Budget Baby!

There is no greater pastime than numbers, spreadsheets, and budgets!  You may not even know how much you want to spend on your wedding, but you may already know what you don't want to spend!  My sister recently got married and her theory was to spend a little more in the areas that mattered most and pull back in those areas that didn't matter as much.  The areas that matter most are totally dependent on the bride and groom.  In any case, a budget will help you to see where your money is going.

The budget that I created for my wedding included everything from the dress and wedding bands, to the marriage documents and favors.  When you are putting your budget together, research the cost of items that you may be unsure about.  I didn't realize that the amounts I budgeted for my veil and blusher were on the low end and I was quite surprised while shopping for these items.  I should have researched veils and blushers when creating my budget to get an idea of how much they would cost. 

I still have the excel spreadsheet containing the actual amounts that I spent on every aspect of my wedding.  However, I also have an empty template that I send to brides, which is a little more extensive, providing the option to delete those items that are not applicable or maybe even add something that may not be listed.  There are also books and online wedding budget tools that can help you ensure you have a complete budget.