What did you guys include in your wedding budget? What did you leave out (either on purpose or forget about)?
In budget: -venue -photographer -dj -photobooth -flowers -decor -STDs -invites
Out of budget: -my dress -tips -honeymoon -bridal party gifts -make up/hair -RD -grooms cake
I feel like I'm forgetting certain things or that I should do something. I'm just having a lot of anxiety about wedding money lately and I'm not sure why because FH and I have our savings plan and we're sticking to it! I think part of the reason why is because we have 4 weddings to attend this year and 4 weddings to attend next year before our own. We can only really decline the invite to one wedding this year.
Next year we've got a wedding June (his friend from HS), August (his sister), September (one of my oldest friends who I'm a BM for) and then October (one of my closest friends) and then a break in November and then our wedding!
I'm trying to figure out how to budget in THEIR weddings as well (gifts, bachelorette parties, showers, etc)
Simonenarissa
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Budget/Money vent/anxiety
I've used books and online budgeting since day one.. They usually include every single one of those items plus a million more that I'm not doing which gives me extra wiggle room with the budget
Simonenarissa
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Oh! The only things I didn't budget for in that was tips and honeymoon...
ladygoodman
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I did not include in budget dj, photographer, dress and accessories.....my mom is paying for all of those. Also flowers because my centerpieces are included with my rh and my aunt will be making all the bouquets with silk flowers except for mine because I'm making a brooch bouquet. And the rd his parents are paying for. Everything else is in the budget.
I hear ya about the budget anxiety. We don't have that many weddings but we have one in Hawaii in July and we are in the process of buying a house. As long as you're sticking to a savings plan it'll be ok.
Soon2BeMrsPy
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We included everything in the budget!! We even included croissants for the morning of hahah
sandr325
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I found all the little items are what start to add up. Don't forget:
I have a VERY detailed budget. Even things like my garter, stamps, thank yous, save the dates, limos, favors, etc. The only thing I am not including in it is our honeymoon.
LadyReeRee
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We also included everything in our total budget besides tips and honeymoon.
We didn't exactly list items in our budget. We just set a number and are doing our best to stay as close to that number as possible (though it's definitely going to go over).
But I hear you on the money anxiety. FH and I discussed money this week and I actually ended up in tears. At least you know about all the weddings you have now and can save for them! One thing that makes me feel better is that we don't have any vendor payments now until it gets closer to the wedding, aside from the stuff we haven't booked yet. The engagement has been such a wonderful time for us, but the money aspect sure gets stressful sometimes.
meejack1110
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Budget/Money vent/anxiety
When I made my budget I only included 'big purchases' and things that had to be payed off.(Hall, DJ, Photog, Dress, Rings, Honeymoon) Because that's all we can really afford! lol Other things like my DIY and little extras/decor/bridal party gifts comes out of my Monthly spending Cash. It's the only way I can make sure I don't go buck nutty on the spending in those categories and this way I don't touch the 'Wedding' money.
Also I originally budgeted for Dress, but my Mom announced later that she will be buying it for me :) so I call that my pretend money, As in I pretend its not there because I am sure other expenses will pop up.
When something unexpected comes up (NWR) I freak too..I'm like ohh God we can't food shop this week just to stay on budget!! Hahah its def not that extreme but I have a flair for the dramatic lol.
As long as I stay on track with the saving/spending I know I will be ok!
bridejackson22
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Budget/Money vent/anxiety
I included all the big things in the budget venue, photog,video, doc, dj, officiant, flowers, limo, hotel, invitations, std.
What didn't equate into our budget were detail items, bridal party gifts, rings, honeymoon, tips, dress, tux. So we are just trying our hardest to save. I have really bad anxiety about it. I constantly freak out and have mini panic attacks about we are behind in the amount. I have broken down in tears several times already and have a long way to go. The money and budget is the most stressful part. We are just going to do the best we can.
meejack1110
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Re: Budget/Money vent/anxiety
Posted by bridejackson22
I included all the big things in the budget venue, photog,video, doc, dj, officiant, flowers, limo, hotel, invitations, std.
