| When forming your wedding budget, decide | | | | determining how much to spend for DJ |
| first how much to spend for the wedding, then | | | | entertainment. Using the formula above, you |
| how the expenses will be divided. If you | | | | multiply $10,000 times .08 = $800. Therefore, |
| search around, you will be able to find other | | | | as a guideline for a $10,000 wedding budget, |
| sample wedding budgets and wedding budget | | | | $800 would be an appropriate amount to spend |
| worksheets. Paying for wedding expenses can | | | | on DJ entertainment. |
| be handled in a variety of ways. The | | | | |
| responsibility can be: | | | | You can change the percentages given above, |
| | | | depending on what you want to emphasize in |
| (a) assumed primarily by the brides parents | | | | your wedding. Be sure to prioritize the |
| | | | following aspects of a wedding according to |
| (b) assumes primarily by the grooms parents | | | | what is most important to you: |
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| (c) shared equally by both sets of parents | | | | - number of guests to be invited |
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| (d) shared by both families together with the | | | | - wedding site (church, synagogue, hotel, |
| bride and groom | | | | club, at home) |
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| (e) assumed entirely by the bride and groom | | | | - reception location (church hall, hotel, |
| themselves | | | | club, at home) |
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| Wedding Budget | | | | - bridal attire (what you will wear) |
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| Final responsibility for wedding costs has | | | | - food and beverages (what kind, and how will |
| been stated by tradition, but there is really | | | | they be served) |
| no right or wrong way to handle the costs. It | | | | |
| is a matter of choice. It is appropriate to | | | | - flowers (what kind and how many) |
| discuss the budget with both sets of parents, | | | | |
| especially when they bear some or all of the | | | | - photographs (which professional |
| financial responsibility. Be sure everyone | | | | photographer company to choose) |
| involved agrees on the budget. | | | | |
| | | | - music (soloists, live music, DJ |
| Wedding Budget Worksheet | | | | entertainment, dancing) |
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| A spirit of compromise should lessen the | | | | - transportation (a limousine, a luxury |
| possibility of hurt feelings as your families | | | | rental car, friends new car, or family car) |
| agree together on the wedding budget. When | | | | |
| setting your budget priorities, compromise on | | | | After having computed the amounts for each |
| quantity, not quality. The amount of your | | | | category, you may want to reevaluate your |
| budget will not necessarily determine the | | | | priorities. Make whatever adjustments are |
| style of your wedding; you can have a formal | | | | necessary to more closely meet your |
| wedding and reception on a limited budget | | | | expectations. Once you have determined the |
| with careful planning and a smaller guest | | | | amounts for each category, keep track of them |
| list. You do not need a wedding budget | | | | with wedding planning forms. For some |
| worksheet to get an idea on how much to | | | | expenses that are traditionally the groom's |
| spend. The following percentage estimates may | | | | responsibility - such as certain flowers and |
| be useful in breaking down your total wedding | | | | his wedding attire - the cost will be |
| budget into categories:reception 48%bridal | | | | determined by the overall wedding style. |
| attire 13%flowers 10%photography 9%dj | | | | Other items in his budget will reflect his |
| entertainment 8%rentals 3%miscellaneous fees | | | | own preferences. |
| 3%bridesmaids gifts 2%transportation | | | | |
| 2%stationary 2% | | | | Your budget should be flexible enough so that |
| | | | unexpected costs will not ruin it. You can |
| These percentages are a starting point for | | | | usually expect to pay from 10 to 50 percent |
| developing your budget and can be used as a | | | | as a deposit for services. This deposit is |
| tool when selecting various wedding vendors. | | | | often required in cash. You may want to |
| To determine a guideline figure for each | | | | consider opening a new checking account |
| category in your budget, use this equation: | | | | allotted for your wedding and reception |
| | | | expenses. |
| Your total budget x each items estimated | | | | |
| percentage | | | | Wedding Budget Planning |
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| Sample Wedding Budget | | | | Together you and your fiancé can use the |
| | | | ideas and formulas mentioned in this article |
| Okay, here is a sample wedding budget. Assume | | | | for healthy wedding budget planning. You |
| that your total budget is $10,000 (below the | | | | should keep a close tab on the budgeted |
| national average for how much a wedding | | | | amounts, total costs, deposits made, and the |
| costs, and you want to know a guideline for | | | | balance due in each category. |