Bride to Bride Tip #4: Create a Budget & Stick to it as Best You Can

Creating a budget for your wedding is essential!  It's always a good idea to manage how much you are spending... especially when it comes to an event like a wedding where spending can easily get out of control.  If you have family who is helping pay, it's also nice to try and record that in with your budget as well.

Sometimes it's very easy to go overboard so if you can create a budget before you begin your plans and stick to it as best you can, the better off you will be!

A couple of budget tips that I've found helpful (some of which I have been using) are:

1. Have your ceremony and reception in the same place:  We are doing this and it is saving us several site fees as well as transportation cost (limo prices can get crazy!).
2. Choose a "pretty" venue:  This may sound a little odd but if you book your wedding reception at a venue that is beautiful without all of the added odds and ends, then you most likely will not have to spend a lot on extra decor/decorations.
3. Look for a reception venue that does its own catering... this will save you lots of time, money, and stress!
4. Have your rehearsal dinner at home:  My fiance and I are in the process of moving into our first home together and we plan on holding an intimate rehersal dinner at our new house.  This works out well for us because we both come from families who adore cooking so we are not only saving money on a venue, but also catering fees!
5. Choose an off season month and less popular day for your nuptuals:  It's AMAZING how the time of year and day of the weekend can affect the cost!  We originally wanted to do a Summer wedding on a Saturday and after venue shopping forever, we've decided on a Sunday (part of a three day weekend) in November and we've saved over $60 a person!!

Those are a few tips that I found extremely useful!  Click here for a wonderful wedding budget worksheet!!