent and wedding vendor services to budget for. They are the costs associated with weddings.

This article will show you how much a wedding will cost you in 2023.

Check Out: Where Can I Sell My Wedding Dress Now? 11 Places to Get Your Money Fast

List of Items to Budget for and Purchase for your Wedding

The following is a list of items to budget for and purchase for your wedding:

A. Wedding Rings of the Couple

•  Rings for the bride and groom
•  Ring box or pillow for wedding rings

B. Brides’ Dresses and Accessories

•  Purchase a new wedding gown or rent one that has been previously worn.
•  The bride’s footwear
•  Flower bouquet, veil, bridal robe & wedding day underwears/ undergarments, and other bridal accessories
•  Hairstylist charge/fee / Nails/Makeup artist service charge/fee / Bridal beauty
•  Jewelry is worn by the bride (necklace, earrings, hair ornaments/accessories)

Check Also: 10 Most Expensive Weddings In The World 2023

C. The Groom’s Outfit and Accessories

• Shoes for the Groom
•  Wedding suit for the groom
•  Accessory for the Groom (e.g cuff links, belt etc)
•  Pocket handkerchief/flower boutonniere
•  Groom’s Grooming
•  Accessories

D. Ordering or Purchasing Wedding Stationery and Souvenirs

•  Wedding invitation cards and programs (printing)
•  Guests will be given souvenirs or wedding favors as gifts (optional)
•  The bridesmaids’ gifts and gift boxes (optional)
•  Groomsmen’s gifts (optional)

E. Reception Location and Decor

•  The price of a wedding venue
•  Decoration of the venue

F. Reception for the Wedding Shopping List for Food and Drinks

•  The food (Catering Service)
•  Cake for the wedding
•  Water/juice/drinks

H. Transportation on the Wedding Day

•  The bride, groom, wedding party (bridesmaids, groomsmen, parents), close relatives, and VIP guests will be transported to and from the wedding venues by car and bus.
•  Rentals (Some or all of these items may be required, depending on the location)
•  Rental of Chairs and Tables (if the venue has none or does not have enough)
•  Speakers and other audio equipment.
•  Other(s):

J. Vendors: A List of Professionals to Hire for Your Wedding

• Photographers and videographers will be on hand to document the event.
•  Master of Ceremony (MC)
•  A live band or a DJ
•  Services of a wedding planner (optional): Indicate whether you want complete or partial planning.
•  Ushers
•  Professional Makeup Artist
•  Bouncers / Security (if you plan to restrict entry by having a strictly by invitations situation)

K. Reserved fund in case of emergency (Miscellaneous)

Ways to Use the Budget List

To make the process easier, here are some ways to use the above budget or expense list:

1. Conduct price research to determine the true cost of items on your wedding expense list. Don’t make educated guesses about prices; instead, ask around for prices for each item on your wedding shopping list. Make sure to get different prices for each item.

2. Create a price range; some items are typically more expensive because they are of higher quality or have more features. Make a note of it in your wedding planner.

3. Add up the costs and the amount of money you have set aside for your wedding.

4. If the total cost exceeds your wedding budget, make adjustments by selecting lower-cost items for some items and recalculating the totals to see if they are now within your budget.

5. The simplest way to save money on a wedding budget is to reduce the number of guests, which lowers the cost of food and drinks. So, try reducing the number of guests and see how much money you save. Repeat the process until you reach a satisfactory total cost.

How Much A Wedding Cost in 2023

Weddings aren’t as simple as saying “I do,” and they’re also much more expensive; the average wedding cost in 2020 was $19,000. (including the ceremony and reception).

Due to smaller-than-normal celebrations during the COVID-19 pandemic, the $19,000 average is lower than in recent years.

However, keep in mind that the average does not provide a comprehensive picture because it is easily altered.

Creating a wedding budget is a difficult task and your wedding will most likely be the most expensive party you’ve ever held.

To create a budget, you’ll need to add up your savings, keep a detailed worksheet so you don’t go over budget during the planning phase, plan for unexpected costs, and make meaningful cuts if you do go over.

Understandably, this can be seen as difficult, but putting in the time and effort now guarantees that you won’t be saddled with wedding debt in the future, and here’s how to make a wedding budget that you’ll be able to stick to:

Step 1: Make a Cash Count:

The amount of money you need to spend on the wedding is proportional to three sources of income;

• Individual savings of you and your fiancé:

This isn’t as simple as going to your bank and checking your balance. In the event of a job loss or health setback, you and your partner should have three months’ worth of living expenses set aside (separate from retirement funds). Deduct that sum from your entire bank balance to get the amount you’ll need for wedding expenses.

• The amount of money you can save from your current earnings:

Set aside up to 10% of your monthly earnings after you’ve paid off existing debts, such as student loans. Set up direct deposits into a separate account for wedding expenses so that you aren’t just saving leftovers.

• Any contributions from family members or friends:

Never assume that your parents or other family members will be willing and able to help you pay for your wedding.

