Money: A Top Marriage Stressor ($25)
This award winning games does not require a financial planner background. This simple to use game will get you and your partner (or parents!) on a new level of understanding about your ATTITUDES on money...spending, saving, security.
No matter what your money views, there is no "right or wrong." A few big "a-ha" moments may greatly help your wedding and married life. read more
Wedding Discounts for Marriage Preparation
You take driving lessons, cooking classes, get coaching on sports, but somehow the most complex, life long relationships are assumed to magically work.
We are teaming up with wedding vendors to offer you wedding discounts for qualifying marriage prep purchases (books and classes.) Get Details
We're Going to Be One Happy Family...or else!
A very unique book written by a nationally respected marriage and family therapist, along side his GenX daughter.
A mother loved our book so much, she bought over a dozen copies to give to everyone in the family! They used the guidance from beginning to end to reduce conflict and avoid the "emotional landmines" that are sure to arise in wedding planning. read more
Wedding Budget Help
Wedding Budget Dilemmas
- Who Pays for the Wedding?
- Should You Elope?
- Saavy Questions to ask Wedding Vendors
- The Power Around Who Pays
- Creating a Wedding Budget
- Wedding Photography and Videography | What Do You Want to Record and at What Cost?
- Should you Splurge? A Decision Guide
- Dilemas: Chosing A Wedding Party
- Wedding Budget
- Create the Guest List or Budget First?
Marriage Prep
4 part weekly class. Interactive, anonomous, online and by phone.
Bridal Budget | Brides on a Budget | Wedding Budget
See also: Who Pays for the Wedding (How to bring up the topic) and The Power around Who Pays
Figuring out a wedding budget can be a bit like asking someone how much they make. While some people are very willing to tell you how much they spent on their WEDDING (not their salary), you're not likely to have similar expenses. There are so many variables in a bridal budget that impact where the money is spent. Add in the local nature of weddings and it's hard to find national numbers that really talk to your exact area. We're using numbers from theweddingreport.com to give you national numbers, but keep in mind there is little likeilhood of any ONE wedding reflecting the exactly budget below.
Keep in mind your guest list is the biggest accordian in your budget - going up or down based on the number of people invited. The reception is about 40% of your budget! But keep in mind the correlary - 60% of your budget is NOT TIED TO THE GUEST LIST directly! This is very important to remember as you go down the drama filled path of excluding a lot of people to "save money" but find so many of your fixed expenses have nothing to do with your headcount. It's always important as you plan your wedding budget to ask yourself if you can afford a small wedding? This is the opposite of what our culture tells you, but it's important because in our view, weddings are inherently a COMMUNITY event. Weddings should not feel burdened by the guest list... since guests are the entire point of having the wedding instead of eloping in private. Obviously guests cost money, but instead of trying to squeeze them into a tight budget, start with the guest list and arrange your values and priorities based on who you want part of your day and then shake up the expensive notion of what a wedding "should be" and have fun creating a unique wedding that fits ALL your loved ones.
Keep in mind per person wedding expenses usually include:
- invitations
- ceremony programs
- engagement announcements
- invitations
- RSVP cards
- reception menu cards
- save the date announcements
- table or place cards
- thank you cards
- decorations at reception (size of reception depends on guest size)
- reception bar service
- food
- reception location (bigger space = more money)
- reception rentals (tent, table, chairs, etc)
- table centerpieces
- wedding cake
Wedding Vendor Quotes are almost always needed from:
- officiant
- rehearsal dinner
- ceremony location fees
- reception location fees
- catering
- bakery
- photographer
- videographer
- music
- florist
- planner
- transportation
Wedding Vendor Quotes you can pretty easily find online include:
- invitations
- beauty treatments
- accessories
- officiant (often listed on their website)
- wedding favors
- wedding gifts
- accessories (including guest book, toasting flutes, cake topper and server set)
Fixed costs (generally unimpacted by your guest list)
- wedding dress and accessories
- wedding party attire
- ceremony site
- reception site (this varies greatly but small and large weddings happen in low cost and expensive settings)
