by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: April 16, 2009   Last Updated: July 19, 2010

Most women have dreamt about what type of wedding she will have long before she is old enough to actually get married. Those dreams are carried into adulthood but little thought is given to how much that dream wedding will cost. Weddings can be a very costly effort. It takes months and sometimes years to pull it all together. The first thing that every couple should do is to create a wedding budget and then stick to it.

Here is a guide to help you plan the wedding budget:

The Money You Have

Check to see how much physical money you have to start with. This can save you from having to pay interest on loans for things you can pay up front. This should be the main focal point of your budgeting process. You can also consider the money that you will make up to the wedding date. You can set a particular amount to put aside for the big day.

The Money You Don't Have

If you don't have a lot of money to put towards the wedding, you may have to consider taking out a loan for it. Weddings cost a tremendous amount of money in most cases. It is wise to know where you stand. Check your credit history and know what you will be able to obtain in a loan. Remember that just because you can borrow a lot of money doesn't mean that you should. Only get the set amount that you feel you will need to have a wonderful wedding day. Remember that you will need to budget the loan payment into your future. You don't want to go into a marriage already saddled down with a huge debt from one day.

The Money You Are Willing to Pay Back

After these decisions are made, you will need to break it down. You need a detailed list of what you want and how much you will allocate to that portion of the wedding. Here are some things to think about:

Breaking down the Budget

You will need to decide what percentage of the money will be used for each purpose. It is important to keep in mind all the little things that go along with each category. The categories are as follows:

Wedding Attire

Gown, veil, undergarments, jewelry, tuxedo, hairstyles, fingernails, rings, garter belts, shoes, make-up and even dentist appointments can all fall under this category. Anything that is to be worn or enhances our appearance should be included.

Ceremony Site

This is a major part of the day. The site will have a rental fee but you will also need to include the person who performs the ceremony, organist or pianist and a soloist in the budget.

Reception Site

Many couples opt to have the ceremony at the same place as the reception.

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