This is the first
installment of "Wedding Notes." In this column I
will attempt to address issues for the bride and groom that
often arise while planning their wedding. Some will be helpful
hints and others will be fun and informative. When I initially
began to write this column for this website, I realized that
I am not a writer, nor do I profess to be. I am an independent
wedding consultant in Montana. I have been a consultant for
8 years and during these years have come across just about
every situation possible while planning a wedding. In this
column I will attempt to take you step by step through the
planning process. I don't plan to give away any trade secrets,
but instead hope to get you started on the road to your dream
wedding.
The first thing
to be considered is the budget! You and your fiancé
must sit down and discuss what kind of a wedding you both
want, how much you can spend and who will pay for what. Will
you have parental assistance or will you have to pay for the
entire wedding yourselves? Remember to deal with reality,
not dreams. You should also have someone that will police
you in your spending. This could be a parent or close family
member. If you choose the services of a wedding consultant,
he or she can help you with establishing and keeping to your
budget. What are your priorities (flowers, decorations, food,
ceremony, photographs etc.)? If you give your priority items
higher budget amounts, then you will need to compensate by
keeping other non-priority items at lesser amounts. Find out
what each major vendor charges in your area. Once an amount
for each vendor is established, you should not go over that
amount. Don't forget the potential incidental costs (hair
appointments, long-distance calls, wardrobe maintenance).
Be realistic about what you can afford. Either you have enough
money where expense is no concern or you must have this wedding
within a certain cost range. The average wedding costs from
$20,000 to $35,000. However, with careful planning and cost
saving techniques it can be done for less. In future columns
I will give you some budget busting tips, which I hope will
assist you in keeping your dream wedding within the budget
you can afford.
Cheers!
Janet
