Dream Weddings on Budget

Global financial difficulties have forced most of us to take a hard look at our expenses. Yet, your wedding day is such a special day and one does not want to build lifetime memories on a cheep-and-cheerful event. Now you will get the guidance to help you turn your budget into dream wedding.

First we need to look at what percentage the different aspects of your wedding should cost. Below are points you need to think and decide on when working out your wedding budget:

Most important: what is your total budget?

Next, make a list of all your expenses, such as:
- Ceremony (site fee, officiate fee and marriage license, musician's costs, ring pillows): should be 3% of total budget.
- Reception (venue, food and drinks, rentals of any kind and cake): should be 47% of total budget.
- Garments (Dress, Headpiece/veil, undergarments and hosiery, shoes, accessories and jewelry, hair and makeup, Groom's outfit and cuff links, studs, suspenders): should be 10% of total budget.
- Rings (His and her rings with/out engraving): should be 3% of total budget.
- Flowers (Ceremony, bride's (maid-of-honor and bridesmaid) bouquets, corsages and boutonnieres, centerpieces and flower-girl basket): should be 8% of total budget.
- Music (Ceremony band and/or DJ, sound system rental): should be 8% of total budget.
- Photography (Photographer and Videographer costs, disposable cameras for guests): should be 13% of total budget.
- Transportation (Transportation for bride): should be 2% of total budget.
- Stationery (Invitations and answer cards, thank you notes, postage, guest book): should be 3% of total budget.
- Gifts (Bridesmaid and groomsmen, parents): should be 2% of total budget.

Traditionally the bride’s family pays for:
- Reception and Ceremony Costs
- Flowers for Ceremony and Reception
- The bride’s wedding dress and accessories
- Invitations and other stationary costs
- Photography
- Transportation
- Personal attire and travel costs

Traditionally the groom’s family pays for:
- The rehearsal dinner
- Their own attire and travel costs
- A wedding present for the couple

Traditionally the bride pays for:
- The groom’s wedding ring
- A wedding gift for the groom and her attendants
- Personal hair, makeup and beauty treatments
- Occasionally accommodation for bridesmaids

Traditionally the groom pays for:
- Marriage license
- The engagement and wedding ring
- Honeymoon
- A wedding gift for the bride and his attendants
- The bride’s bouquet
- Corsages for the mothers and grandmothers
- Boutonnières for his attendants
- Occasionally accommodation for groomsmen
- Costs of the officiant

In this day and age however the bride and groom estimates the cost and either pay for it themselves with perhaps a little help from the parents, or they split the budget 3 ways – with the two families and the couple paying one third. This enables every paying group to invite a third of their own friends.