How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost?

*Source: Valuepenguin.com.

The cost of weddings varies from one state to another. Overall, the western and southern states often record lower wedding costs.

Average Cost of Wedding Services and Items

*Source: Business Insider.

This list above is by no means exhaustive, and couples may opt to include any other additional items they deem necessary for an optimal wedding experience. Conversely, some of the items on this list are optional, and their inclusion and cost range selection is left at the sole discretion of the couple. Couples keen on cutting costs may, for instance, elect to handle some of the tasks themselves. For instance, instead of hiring a wedding planner, you could consider handling the planning yourselves.

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How to Set a Wedding Budget

Finally, your nuptials are insight, and it is time to crunch the numbers. How much is a wedding going to cost you? And how do you go about setting a budget?

1. Research

Find out all that goes into making a wedding a success. At the research stage, it is okay to gather all information regarding the services you may outsource and how much they cost. Being aware of all the helpful services in the market may help you avoid dealing with some hectic challenges if you get overwhelmed by tasks.

2. Determine How Much Money is at Your Disposal

Before committing to any services or supplies for your wedding, consider your budget. That includes any money donated by family and friends for purposes of the wedding. A good rule of thumb is to have a saving scheme for the wedding right from the time you get engaged. This helps you avoid the temptations of taking loans to finance your wedding or overly relying on friends and family.

3. Determine Your Non-Negotiables

With a clear idea of how much is at your disposal, you can now evaluate what items are an absolute necessity. These are your non-negotiables. Itemize each of these and write down the corresponding approximate cost of each. Doing this helps you get a rough idea of how much of your budgeted sum is left over for the non-essential items.

4. Comparative Analysis

Come up with a rough breakdown of all the items that shall be included in your wedding, starting with the most essential to the least essential. With this list at hand, conduct a comparative price study across different service providers. In other words, shop around and compare prices offered by different shops.

5. Allocation

Based on your findings, decide on which service providers you wish to hire and agree on timelines for given tasks.

Conclusion

Proper budgeting and planning for your wedding can take an immense load off your shoulders. For starters, you will have managed to spare yourself the anxiety, stress, and sometimes inconvenience that comes with a last-minute rush. More importantly, budgeting and planning avail you the opportunity to fully optimize your money and get a bang for your buck.