What didn't equate into our budget were detail items, bridal party gifts, rings, honeymoon, tips, dress, tux. So we are just trying our hardest to save. I have really bad anxiety about it. I constantly freak out and have mini panic attacks about we are behind in the amount. I have broken down in tears several times already and have a long way to go. The money and budget is the most stressful part. We are just going to do the best we can.
Oh No!! Don't break down! If you can get a number on how much you need by a specific Date just break down that number to what you have to save each month leading up to it, and then each week.
I've found seeing a weekly number feels more manageable, and I just make sure to put that away each and every week. Best of luck and don't stress!
Meine13
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Re: Budget/Money vent/anxiety
Our budget includes everything except rings, attire and honeymoon.
MissToMrs
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ughhh i feel like we are always talking budget- honestly we are just trying to make smart, budget conscious decisions rather than put an exact dollar amount on this wedding!! i stress ALL THE TIME!
Jess41
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You should definitely figure out whats most important for you and then go from there. Find budget vendors! People just starting out can do quality work for MUCH less than well-established/ well known companies.
Maybe you can find some DIY items on Pinterest to save money.
We're well within our budget. We have all of our major vendors booked and they definitely fall in our budget.
I think I'm stressing out because I feel like I should've included things like my dress in the budget (even though I plan on paying for it on my own because I didn't want anyone saying I couldn't have a dress I really wanted) and I feel like I should've included the OTHER weddings in my freakin' budget. With all the other weddings... thats like an additional... 3k right there!! Insanity I tell you... INSANITY!
larlynn
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Budget/Money vent/anxiety
We really just have a number in our head that we're trying to stick to. I buy things I want/need as I go along without really taking cost into account, which probably isn't the best way to go about it. My parents make the payments to the venue, FH's father gave him the money for the photographer, we've done all the deposits so far for the band, cigar roller and DOC. We ordered the save the dates and I put the deposits down on hair and makeup. My mom bought my dress and veil. I have a feeling at the end we're going to be shelling out more money then we realize, which I'm dreading!
MsErikaLynn
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Budget/Money vent/anxiety
I budgeted almost everything even though I took into consideration that some things like BP gifts and decorations I will be using my own spending $ towards.
RH photography videography officiant transportation DJ cocktail musician (if we can afford it!) photobooth (another if we can add on) flowers bridal party gifts decorations save the dates invitations thank yous money moon wedding rings
ummm I don't have my list infront of me but I have it ALL with the exception of the gratuities. I'm kind of a list freak! lol
bridejackson22
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Re: Budget/Money vent/anxiety
Posted by meejack1110
Posted by bridejackson22
I included all the big things in the budget venue, photog,video, doc, dj, officiant, flowers, limo, hotel, invitations, std.
What didn't equate into our budget were detail items, bridal party gifts, rings, honeymoon, tips, dress, tux. So we are just trying our hardest to save. I have really bad anxiety about it. I constantly freak out and have mini panic attacks about we are behind in the amount. I have broken down in tears several times already and have a long way to go. The money and budget is the most stressful part. We are just going to do the best we can.
Oh No!! Don't break down! If you can get a number on how much you need by a specific Date just break down that number to what you have to save each month leading up to it, and then each week.
I've found seeing a weekly number feels more manageable, and I just make sure to put that away each and every week. Best of luck and don't stress!
I try not to but it always gets me overwhelmed and in a panic. We do our budget once a week to make sure we actually stuck to our budget so we have that way we have no set backs. I have been trying little by little to start a list of things I want and how much I need to save for it. So still working on that hopefully we will get there and I can stop having panic attacks about the money and budget.
RoandJoe
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Budget/Money vent/anxiety
Everything you left out of your budget was what I left out. I didn't think it was fair to include these things when I wasn't paying for them or splitting them with other people. I haven't gotten overwhelmed YET, but I'm expecting to when we get closer. We made a decent amount from our engagement party and make sure we put away 1,000 each monthly. The thing I'm worried about most is the little things that I know will add up. We have so many details to include that are a couple hundred here and there. Totally adds up in the end.