- beauty and pampering
- honeymoon
- rings
- parent and wedding party gifts
- officiant
- transportation
- music
- photography
- videography
A Sample of National Wedding Budget Averages
Accessories and Attire = $1,705 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Cufflinks | $59 |
| Cummerbund, Tie, Pocket Square | $51 |
| Shoes for Bride | $86 |
| Shoes for Groom | $77 |
| Tiara, Combs, Hair Pins, Garter | $66 |
| Tuxedo/Suit | $314 |
| Veil | $97 |
| Wedding Dress | $841 |
| Wedding Dress Preservation | $114 |
Beauty and Spa = $324 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Facial | $60 |
| Hair Service | $77 |
| Makeup Service | $61 |
| Manicure & Pedicure | $50 |
| Massage | $76 |
Ceremony  = $1,701 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Aisle Runner | $82 |
| Ceremony Location | $1,268 |
| Other Accessories or Decorations | $240 |
| Ring Pillow or Box | $56 |
| Unity Candle | $55 |
Ceremony Officiant average = $181 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Justice of the Peace | $172 |
| Officiate | $187 |
| Ordained Friend, Family Member | $124 |
| Pastor, Minister, Rabbi | $175 |
| Priest | $247 |
Entertainment$895/musicians, $1,295 DJ, $1,731 band |
|
| 2009 | |
| Band at ceremony | $605 |
| Band at reception | $1,126 |
| Dance lessons | $405 |
| DJ at ceremony | $643 |
| DJ at reception | $652 |
| Musician/s at ceremony | $384 |
| Musician/s at reception | $511 |
Flowers = $1,222 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Boutonnieres, Corsages | $116 |
| Bridal Bouquet | $148 |
| Bridesmaid Bouquets | $148 |
| Ceremony Flower Arrangements | $274 |
| Flower Girl Flowers | $80 |
| Flower Petals | $87 |
| Reception Flower Arrangements | $369 |
Gifts and Favors = $1,301 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Gift/s for Attendants | $267 |
| Gift/s for Parents | $246 |
| Gift/s for the Bride | $250 |
| Gift/s for the Groom | $240 |
| Wedding Favors | $298 |
Honeymoon = $6,124 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Accessories | $301 |
| Airline Tickets | $856 |
| Camera, Video Camera | $424 |
| Cruise Package | $1,629 |
| Hotel, Resort | $1,212 |
| Luggage | $397 |
| New Clothes | $419 |
| Spa Treatments | $432 |
| Tours & Shows | $454 |
Invitations and Paper = $1,070 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Bridal Shower Invitations | $78 |
| Ceremony Programs | $118 |
| Engagement Announcements | $148 |
| Guest Book | $54 |
| Invitations & Reply Cards | $269 |
| Reception Menus | $130 |
| Save-the-Date Cards | $108 |
| Table or Place Cards | $91 |
| Thank You Cards | $74 |
Jewerly = $5,833 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Anklet | $208 |
| Bracelet | $190 |
| Brides Wedding Band | $1,032 |
| Earrings | $185 |
| Engagement Ring | $2,939 |
| Grooms Wedding Band | $829 |
| Necklace | $173 |
| Watch for Bride | $277 |
| Watch for Groom | $425 |
Parties / Rehearsal dinner = $2,049 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Bachelor Party | $291 |
| Bachelorette Party | $299 |
| Bridal Shower | $305 |
| Engagement Party | $380 |
| Rehearsal Dinner | $774 |
Photography and Video = $3,785 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Engagement Photographer | $601 |
| Engagement Videographer | $707 |
| Wedding Photographer | $1,415 |
| Wedding Videographer | $1,062 |
Planner or Consultant (ave $962) |
|
| 2009 | |
| A La Carte Services | $797 |
| Day-of-Coordinator | $636 |
| For Getting Started | $600 |
| Full Service | $1,816 |
| Month-of-Direction | $931 |
Reception = $11,457 |
|
| 2009 | |
| Hotel Room for After Reception | $252 |
| Other Accessories or Decorations | $252 |
| Reception Bar Service | $2,309 |
| Reception Food Service | $3,299 |
| Reception Location | $2,636 |
| Reception Rentals (Tent, Table, Chairs, Etc.) | $1,881 |
| Reception Table Centerpieces | $294 |
| Toasting Flutes | $98 |
| Wedding Cake | $334 |
| Wedding Cake Topper and Serving Set | $102 |
Transportation (ave = $394 ) |
|
| 2009 | |
| Antique Car Rental | $454 |
| Horse & Carriage Rental | $439 |
| Limo Rental | $474 |
| Motorcycle Rental | $312 |
| Regular Car Rental | $289 |
Elizabeth Doherty Thomas, is a co-founder of The First Dance, along with Marriage and Family therapist father Bill Doherty. The First Dance is a 2007 Modern Bride Trendsetter award winner for taking on the complex family dynamics of wedding planning. See what engaged couples and wedding professionals are saying about our book Take Back Your wedding. Our entire website is dedicated to offering advice on working through the people stresses of wedding planning as a couple, with your families, and how to strengthen your upcoming marriage through this enormous first task of married life.