They say money makes the world go ’round and that you can never have enough.  The same principle applies to weddings – if you don’t budget realistically and determine your absolute spending limits, you can find yourself spending lots of money on little things.  You don’t want to regret anything about your big day!

I recently read a great article in the magazine I Do for Brides about three couples with three very different weddings – one with a $3,000 budget, one with a $10,000 budget and the last with a substantial $68,000 budget.  The first couple saved a ton of money by having the ceremony and reception at her parent’s house, arranging her own bouquets, purchasing her dress on eBay and limiting the bar to beer and wine, purchased in bulk from a store like Costco.

The couple with a $10,000 budget spent the majority of their money on catering and the reception site fees.  The third couple, with a $68,000 budget, spent $29,000 on food and service, $5,300 on flowers and $6,500 for the reception site.  One thing the weddings all had in common?  As the budgets increased, the do-it-yourself levels decreased.  Also, all of the brides had connections through family or friends to photographers, florists, bakers, wedding coordinators, etc.  Lesson?  Call in the favors you’re due – ask your friends for help and advice, but don’t take advantage of them.

There’s no right or wrong way to spend money on your wedding, but don’t forget that you’re also getting married – you’re beginning a lifelong journey with your soulmate.  Get your budget in place and stick to it so that you can have a little something to put towards an exotic three week honeymoon through the South Pacific or towards your first home together.

How did you budget for your wedding? How realistic was your budget – were you tempted by vendors up-selling services because you were having a wedding?