Are you going broke?

[cl_peterson]

My budget is getting way out of control! I can't believe I let this happen. I really wish I had gotten professional help with budgeting at the beginning of the planning, because maybe they would have been able to advise me on a realistic wedding that I could stick to. Ack! Is this happening to anyone else?

[esp1087]

I am sure it is quite common! My fiance and I are paying for our wedding and had to stick to a budget. We are going to be spending about what we planned on and maybe a little less.

You can still keep your budget under control. You can do a wedding on any budget. Are there things that you can change to save you money? That is if there is anything you are willing to change. If you are happy with everything that you have planned, than try to cut costs in other areas of your budget. For instance, if you have a great photographer, could you get a videographer that has experience but does it as a hobby? If you have an awesome caterer, could you get a relative or friend to make the cake?

We saved a lot of money by having people offer to help us with things for the wedding as gifts to us. Our parents are paying for the videographer, rehearsal dinner, and limo.

Hope that helps!

[reecey]

My budget is getting way out of control! I can't believe I let this happen. I really wish I had gotten professional help with budgeting at the beginning of the planning, because maybe they would have been able to advise me on a realistic wedding that I could stick to. Ack! Is this happening to anyone else?



I'm actually running about 1000.00 under my original budget of 6000.00 and that includes 500.00 for incidentals. If there is any way I can help you out, please let me know. I can give you my email address and you can send me your budget and costs and maybe I can help you find a way to get what you want at a lower price? Let me know if I can help!

[nle5]

I am actually coming in under budget at this point. I saved over $300 for the dress, slip, and corset; I will save about $125 on the veil by making it myself and having my uncle do the bead work; about $200 on the wedding cake -- comparing prices to what I was originally given and that of what my aunt is saying the cake will cost; plus another $1500 on pictures -- my friend is going to be doing all of the pictures for the wedding and reception.

My suggestion to you is to do as much of the wedding decorations as you can, do silk flower arrangement you can put together by yourself or have your bridal party over to help out, see what friends and family can help you with. You really never know when someone is going to say can I do the pictures .... cake .... video .... etc. Take anyone up on the offer as long as you know their quality work. With someone asking you if they can do it then ask to see pictures of their work. I'm sure they will be more than happy to show you.

[cl_peterson]

Honestly, I'm not sure if there is anything we are willing to cut back on at this point. That's the problem. I think if we had known more about costs from the beginning, then we would have gone in a more realistic direction for the wedding as a whole. You know like maybe change the time of the wedding so we wouldn't have to serve dinner, change to a cheaper location, etc. Cause now we are at the planning of the smaller details like flowers, and cake, and photography and invitations and this is where our budget is now falling apart, because I didn't realize how much we would have to spend to get what we want for these things and it is too late to pull the money from other areas of the budget. Oh well.

[reecey]

Honestly, I'm not sure if there is anything we are willing to cut back on at this point. That's the problem. I think if we had known more about costs from the beginning, then we would have gone in a more realistic direction for the wedding as a whole. You know like maybe change the time of the wedding so we wouldn't have to serve dinner, change to a cheaper location, etc. Cause now we are at the planning of the smaller details like flowers, and cake, and photography and invitations and this is where our budget is now falling apart, because I didn't realize how much we would have to spend to get what we want for these things and it is too late to pull the money from other areas of the budget. Oh well.


You may not have to cut back on anything - you might just be able to get exactlly what you want but at a cheaper price. Its really not too late to rework the remainder of your spending - it'll take some work and a lot of creativity, but it can be done :)