Happy Wedding Wednesday! 

How to Avoid the Overspending Trap

Once your wedding has come and gone, many couples realize a massive difference between their initial wedding budget and what they actually spend for their big day. According to a study by WeddingWire and Grow by Acorns + CNBC, 68% of couples admit that they set a low initial wedding budget. So how to avoid this discrepancy during your wedding planning process, and what should couples realistically expect to spend?

Average Wedding Budget vs. Actual Wedding Spending

In Texas, the average cost of a wedding is $19,324. Well, it turns out that the average wedding price is closer to $28,000 — which is a pretty significant discrepancy. In particular, if you tie the know in a major metropolitan area – Dallas- Fort Worth- Arlington, for example, is $25,786. Destination weddings cost slightly more than hometown weddings, especially after factoring in travel and lodging costs.

Another crucial factor in your wedding cost is the total number of guests. The more guest you and your soulmate invite, the more you’ll spend on your wedding ceremony and reception. So a small wedding is a great way to save money. And it includes your wedding party members—bouquets, boutonnieres, gifts, and other expenses will be incurred by each bridesmaid, groomsman, groomslady, or bridesman, and they can quickly add up!

How to create a realistic wedding budget?

The most difficult element of planning for newly engaged couples, according to 44%, has been managing their finances. So, how can you How to Avoid the Overspending Trap

Average Wedding Budget vs. Actual Wedding Spending

In Texas, the average cost of a wedding is $19,324. Well, it turns out that the average cost of a wedding is closer to $28,000 — which is a pretty big discrepancy. In particular, if you tie the know in a major metropolitan area – Dallas- Fort Worth- Arlington, for example, is $25,786. Destination weddings tend to cost slightly higher than local weddings, especially after factoring in travel and lodging costs.

Another crucial factor in your wedding cost is total number of guests. The more guest you and your soulmate invite, the more you’ll spend on your wedding ceremony and reception. A small wedding is a great way to save money. And it includes your wedding party members—bouquets, boutonnieres, gifts, and other expenses will be incurred by each bridesmaid, groomsman, groomslady, or bridesman, and they can quickly add up!

How to create a realistic wedding budget?

The most difficult element of planning for newly engaged couples, according to 44%, has been figuring out and/or managing their finances. So, how can you be sure you don’t end up spending more than you planned? Rather than guessing how much a wedding will cost and risk overspending, your goal should be to develop an appropriate budget ahead of time. To get started, follow these steps:

1. Find our average wedding costs in your area
2. Research wedding vendors before budgeting

While we usually advise couples to determine their wedding budget early in the planning phase, many couples do it too soon. Yes, determining your total spending budget is critical, but you’ll also need to be able to divide it to pay for each wedding product or service. That means you’ll need to know the typical cost of each wedding vendor you’re considering. According to the Grow and WeddingWire study, 75% of engaged couples set a budget before doing any research on vendor costs, which is an easy trap to fall into. Each vendor, from wedding venues to officiants, wedding planners to caterers, photographers, florists, and more, plays a crucial role in your wedding, and you’ll want to know how much each one costs so you can budget more effectively.

Start an open dialogue on who is paying

While around one out of every four couples pays for their entire wedding, many couples rely on family for financial assistance (here’s the standard “who pays for what” split, if you’re curious). According to the Grow x WeddingWire study, 72 percent of couples receive financial assistance from their parents when it comes to paying for their wedding.

If any of your loved ones are contributing to your wedding, it’s tempting to simply say “thank you” and avoid asking the difficult questions, such as how much they can spend on your big day. This is a vital conversation, even if it is a little awkward. Most family contributors, according to our research, give the couple a specific cash amount regardless of the wedding’s final cost—and you’ll want to know what that number is.

Also keep in mind that having a financial stake in the wedding gives them some control over the details. While 82 percent of couples in our survey feel grateful for their parents’ engagement, there are undoubtedly some conditions. One-third of those couples feel obligated to listen to their parents’ advice on the big day, while one-fifth have disagreements with their parents during the preparation phase. To reduce tension, talk to your parents or other contributors ahead of time to determine which aspects of the wedding they will participate in.

“Splurge vs Save” Conversation with your soulmate early

Finding out what your objectives are—which are different for every couple—is one of the most crucial tasks in setting your wedding budget. Perhaps you want extravagant centerpieces, a designer gown or tuxedo, or a show-stopping wedding cake, but your partner prefers videography and a live band. It’s time to compromise! You and your future soulmate will have to limit down your wedding budget to two or three areas where you’re willing to splurge. According to the study, one out of every three couples is willing to spend more on the one or two things they truly desire, and would be willing to expand their budget to do so. If you don’t talk about it ahead of time (and put it in writing! ), you can end up overspending in a variety of areas.

Be prepared for the unexpected.

Wedding preparation isn’t always easy (just ask anyone who planned a wedding during the COVID outbreak! ), and it’s not uncommon for unforeseen expenses to arise. Indeed, 58 percent of couples in the study expressed concern about paying these additional fees during the planning process. If you’ve done your homework, though, these costs should be few and far between. Here are a few examples: Most couples forget about the marriage license and tips and gratuities until a few weeks before their wedding day. If you consider these costs into your budget earlier in the planning phase, they won’t come as a surprise when the time comes.

