Setting Your Wedding Budget

Putting together a wedding might just be one of the biggest expenses of your life. So, you must make sure that every bit of the ceremony, the reception and the honeymoon is totally worth the money you have shelled out. For years, many couples have figured out ways to achieve their dream weddings without going bankrupt. You, too, can have a truly memorable celebration without breaking the bank.

One of the issues surrounding a wedding budget is the decision as to who will shoulder the budget. In Cebu, it is not rare to find cases in which the groom shoulders the expenses. In the Philippines, this is considered as the traditional practice. However, more and more young couples are deciding to share the expenses, with both the bride and the groom paying for the wedding costs. It is also normal in the family-oriented Filipino culture for the nuptials’ parents to help out financially.

The key to lowering your expenses is to be resourceful. For every material or service that you want, you need to find several sources. This is true for wedding flowers, venues, food, tokens, cakes, entertainers and the like. You do not need to over-decorate, too, if the venue itself is already very beautiful. Choose flowers that are in season so you will not have to pay more.

When you set your budget limit, be sure to have an extra 10% of your projected expenses. This will serve as a leeway for unexpected costs. You should also base your budget and your decisions (i.e. choice of venue, amount of food, etc.) on the number of guests that you will have.