The ManicaPost
Hello there everyone, hope you are all great. Last week I gave you a 12 month wedding list to help future couples plan a successful wedding. Now each week, I shall reiterate what needs to be done in each section of the months. I will also choose a key subject from each portion and break it down in that weeks column.
This week we are reiterating what needs to be done in the 10 to 12 months before the wedding date. The budget is the topic we are discussing.
Before you do anything, decide how much you want to spend on the wedding. Most couples do this the wrong way.
They go around getting prices, then they add it all up and get the budget. This way of doing things may get the couple into trouble, because they end up choosing things they cannot afford.
When I meet potential couples I work with a percentage budget instead of a dollar budget. So choose an over-all budget such as $3000, $5000, $10 000 or $20 000 etc., then work your percentages from there. If the budget you set is too low, you have a choice of pushing your wedding date further back until you can raise enough money, or get relatives to pay for some things or reduce your wedding wants to fit the amount of money you can actually raise. Do not rely on getting money on the wedding day. Too many couples start marriage in debt because of unpaid wedding bills. Don’t be one of those couples.
This is why we have the wedding column in Manica post to help couples avoid these mistakes.
Herewith the budget I have used with potential brides for decades and it never fails. It all adds to 100%. Feel free to reduce some percentages and increase other percentages, as long as it is always up to 100%. Budget in percentage terms – Reception (Catering, Bar) 55%, Ceremony 3%, Apparel (bridal/Groom attire) 10%, Flowers (Decor) 8%, Photography/Videography 9%, Transport 3%, Stationery (Wedding invitations, Thank cards) 3%, Favours & Gifts 2%, Accommodation 4%, Rehearsal Dinner 2%, Miscellaneous 1%.
For those whose strength is not mathematics, here is the budget in real terms, based on a 10 000 wedding budget. But you can use it on any budget higher or lower than $10 000.
Budget in real terms — Reception $5500, Ceremony $300, Apparel (bridal/Groom attire) $1 000, Flowers $800, Photography/Videography $900, Transport $300, Stationery $300, Favours & Gifts $200, Accommodation $400, Rehearsal Dinner $200, Miscellaneous $100
Good luck folks, until next week, God bless. I can be contacted at Utate Gardens Event Management (0714 487 470) during working hours.
