Saving for a Summer Wedding

It is no secret that weddings can be expensive. Even the smallest most intimate affair can come with a hefty price tag. Here are some ways to make wedding planning and spending a bit more cost effective.

Set a Budget

There are many great websites and books that can help you figure out everything you will need for your wedding no matter how big or small. This is a very helpful first step as there will be items you will need that you might not think of on your own. These sources can also help you identify the costs for things such as flowers, venue, catering, etc.

Another important factor to consider when setting your wedding budget is to determine who is paying for what. These days it's not uncommon for both sets of parents to contribute to the cost of the wedding. It's a good idea to have these conversations before setting the budget, so that you know who is paying for what and what exactly everyone can afford.

Never too early to start saving

Maybe you are the bride and your parents have been saving since the day you were born. Unfortunately, a lot of brides to be are not in that situation. It seems more and more couples are footing the bill for their own weddings with just small contributions from parents. Starting a joint account to set up an automatic debit from your paycheck is a good place to start saving. This is an easy way to save, and the savings accumulate quickly.

Pay as you go

Most of your contracts will want the money on the day of. That is a lot of money to dole out at one time. A better idea is to pay as you go. You will need to pay deposits to reserve the venue, caterer, flowers and photographer to name a few, but there is no reason to not make regular payments to them as you earn the money. A lot of small expenses can be paid for from your regular income and you won't have to dip into the wedding savings account for these.

Remember as you are planning for your big day that spending more doesn't make you more married! Many beautiful weddings are planned on a limited budget. What's important is that it is your special day and remains so in your memories. Contact Carolina Money Minders today for more wedding financial help!