"Oh that B*****d Budget!" How to work out your wedding budget and what that looks like.

So, it's the one you probably don't want to hear about but it is INTEGRAL to execute your wedding or event and to lower that good old stressometre!

Why is it so important to think about before I start booking anything?

Well, there is one exception to this and that is if money is basically no object and is readily available yesterday. But I am taking a wild guess you haven't landed on this page if it is, but if that's the case then hit me uuuppp honey!!!

Without knowing what you have to spend and what that can get you then you are setting yourself up for stress and disappointment. Imagine getting halfway through planning with your venue and food booked, which was a little more than you expected, and now you are wandering how you are going to manage the band, decor and the bits you didn't even know you needed- ultimate stress and unwanted debt.

It is also really important to do this BEFORE you set your date so you know what you are working with.

How do I decide on my budget?

There are a couple of factors to consider here:

• Do you have savings already and are you prepared to use them? Example figure = £5,000

• Out of both or just your income, how much can you set a side each month (remember to factor in any planned holidays or trips) Example £200 each for 2 people over 18 months = £7,200

• Are any of your family or friends gifting you any monetary contributions, this might be a set amount or an offer to purchase your dress. Example set amount of = £2,000

• I wouldn't recommend this as before any of the above but do you currently have any low rate credit cards, 0% or would you be eligible for one? Many vendors final payments (usually the bulk of the invoice) are due around a month or two before the event so if you can use bullet point 2 earlier throughout the planning process then if needed pay some vendor's final balances on a credit card means your not taking extra money from your income (additional to the £200) to make your credit card payments. Example a £2,000 credit card post event.

• Other niche factors are any work bonuses (you lucky chucky) or get them clothes on vinted to pay for your photobooth Alan Sugar! Example a £250 total from selling your stuff!

  Total example budget = £16,450

TOP TIP: Buy little bits along the way as this will save a lot of stress for the last few months leading up to the big day ie. Table Favours, Sweet Jars etc as this all adds up!

Now how do I spend it?

So many brides I speak to or see on forum posts don't want to forget anything or don't know where to start, putting it simply if you go heavy on your first few suppliers then you run the risk of scrimping on the rest, leading to a disappointing final picture.

Step 1:

List all of the main suppliers you are going to need for your type of wedding- these include (but will depend on your type of wedding);

Wedding Planner or Coordinator Obvs ;)

Venue

Wedding Insurance

Caterer (Day and Night if applicable)

Bar Service

Accommodation Block Booking (if relevant)

Celebrant/Registrar or Registry office if you are doing the legal bit separate

Photographer or Videographer

Singer/Band/DJ for all parts of the day

Florist

Any larger fittings if you are going down that route ie. furniture if your venue doesn't provide or even a marquee!

Venue stylist

Cake

Step 2:

Of these things, highlight the ones you are happiest to spend the most on and underline the ones you can save on or find alternatives too.

Step 3:

Write your rough guest list as this is integral to knowing the type of wedding you can have as feeding 50 and 200 people is very different!

Step 4:

Sit down and talk! What do you both want the wedding to look like and what are your non negotiables?

So now you have an idea of what you have to spend, what is important to you both and what you can lower.

How do I know what type of wedding my budget will get me?

One mistake couples can make is spending the majority of their budget on the venue and then struggling to fill it.

Here is a very basic idea, and I am using Shropshire as an example, of what your wedding could look like based on 100 people:

-£2K you are probably looking at registry office and a local hall with a light buffet or fast food service, a DJ, some simple decor, just bouquets and button holes for flowers with self photography etc etc. Basic signage and "card station" etc. No accommodation.

-£5K, a church or registry office with a local hire restaurant or hall with a simple day buffet and an evening food offering (ie. pizza tuck), simple decor, a small photography package, DJ, simple cake or self sourced dessert station. Basic signage and "card station" etc. No accommodation.

-£7K, a church or registry office with a local hall or venue space, 2 course buffet, evening food offering (ie. pizza truck), floral aisle arrangements (that can be moved to your reception venue), bouquets, simple table decor, buttonholes, photography, Cake or Sweets, DJ, Signage, Card Station etc.

It is important to note that the above is a demonstration and will vary based on DIY, family and friend contributions, venue and area but is designed to give you an idea of what different budgets can achieve.

When you started getting to the £10K mark then you can consider other types of venues such as the beautiful barn conversions that we have so many of in the Shire! These range from approx £4,000-£8,000 hire depending on dates with weekdays and out of summer dates usually being the cheapest. They will differ but they usually include a full weekend hire for set up and breakdown and furniture for the ceremony and breakfast, basic PA system, honeymoon suite accommodation and cleaning etc.

It is really important to consider before booking this though what food offering, flowers, photography, venue dressing and entertainment you want as with just £10K you would struggle to for fill the top offerings.

Into the £15K you're talking barn, reception drinks, sharing boards and plated desserts, live music, full photography, celebrant, florals, photobooth, DJ, games, cake etc etc.

Hit £20K and you're into the 3 course meal and drinks, adding a bigger band, MC, videographer, full table florals etc.

£25k to £30K will take you into your Manor House/ Stately Home vibes depending on the extras you decide you want!

TOP TIP: Remember to leave some money aside for all the arty farty bits that you don't plan for to start with ie. name place settings, chalk board signs, floral garlands for random areas, signage or even bridesmaids/groomsman gifts!

Will a marquee help with saving on my budget?

I do get asked this and honestly, unless you have the contacts or the land it won't. A decent marquee with flooring, power, lighting, generator, toilets etc can be £5K-£7K depending so you are in a similar bracket to a barn (before furniture!).

Keep track of your spending and payments due.

If you're a sad spreadsheet sausage like me, this will be your best friend. When I work with my couples either on my Full Wedding Planning or Support Packages Weddings I create a Budget Tracker and Payment Tracker so we can all have access to what we are spending and when.

 TOP TIP: Use digital invites or print stationary on sites such as canva to save your hundreds of dollar!

So, I hope that gives you an idea on how to budget and what different budgets means, I would like to reiterate that these are examples and each situation can be different in terms of the support you have around you to execute your wedding and it was designed to support your planning process, take what you will you lovely lot!

Bye for Now,

JBES XOXO

Wedding Planner and Coordinator Shropshire