Step 2: Keep Tabs on Your Spending:

Make a spreadsheet with three columns for expenses: estimated, modified, and actual.

Under Estimated, costs in your area will be researched, proposals from the vendors you choose will be Modified, and the finalized amount you pay them will be Actual.

After getting vendor costs, revise your estimates.

Begin with the venue, as it is the most important aspect of the wedding and a major factor in determining the number of guests. Verify that tax is included in the estimates you receive from vendors. If not, adjust the proposal by doing your math with state and local tax rates.

Step 3: Be Prepared for Unexpected Events:

Read the fine print on vendor contracts before signing on the dotted line or purchasing gift bag items, because small expenses can quickly add up.

Cut the line item if the total isn’t in your overall budget.

Step 4: Be Responsive in Your Charges:

Don’t overextend yourself to increase your cash flow, no matter how tempting it is.

Never make plans that you won’t be able to pay off in a month.

Step 5: Look for ways to save money:

Do you have a budget problem? These suggestions will significantly reduce your spending.

Alter the location:

Beaches and lofts may appear to be a good deal, but they can be very expensive to make wedding-worthy.

You may need to bring in tables, chairs, china, glassware, silverware, catering equipment, restrooms, and air conditioning or heat.

Before you make a decision, calculate the total cost of a wedding at that location versus one that includes all of the essentials.

Change the guest list:

When you consider the invitation, welcome bag, transportation, slice of cake, and favor, each attendee costs far more than his or her meal.

Never have a B-list, and be honest with your A-list. Shrinking the guest list by 15 people saves you about $1,300 for a 135-person reception (depending on your budget).

Be spontaneous:

Instead of hosting a four-course, wine-paired dinner, have a winter wedding, choose a Friday or Sunday, or celebrate with brunch.

Combine the ceremony and reception in one location:

This could save the wedding party and guests a lot of money on transportation.

Skip the live band:

The big-name ones can be quite expensive, while a DJ will set you back a few thousand dollars.

Place your orders for all of your paper items:

This entails either ordering or making your wedding invitations and inserts. You’ll be ordering place cards and table numbers later, as well as possibly programs and other items.

A lot of this can now be done at home thanks to technological advancements. Even if you decide to order printed materials from a stationer, make sure you do it yourself. Having your wedding planner assist or do it for you will cost you more, whether because of her markup or because she’ll most likely be receiving a thank you commission from the shop.

Hand-write your invitations;

If you absolutely must have calligraphy on your invitations, consider purchasing a calligraphy pen and practicing until you master it. It isn’t difficult at all.

Only an expert would notice it wasn’t done by a professional, and there are a plethora of tutorials available online as a starting point.

Refuse upgrades:

Saying no to unnecessary upgrades, taking what comes with the package, or the least expensive option you can stand is another key strategy for how to budget for a wedding.

Because they don’t like the design of the white-on-white tablecloths, for example, couples sometimes add thousands of dollars to their budgets.

Work with fewer vendors:

Consider hiring a vendor who can provide over one service for your weddings, such as a DJ who can also provide lighting for your venue or a caterer who can provide edible wedding favors.

You’ll always get a better deal if you order multiple items from the same vendor, and you won’t have to pay multiple setups or delivery fees, as you would if you hired separate vendors for each task.

If necessary, bargain:

If you find yourself in a position to negotiate, do so with care and respect. You don’t want to nickel and dime a professional who has set their rates, particularly for a reason.

Vendors who are new to the business typically charge less than those who have more experience.

You can also lower your rates. If you have a wedding planner, he or she should know what is reasonable and where wiggle room can be found.

Consider asking vendors to reduce the number of services included in their packages, such as asking the photographer to work a few hours instead of the entire day, or asking the caterer to limit guests to one or two drinks rather than providing an open bar.

How the Cost of a Wedding has Changed Over Time

There have been over 2 million marriages every year since 2000, except for 2020.

The number of marriages fell to 1.2 million because of the coronavirus pandemic, a 37 percent decrease year over year.

Despite this decrease, pre-wedding costs continued to exceed $20,000, and a large number of people went ahead with their wedding plans, resulting in a total of more than $25 billion spent on weddings.

FAQs

Conclusion

Don’t give in to family pressure, friends, social media, or spending reports. The amount you spend on your wedding should be in line with your earnings, regular expenditures, and other financial objectives.

Plug in the numbers once you’ve established a budget, decided on the type of wedding you want, and started comparing costs.

References

• Brides.com – 5 Steps to Wedding Budget
• Naijaglamwedding.com – Sample Wedding Budgets
• nerdwallet.com – How much does the average wedding cost?
• roaminghunger.com – How Much Does it Cost to Cater for a Wedding for 100 People?
• Valuepenguin.com – Average Cost of Wedding
• Businessinsider.com – How Much Does a Wedding Cost?
• Zola.com – Budget List Exenses for Weddings

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