How to budget for your Wedding – In other words have we got the money honey? 😉
Don’t be nervous if we mentioned the ‘b-word’ as your wedding planning starts with working out your budget! Most of our dearly beloved couples are new at this and have not planned a wedding before. If it is your second wedding, things may have changed in the wedding industry. Hence its important to recap as to what is needed when planning your wedding day. All special events need a clearly defined budget and careful planning. The last thing we want is for you to feel overwhelmed or get stressed due to unnecessary or unforeseen wedding costs.
To share the first and ultimate truth with you, your guest count and size of your wedding is what is going to impact your budget. Should you want to spend less – your guest count needs to be reduced. Should you have a flexible budget then its possible for a larger guest count. Please be realistic about this. To take away from the beauty of your wedding day would be to cut the budget with a larger guest count. It will be evident and noticeable on your special day.
Let’s launce wedding budget planning! Do you know what your overall wedding budget is? How much can you would you like to spend? In order to reduce stress it is very important in the initial early stages of planning to draw a rough draft of what is needed and how much all of that is going to cost. Itemize all items and services needed – then call up your favorite aunty who you may not have seen for many years – and ask for a donation! That’s just us making a little joke.
What ideally needs to happen is there needs to be a friendly family meeting called of both the bride and the grooms family. You will soon be one family not two! Chat to all and let them know what is needed and hopefully each family can share the costs with the couple and help a little by contributing to the budget.
The following are some basic wedding services and wedding items that will cost money – some of them are OPTIONAL but if wanted by the Bride and Groom will need to be included into the wedding budget.
1.WEDDING FLORIST
The following items are examples of what is usually included in your floral budget. The Brides Bouquet and well as her Bridesmaids bouquets. Then please add boutonnieres for the Groom and his Groomsmen. Other flowers are the optional floral center pieces for each of the reception tables. The wedding ceremony decorative flowers for the wedding arbor where you say your wedding vows and then flowers or petals to decorate the ceremony aisle. Check with your Florist if their team is setting up your flowers or simply delivering the flowers (important to know) Should you not have the budget for a florist then you can do your own wedding flowers. These can be either fake or real flowers. Simply make a note to buy 2 feet long zip ties in white or clear to attach your flowers to the ceremony arbor and let us know to have our step ladder ready for you to use.
2. WEDDING DJ or Musicians
Ask us about our in house Saxaphone player and let us put you in touch with George on Sax. He also has a duo available with his friend that can be added for a team of two on keyboard.
DJ’s usually need to include Dance Floor lighting, cordless microphone, Master of Ceremonies duties to make your announcements and of course all the music that you prefer needs to be pre-downloaded by him or her. The cost of a Wedding DJ is determined by the amount of hours they play. Ask us to book one of our two in-house DJ’s for your wedding as they know our property well and both of them do an excellent job
3. WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY
For weddings of 90 guests or more its advisable to book a team of 2 photographers. Smaller weddings where one photographer is needed, always works out less expensive. Photography can be booked for elopements for one hour or two hours. Standard wedding packages such a day or full weekend weddings can book a wedding photographer for five hours however up to eight hours will cover more. The max of hours for full wedding coverage is ten hours.
4. WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY
This is an optional additional expense but absolutely amazing to have one for your memories! If you hire one – ask them if they have a drone as those make nothing short of spectacular footage!
5. HAIR AND MAKE UP TEAM
Costs depend on the size of the bridal party and how many ladies are having their hair and makeup done on your wedding day.
6. WEDDING DRESS, BRIDESMAIDS DRESSES, SUITS FOR THE GROOMSMEN
These items can be bought or rented. Please remember your wedding dress will need to be dry cleaned after your wedding day.
7. WEDDING CATERER :
These costs depend on whether you use Disposable Dishes and Cups OR Real Dishes and Glassware, Table Cloths, Linen Napkins or Disposable Paper Napkins. You also need one server per 20 to 25 guests and a Bar Tender to adequately manage the Cocktail Hour and Reception Dinner plus cleanup at the end of the night. Caterers usually charge a fee per server. Large guest count require a larger team of servers.
8. CAKE AND DESSERTS
Some couples do a large two or three tier wedding cake. This is then cut and served by your wedding caterer to your guests. Other couples book a smaller wedding cake to cut with assortment of smaller desserts such as cupcakes, chocolate brownies, mini cheesecaks etc. You are welcome to bring in your own cake or desserts to Greenock Manor as these do not need to be supplied by a caterer.
9. WEDDING PLANNER or ON THE DAY WEDDING COORDINATOR
Ideally your wedding planner is there to reduce stress for you with wedding planning leading up to your special day. They also assist for the actual wedding day and co-ordinate all your wedding vendors. This is so all are on the same page with the various activities happening on your wedding.
10. Parking attendant, Babysitting may be additional optional expenses depending on your wedding guest count and needs.
11. DECOR to create and add to your wedding theme
Did I mention how much I love the Hobby Lobby? sigh! Larger items such as wine barrels, wooden chairs etc can be rented from wedding rental companies, smaller items can be purchased. Greenock Manor does include basic wedding décor items to help the bridal family reduce unnecessary expenses. Please note this is done as a gesture of kindness to help reduce costs and is dependent on which items we have available at the time. Items do go missing or get damaged from time to time so just check with us which decor items are available.
12. WEDDING FAVORS
These can be placed directly onto the reception tables and then become part of the wedding decor and theme. Another option is to place them in a basket for guests to collect as they depart towards the end of the night.
13. TENTING FOR RAIN PLAN
Greenock luckily owns their own tents so ask about set up costs for the ceremony tent and or the clear tent side panels that we can enclose the reception deck to add warmth for your wedding guests.
14. GRATUITY
It is customary to tip your Catering Team of staff, Parking attendant, Bar Tender, Wedding Planner or On the Day Wedding Coordinator. Any amount is valued by staff so please make a little note as its the thought that counts.
In closing, and if we have to give you the most honest feedback : The greatest factor that influences your wedding costs is the size of your guest count. The larger the wedding and the more wedding guests invited – the more expensive everything will be. For larger guests lists you will need more plates, dishes, linens, drinks, ice, appetizers, main course, desserts, decor, table center pieces, wedding favors and a tons more. All of those items cost money. Our advice is to choose your guest list wisely and realistically. It’s better to have a classy and beautiful wedding with less guests – than a large wedding where corners are cut due to budget restraints.
Have you any questions? We love to hear from you! Please email us and set up a twenty minute budget planning call with us. This consultation is $20 for twenty minutes to be sent to us by Zelle details Chanel Miller and cell 7036877641. Get ahead in the planning process and insight into the wedding industry. We will assist you with a full understanding of what is needed and what those services and items cost in the wedding industry. We help and advise ALL couples not just couples who are booked to have their wedding at Greenock Manor. We look so forward to chatting to you. In our hearts our happiness is derived from knowing we have reduced stress for you and assisted to pave the way for a beautiful wedding day for each and every couple.
