Detailed Budget

Hello Brides! Just wondering how you have made your budget for your destination wedding If you could give me a little peak into your budget such as budget for resort, dress, decorations, DJ, Video, Photo's OOT bags, invitations, ect ect

Beginning to plan my wedding and would like some input on bidgetting for the special day

Originally Posted by BridetobeABCD 

 

Hello Brides! Just wondering how you have made your budget for your destination wedding If you could give me a little peak into your budget such as budget for resort, dress, decorations, DJ, Video, Photo's OOT bags, invitations, ect ect

 

Beginning to plan my wedding and would like some input on bidgetting for the special day

I started with a budget planning tool on TheKnot.com. It was a decent starting point and got me thinking about what I wanted, needed, and couldn't live without. Ultimately, it wasn't flexible or user-friendly enough to suit my purposes, so I ended up creating my own Excel spreadsheets using the one on Knot.com as a baseline to plan the budget. I've since expanded the idea and have an additional spreadsheet for our savings plan and another to track what we've spent so far.  

I used the budget generator here (top right download):  http://www.bridetodo.com/todo.php  and tweaked it a bit to fit what I needed.  I've added to it since - for example, I have a tab for total that is the sum of 2 more tabs - one for my parents' expenses and one for mine.  Then I've just added in extra tabs for things like OOT bags.  It's really helped me to keep everything in one place and stay on top of it all.  It has truly been a life saver.

The Wedding Wire website has a budget calculator.  I used that for my wedding.

I'm with LCB on this one- I looked at basic wedding budgets on theknot.com and weddingwire.com but there's so many more expenses for a DW. I did the same as her, started an excel sheet and every time I thought of some other expense, I listed it. It also doubles as my "to-do" list bc I have a budget column and then details column & a section for things left to be done. Keep it organized, by maybe putting it in sections for ceremony, reception, welcome bags, stationery, etc. It'll keep everything in one place and be a great reeference =) I get ideas or find a good website to buy something, I jot it into that sheet so I know where to find it when comes the time! I find it very easy to keep up to speed & a great handle on my budget =)

Some items to jot down that will go into your budget:

-stationery costs such as invitations/save the dates/ DIY printing/ postage

-Decorations, flowers & welcome bags

-Favors and novelties to give to guests

-rings/attire for both of you

-travel expenses for you and whomever else [if anyone] you will be helping

-reservations for spa, and hair & make up trials/wedding day

-special events you are planning for guests, such as a welcome party or bonfire [be sure to know what it includes for how much!]

-transportation expenses while you're away [taxi/cabs]

-tips- don't forget to make a list of who to tip & bring lots of ones & fives down with you, so you won't have to keep breaking big bills.

-"outside vendor" fees, if this pertains to your resort's policies and depending on who your vendors are.

-Keep a note of what balances will be due, what type of payment is accepted, and make an envelope for each. So if it's for your DJ, put DJ on front of envelope with dollar amount due & payment method on back or in the corner to remind you. Add it all up before you leave and then all you have to do is put the payment in envelope once you arrive

Hope this helps=)

Jen