Money Management and Weddings

I want you to enjoy your wedding day. I want it to be fun and beautiful and the day you dreamed of.

I also want you to enjoy your marriage. And I know one of the best ways to start off on the right foot is to keep your wedding budget in check.

The average wedding today costs $36,000.(3)Some of you may think, That’s outrageous! Others of you might think, Is that all? It just goes to show that expectations vary greatly from family to family.

My hope is that you decide on an amount you can afford. Once you do that, work to keep your wedding budget in check by considering the following recommended percentages (emphasis on recommended):

Reception: 55%

Ceremony: 12%

Photography: 10%

Wedding planner: 10%

Dress and tuxedo: 8%

Miscellaneous: 5%

A few extra money-saving tips for your wedding

• Limit your guest list. Tough to do, I know! But the cost of each person you invite adds up. So give your list a once- and twice-over before sending invitations.
• Host the ceremony or reception outside. Some of the prettiest weddings around take place in a backyard, an open field or in front of a barn. Get creative!
• Ask friends or family to exchange skills for presents. Talented folks in your life will likely want to help. Take them up on these offers and your wedding will be all the more affordable—and meaningful—because of it.
• DIY whenever possible. Take a look at your to-do list and determine what you can do on your own. Just make sure you’re actually saving money in the process!
• Use a dummy wedding cake. This might just be the best idea ever! While the top tier is real, the bottom layers are just cardboard and icing. Keep a sheet cake in the back for serving.
• Time your wedding wisely. Consider what time of day to schedule your wedding. Dinner time will be the most expensive, as people expect to be served a full meal.
• Research and negotiate. Scout out vendors, get quotes from multiple people for each service and venue. Ask for a deal! You might be surprised how easily they say yes.

As newlyweds (or hey, this one even applies to oldyweds!) there is another key money decisions you can make that will set you up for success in the future:

Take my Money Coaching 3-month package. Money is the number one issue married couples fight about. But stopping money fights is easier than you think! Millions of people have learned how to get on the same page with their spouse, also learn how to have an abundance mindset with money, disempower any limiting beliefs around money you may have, understand your current relationship with money and is this serving you? Plus practical steps for getting out of debt, saving money, buying a home and so much more!