Who pays for what?

For most families, the biggest challenge of putting on a successful wedding celebration lies in being able to pay for everything without breaking the bank or taking out a loan (although many families do that).

While wedding customs are changing every day, it is still largely expected that the bride's parents will shoulder most of the expenses of the wedding. In some American subcultures, the bride's God Parents or "padrinos" will accept responsibility for paying for parts of the wedding ceremony and reception and grandparents are often happy to pitch in if they have the funds available. Also, the Photographers may want to chip in for extras that the couple want but aren't planned for in the budget.

The first item of business when planning a wedding is to set the budget amount, as this will reign in any unneccesary spending and help guide the decision-making process.

The key to affording all of the neccessities and extras lies in having a long lead time in order to start saving for the event. Many items such as the reception hall rental require a substantial down payment at the time of booking which may be 18-24 months before the actual date of the wedding.

When working with your budget, first decide if you are going to work with a wedding planner or not. A Wedding Planner can often save money by knowing which vendors to use and how to save money on flowers and favors. They will also know the price range for most ceremony and reception locations, which will help you narrow down your choices.

The first item in your budget should be the reception location, as this will typically be your largest single expense in the budget. Once you have established the cost of the reception site, you will know how much you have left for catering, music, flowers, photography, transportation and other wedding essentials.