Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wedding budgeting tool and ideas


So he’s popped the question and you’re on cloud nine. Your coffee table has now become a mountain of wedding magazines and the adventure of planning your wedding begins.
Suddenly your ‘to do’ list grows to a size that can be literally frightening. Parents, dresses, guests, venues, cakes, entertainment, bridesmaids, dance lessons, photographers, themes, décor, flowers, music, gifts, travel, tuxes, hair, makeup…ahhhh!

There are so many decisions to be made that it may feel overwhelming. But take a deep breath. Remember that this should (and CAN) be a wonderful and fun experience. Use these tips to make the start of your planning process truly an enjoyable one:
  • The best budgeting idea I have for you is to create a Budget Worksheet. A simple Excel sheet can be a phenomenal tool to keep track of your expenditures and to keep you within your budget. The worksheet sample below is a simple example of a typical wedding budget checklist. Your costs and line items may vary, but this should be a good starting point. Download a copy in PDF here, opens in a new window. Download an Excel Wedding Budgeting Tool Worksheet, this is a ZIP file, save and unzip! (Caution: not all formulas in the Excel sheet are guaranteed for accuracy. Please check your own work if you use this format)
  • Get a grip on the number of guests you expect to attend before you choose a venue. The darling stone chapel on the hill may be the cutest thing you’ve ever seen, but it will only hold 30 guests. You don’t want musical chairs or standing room only conditions.
  • Listen to Mother Nature. Hurricane season is called that for a reason. Be cautious about obvious weather restraints. Don't plan an outdoor wedding during the monsoon season.
  • Cha-Ching! If you’re responsible for tracking the expenses, get a credit card that offers rewards (miles for your honeymoon, gift cards, hotel points, etc.) It can be an easy way to keep track of your expenses – and to be rewarded for paying for various costs along the way.
  • The easiest way to trim and control your wedding budget is to reduce the number of guests. It’s amazing how guest lists have a tendency to grow uncontrollably when all of the parents and relatives offer their input. Co-workers of your great uncle may be delightful friends, but if it comes to crunch time, they should be the first to go. Imagine that each guest costs $100. Reduce 10 guests and you’ve saved $1000.
  • Get organized. Become best friends with your 3-ring binder...make tabs for your various vendors, clip photos of things you love (or don’t), keep notes during meetings with your coordinator and others.
  • Keep a digital camera in your car or purse to capture quick pictures of ideas you see – store them in your binder.
  • Set up a special email account dedicated just to your wedding. We can do this for you right here at Big Event Registration.
  • Set up a BLOG for your wedding planning complete with RSS feed to keep everyone posted on what's happening. Again, through we can do this for you right here at our sister company, Big Event Registration. The BLOG is free. The set up takes about an hour.
  • Put all your vendor and other important phone numbers in your phone memory so you’re not constantly looking them up.
  • Use Big Event Registration to handle your RSVPs online and provide an online printable confirmation if needed as a door or party pass for your guests. We can do this for 100 or 10,000 at a very affordable price.
  • Call Jody Taylor-Smith or Maude May at Good Taste Weddings and Events for all your professional event planning needs. We create events that are legendary for all the right reasons. See how we can make your dream vision a reality. Call toll free 877-389-1382 or visit us at Good Taste Events.

Plan your big event now.

We will come back to you with a comprehensive proposal ASAP

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