Your Simple Wedding Budget Breakdown

So you’re engaged! You may feel totally clueless about where to start and even be stressing about the expenses you may encounter. Expensive and stressful may be some words that start to come to mind, but that doesn’t need to be the case! Follow these simple wedding budget breakdowns for peace of mind! 

Venue And Catering…

Your venue and catering costs are a massive chunk of your budget, hence why considering your options for venues can change the size of your entire budget. An intimate celebration with your closest family and friends will have a different cost and outcome to a grand venue with a large amount of guests. Finding a venue that comfortably fits your guests, and fits your personal style is so important. In terms of catering, all guests will be expecting delicious food. Remember, catering doesn’t mean dinner, it also covers preparation, waitstaff, bar costs, liquor, and bartenders.

Cake…

Cake cost is very dependent on what you have in mind! The more elaborate and bigger the cake, the more expensive. Along with additional desserts, with so many styles to choose from, this can be a large cost. It can be an easy area to cut some costs if you’re looking to lower your budget a little. To give you an idea, the average wedding cake in Australia will cost you between $500 and $600, but cheaper options are absolutely available!

Rentals…

You are likely to rent a variety of items for your wedding. This may include items within the venue such as tables, chairs, glassware. Hosting an outdoor wedding will require more rental cost such as a marquee, lighting and power. Separate rental companies supply these details, however, sometimes your venue or caterer may provide these items for you. This is a great way to save money by choosing an all-inclusive package.

Attire and Beauty…

You want to feel and look your best on your big day, this is often achievable but at a cost! Your dream dress, hair and makeup can really cut into the budget. With so many artists available, you are able to shop around and seek options for the best artists at the lowest cost that works for you, or choose to cut costs and do it all yourself! Similarly with dresses, with such variety at different price points there is an appropriate dress for everyone. Be upfront with your budget when shopping around, to avoid the miscommunication when you find the dream dress that is way over budget! An appropriate cost for these would be about 10% of the wedding budget.

Flowers and Decor…

You can totally enhance your wedding decor with an array of gorgeous flowers. Once again, there is a series of costs involved with the flowers, outside of the items themselves. You are paying for the labour, delivery, supplies etc. Allocating 10% of your budget to flowers and decor is an appropriate amount to transform your venue without breaking the bank! Silk r fake flowers are also a great way to save a little bit of money!

Entertainment and Music…

The music played as you walk down the aisle, your first dance or when you’re partying with your closest family and friends is a memory that you will never forget. Hiring a professional to coordinate your music is so useful as they will ensure the day runs as smooth as possible. Factoring music into the budget should account for 6% of your total budget. This includes tunes for both the reception and ceremony

Photography and Videography…

On your big day, you want to ensure every special moment is captured so you can relive your wedding ever whenever you want! Because of the importance of capturing and cherishing the day, the cost of the photographer or videographer can take up a large percentage of the budget. Here you are paying for the time, editing, equipment and more, hence why it can often be such a large cost. Allocating 10% here is sufficient so that you can capture your day perfectly! This is one area we recommend really researching and paying a little extra for the better option.

Stationary…

Invitations, table numbers, ceremony programs and save-the-dates all play a large role in your wedding day. There are so many options available for how you chose to do your wedding invitations and stationery, so choosing a style that suits you is easily achievable. Allocating 3% of your total wedding budget is sufficient. Cutting costs here is also an option with designing your own invitations and stationery or doing it all online!

Wedding Rings…

The wedding rings aren’t only something of significance in your ceremony but will be something that you will wear for the rest of your life. This needs to be something that fits both your style and your budget. Fortunately, there is an abundance of options available, that should fit within your 2% of the allocated budget cost.

Transport…

Transport is an expense that will be useful to ensure all your guests arrive between venues on time, and is a factor that you can choose to opt-in or out of. If you choose to provide some transportation it should fit into 3% of your total wedding budget.

Gifts…

Gifts are a lovely way to thank your guests for attending your wedding, and can provide a lovely keepsake so they remember your special day forever! Choosing something that is unique to your personality and style, whilst being something that is useful for your guests, is a great way to show your appreciation for their gifts, time, and help in preparation for the day. Allocating about 2% of your total budget for gifts and favours is appropriate here.

Keep Yourself Accountable…

It is important that you stick to your pre-decided budget, as it will guide your decisions and ensure you’re not overspending on items that aren’t as essential to making your day run as smoothly as possible. This can be done through spreadsheets to analyse your spending, or through our planning tools!

Looking for some more wedding budgeting tips? Click here for our top tips to manage your budget!