Budgeting basics

I've been meeting with a lot of newly engaged couples lately, and their biggest concern is their budget. How much should they be putting aside in total for their wedding? How much should every vendor charge? These are valid questions, and very real concerns!

I think the average US wedding costs around $28,000. However, I know that the average northern NJ weddings costs around $40,000. That's for about 100 guests! That IS a lot of money!

To be honest, I've worked with budgets from $20,000 to $150,000 -- and every couple has to really identify the most important aspects of their wedding and allocate their dollars accordingly. Even the highest budgets will choose less expensive alternatives to stay within their monetary framework!

The first thing to keep in mind is to NOT, I repeat NOT, spend more than 50% of your budget on the reception. And when I say 50%, that INCLUDES taxes, service charges, gratuities! If your budget is $50,000, then you have $25,000 TOTAL to spend at your reception venue. And if you have 200 people attending your wedding, that breaks down to $125/person, inclusive. So, when you're going to look at places, I recommend looking at those places that charge $100/person, just so you know you'll be at or below the $125/person mark when all the "extra charges" (tax, tip, service charges) are added in.

Once you've allocated 50% for your venue, place dollar figures for the rest of your vendors. Then, when you go and meet with vendors, stick to your line items! Of course, if you go over or under in one category, you must adjust your budget accordingly down the line. Hope this advice helps!

Until next time, happy planning...