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.
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