Make a plan for how you’ll pay for everything.

You’ll want to figure out how you’ll pay for your wedding, especially if you and your soulmate are paying for all or part of it yourselves. Will you pay with your savings account, bank account, cash, or credit card—or will it differ from one seller to the next? According to the study, 66% of couples paid for their wedding expenses with a savings account, 55% with a checking account, and 54% with cash. In addition, 30% of couples used an existing credit card to pay for wedding expenses, while 6% acquired a new credit card account. Maintaining strict control over these bank accounts can help you avoid overdrawing and pay off any credit card debt sooner rather than later.

Keep in mind your personal money and financial objectives.

Remember that you and your soulmate will be newlyweds with your own financial goals after your wedding, whether it’s buying a house, paying off student loans and/or credit card debt, or even going on a big trip or honeymoon. While balancing everything can be tough, it is achievable. Remember to base your first wedding budget on your present financial condition, taking into account your monthly spending and other obligations. While you may be able to make extra money during the planning process by, for example, working extra shifts at work, don’t consider it into your original budget until the extra dollars have arrived in your bank account.

Don’t get caught up in the do-it-yourself craze.

Many couples attempt to DIY a variety of goods, such as wedding invitations and favors, because it appears to be a cost-effective option. While this is true in some cases, keep in mind that there are genuine expenditures involved. And we’re not just talking about the supplies (which can be more expensive than you think!). DIY projects can consume a lot of your time and effort. And if you’re not a good craftsperson, the ultimate result might not be to your liking, leaving you racing to locate a (perhaps expensive) substitute. What is our recommendation? Go ahead and do one DIY project for your wedding, but leave the majority of the work to the professionals.

Make use of an online wedding budget calculator.

From spreadsheets to pen and paper, there are several ways to keep track of your wedding spending during the planning process. Use WeddingWire’s online wedding budget calculator, the Knot, and even Zola, to keep track of your expenses and avoid overspending. An online tool is especially useful because it can be used by several people (unlike an Excel spreadsheet or a handwritten budget), and it handles a lot of the job for you in terms of dividing up your budget for different vendors and providing payment reminders.

Stephanie April Photography, LLC, North Texas Wedding Photography who believes in {Capture} Raw Emotions between Soulmates! Are you recently engaged? Congratulations! If you are looking for a bold and moody engagement + wedding photographer for your upcoming wedding, inquiry today! To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over pricing and products. 

Happy Wedding Wednesday!

Congratulations on finding your soulmate. Now comes the fun part of figuring out how to propose while having the jitters. The most important thing is not to forget to ask the big question: “Will you marry me?”

Your proposal is one of the most significant events in your soulmate and your life, and you want to remember it forever. Hiring a professional proposal photographer to capture the moment you pop the question to your soulmate, allows you to keep that moment alive. Consider these advantages for hiring a photographer for your big moment, whether you’re planning a grandiose proposal or more spur-of-the-moment. Check out the top days to propose.

Your soulmate will appreciate it.

There is a high chance that your soulmate has watched tons of proposal videos across multiply social media feeds. The moment you take the ring out of its concealed location, you become so engrossed in the moment that you won’t recall it much later. However, both of you will want to remember your proposal, and hiring a photographer is a great way to show how much you care and effort you put into making it unique for your soulmate. Your photographer can capture your soulmate’s every expression!

Personalize Your Save the Dates

Most couples use their engagement photos for save the dates, but a proposal photo can be a fantastic alternative. This welcomes your friends and family in on the moment you popped the question.

You don’t have to rely on your family or friends.

Of course, you can always ask a friend to take photos and even video of your proposal, but they may have inadequate skills or maybe too obvious and ruin the surprise. A professional proposal photographer will not only create high-quality, frame-worthy imagery, but they’ll know how to be sneaky and keep it a secret about taking photos from a distance to maintain that intimate feeling of your proposal.

Have an engagement session.

You’re probably already dressed up and looking fancy, and you’ve brought a photographer with you. So why not take a couple more photographs? Don’t worry these don’t have to be your official engagement photos, but snapping pictures together is a terrific way to document your joy. Remember that if you want to take engagement photos, your proposal location should be beautiful.

The capture of Raw Emotions

As much as your first day and wedding day, your proposal is a significant part of your love story. You don’t have to worry about strangers being in the background. Your photographer can give you some great spots that would give you the best lighting and angles for your proposal. Also, you will be able not to be interrupted or interrupt someone else’s day.

Sharing Your Proposal Images

Your photographer can help you create a narrative for your proposal through your images. Learn more about Hiring a {Secret} Proposal Photographer. The Knot recommends a Proposal Photographer.

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Stephanie April Photography is a Wylie Proposal Photographer who believes in {Capture} Raw Emotions between Soulmates! Proposing to your Soulmate? Congratulations! If you are looking for a bold and moody engagement + wedding photographer for your upcoming wedding, inquiry today! To arrange for a complimentary consultation to go over pricing and products.