Next start your research. Discover the average cost of a wedding in the area(s) you wish to host the celebration. According to The Business Insider, the average cost of a wedding in the DMV in 2019 was between $33,300 & $40,600. Each year with the increase of goods and services the average rises. How does the average cost compare to your financial comfort zone amount?

 

Ask yourself the following questions:

Do you plan to save money for your wedding or have you already done so?
What is the time frame you have to prepare financially for your wedding?
How much can you save based on your disposable income?
Will you accept financial contributions from family members?

 

These questions will help you shape your financial comfort zone, thus outlining your wedding budget. There are a number of factors, like how much money you and your partner have to spend, the location and time of year you're getting married, and your top priorities that will determine which wedding expenses to include in your budget... which will be different for every couple.

 

It helps to research the cost of some line items and must-haves that you will need, like the average cost of food and beverage per person in your area. Even the average cost of wedding photographers and make-up artists and so-on. Despite what you may have been told by online budget calculators, there isn’t a standard percentage for each wedding expense.

 

Below is a list of wedding expenses that should be considered in your budget:

Venue

Insurance

Planner/Event Management

Food & Beverage

Photographer/Videography

Cake

Ceremony Music

Cocktail Hour/Reception

Pre-wedding Stationary

Officiant

Health/Beauty

Florals

Rentals/Décor/Rentals

Transportation

Attire/Jewelry

 

We encourage our couples to further shape their budget by evaluating their guest count, to help show what your wedding budget will really look like on the day. Think about what type of experience you wish for your guests to have. Look back at the areas of the wedding that are your top priority. Then ask yourself what matters more: the guest count or the wedding experience. If you're limited with what you can (or want to) spend, cut your guest count, then you can host an incredibly detailed micro wedding for 20-30 of your closest family and friends, or a fairly limited wedding for 75 people (no open bar, no upgraded options).

 

Lastly, create a planning timeline, which will help you stay on track with saving targets and payment deadlines for wedding expenses. Ask your wedding planner if they provide wedding budget managing services. Wedding budget breakdowns are simply to be used as a starting point to give you a general understanding of how to allocate your funds. Costs vary by region, state and sometimes cities. Most couples often exceed their initial wedding budget so be sure there is some wiggle room. Remember what you find in your research should only be used as a guide. Take a look at this businessinsider article as your first step into the research of how much a wedding costs.

 

You don’t need to go through the wedding planning process alone (and in our opinion – you shouldn’t!). You can read more about our wedding planning packages here, or if you have questions and want to connect, co​ntact us here.

 

For more information, view Wedding Wires study on how engaged couples budget and save for their wedding to get more ideas on how to make the best financial strategy for your wedding.