Marriage
Wedding Guide Budget Planner
Wedding Expense Tally Register
Each wedding is unique, couples have different priorities, and costs vary from city to city. As you make decisions about how to spend your money based on what's significant to you, enter your costs and tally up how much money is allocated and what you have left to spend. We recommend that you make several copies of this Budgeting Guide so you can use one for estimates as you shop and a final version. Happy planning!
| Item | Price Variables | Your Cost |
|
Ceremony Location Fee Are you a member of the congregation or do you have another connection to a certain site such as an alumnus, a club member, or relative? |
Where the wedding is held. The prices will probably be higher if you are getting married near, or in, a larger city. Is it a publicly owned or private property? | $ |
|
Officiant Fee/Donation Are you members of the congregation or have you known the person giving the ceremony a long time? |
Is the demand and popularity of the officiant high? Remember, the cost is at the discretion of the house of worship or the officiant. | $ |
|
Ceremony Accessories There are items such as a Chuppah, Candles, Ring Pillow, Flower Basket, etc. |
Whether you get accessories from your ceremony site or purchase them yourselves. How important are the props to you? You might be able to borrow these items from a relative or from the facility where you wed. | $ |
|
Reception Venue/Rentals Items such as a tent, tables, special chairs, linens, may be extra cost. Find out how much they are charging for each item. These are usually highly negotiable. If they don't offer any price breaks, shop party rental companies. |
Demand/popularity of site; time of year and time of day; where the wedding is; whether you need to rent tables, chairs, tent, etc.; whether the place does weddings all the time or hardly ever; publicly vs. privately owned; on-site catering; the size of your guest list, more people, more space. | $ |
|
Cocktail Hour/Reception |
The same rules apply for the cocktail hour as the ceremony, except they may work for the venue and not the ceremony site. | $ |
|
Reception Music A band or disc jockey? |
A band is always more expensive than a DJ. The demand and popularity of the band or DJ. The location of your wedding reception- is it hard to get to and far away? Will the band or DJ have to spend the night? Also if the wedding is near or in a large city the prices may be higher. The number of musicians, the instruments band members play; the sophistication of the DJ's equipment; professionals vs. amateurs and how long you want them to play will all determine the price. | $ |
| Photographer | The demand and popularity of the photographer as well as if he or she needs an assistant are the primary factors. Also, the hours you hire him/her to work; where the wedding is and the type of film and number and sizes of prints you buy or, the package you choose will help determine the price. Photo treatments may mean extra darkroom work, at an extra fee. | $ |
| Video and additional Prints | Price variables for a videographer are similar to the photographer, except you need to consider the number and types of cameras and other equipment; length and type of the video and the number of tapes you buy; special effects that may mean extra editing-room work. | $ |
|
Communication Materials Announcements, invitations, reply cards, maps, other inserts, calligraphy costs, thank you notes, etc. |
The paper stock, i.e. the weight and type of paper used, as well as the printing technique; number of invites and envelopes you need, extra enclosure cards; postage; special designs, professional calligraphy vs. addressing by hand; rush ordering and one very big cost factor can be where you buy your supplies. A stationery department store, online, or mail-order catalog will vary greatly in price | $ |
|
Transportation Limousine, car rentals, guest shuttle, valet parking |
Limousine size, type, color, how many hours you rent it for, and the amenities will be factors in the price. Some limo companies include champagne and others do not. How many cars you need for your wedding party? Do you need a shuttle or valet service? You have to consider how large your party is, how many hours you need the attendants to shuttle guests or be available for valet service. | $ |
| Groom's Attire | Cost can vary greatly from venue to venue for food and service. The style of either the suit or tux the groom wears as well as the exclusivity of designer. Cost factors are also renting vs. buying and whether accessories like shirt, shoes, etc. are bought or rented. | $ |
| Groom's Accessories | Shoes, tie, cufflinks, etc. If you already have some of these items such as shoes, cufflinks, etc. you can save some money. Also, consider borrowing some items. | $ |
| Bridesmaid Bouquet and Flower Girl | Style - nosegay, cascade, etc.; size; how many flowers; types of flowers; complexity of the arrangements; hand tied vs. bouquet holder; whether a florist arranges them or you create your own. | $ |
| Groom & Groomsmen Boutonnieres | Type of flowers; how many; whether the flower shop/florist creates them, complete with pins; additional greenery/baby's breath. | $ |
| Attendant Gifts & Reception Favours | How much time and effort have your attendants contributed to your wedding? Your attendant gifts are always at your discretion. Some couples decide to give larger gifts to the maid of honour and the best man. The costs of your favours depend on whether or not you are going to get them personalized, if they are from a specialty shop, or if you can buy them in bulk. | $ |
| Reception Décor & Centrepieces | The size and complexity of arrangements as well as the reputation of the designer are usually the major cost factors. The actual material used to make the arrangement; flowers, greenery, vases, candelabras, etc. | $ |
| Ceremony Site Decorations | If the venue is beautiful as is – use the money towards something more meaningful, like your new joint bank account. The larger the sanctuary, the more decorations you may need, like floral arches or wreaths, vines and flowers on window sills, etc. | $ |
| Ceremony Musicians | The number of musicians; the instruments they play; how long they play; professionals vs. amateurs or students and whether they work for the ceremony site will all be price factors. | $ |
Navigate this Series
- Part 1
- Part 2
- Part 3
- Part 4
- Wedding Guide Budget Planner
- Wedding Guide: Part 2
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