by Virginia L. Allen

Created on: April 16, 2009

Most U.S. couples spend at least $21,000 on their wedding preparations. Not including the engagement rings and the honeymoon, the majority spend over 50% of their anticipated budget!

In order to prevent this situation from happening to you, here are six steps toward creating and sticking to a wedding budget.

1.) Know Your Finances.

The first step in creating and sticking to a wedding budget, involves knowing where you stand regarding your finances. Realizing that your life will extend beyond the wedding day, should be a sounding board toward financial reasoning. Knowing the condition of your funds, will enable you to know just how much you can afford to spend.

2.) Communication.

Once you've determined how much you can afford, sit down and have a 'meeting of the minds' with your fiance, and anyone else involved in the financial decision making. Determine that this the only amount that you can afford to spend.

3.) Make A Detailed List Of Your Needs and Wants.

Now that everyone is on the same page, sit down and make a detailed list of your (and your fiance's) needs and wants. These details may include, but are not limited to:

wedding date

wedding attire

color scheme

wedding party (size and members)

guest list

wedding planner (if you choose to enlist the aid of one)

wedding and reception venue

wedding officiator (choice and cost)

cost of marriage license

cost of blood test (if required in your county)

invitations

flowers

decor

catering

alcohol license (if you choose to serve alcohol)

entertainment

gifts for wedding party (and those who assisted)

4.) Get Several Wedding Quotes.

Once you've made an extensive list of your needs and wants, using the Internet, newspaper, telephone book, and references, obtain several wedding quotes that will prevent you from making costly mistakes.

5.) Keep A Financial Journal.

With the use of a financial journal, keep track of how much you spend, what you're spending it on, and how much you have remaining.

6.) Stick To Your Budget.

With the help of your fiance, make a verbal affirmation. Pledge to stick with the budget put in place. If a price cannot be negotiated to what you need or want, either make major compromises, or do without. Learn quickly to say no to things you can't afford.

Planning a wedding; although a joy; often consumes much of one's time and energy. However, creating and sticking to a reasonable budget, will make the planning much, much easier.

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