I’m so excited to have been quoted in the current issue of Dayton Wedding 2019 (a supplement of Dayton Magazine). I was asked to provide some tips for the financial aspects of planning your wedding. I was happy to offer some wedding finances tips, but since I couldn’t really go into depth on any of them, here’s a bit of further explanation.
Dealing with wedding finances is certainly not be as fun as picking out your flowers or your wedding cake. However, it is of the utmost importance. Without having a handle on your wedding finances at the start of your planning, you can end up spending more than what you wanted (or what you could afford to), or end up not having things done the way that you really wanted.
4 Wedding Finances Tips
1. Determine Your Budget
“Have a budget, have a dollar amount in mind.” If you don’t know how much you will have to spend on your wedding (and where these funds are coming from), your wedding budget will get out of hand very quickly. You’ll need to determine how much money you can comfortably take from your savings, and from your weekly paycheck (and have your partner do the same). Are there any contributed funds from parents (or someone else)?
Once you know how much money you have to spend, you can then start to allocate it to the different wedding categories.
2. Paying For Your Wedding With Your Credit Card
Try to avoid paying for the entire wedding with your credit card. “You don’t want to start your marriage with $30,000 on your credit card.”
But if you do choose to use your credit card, make it work for you. Only put on what you can comfortable pay off in a short amount of time, so you don’t incur a lot of interest fees. Also, use a card that gives you points back or other perks or rewards.
3. DIY Projects
Sometimes attempts at DIY projects can cost you more in the end. “Know your limits. There’s a fine line between what to DIY and what not to DIY.” “Think twice before attempting to make your own invitations or flower arrangements” for example, unless you are crafty in these areas.
The perfect example is with flower arrangements. Many people can artfully place flowers in a vase and have it look fantastic. I’m a pretty crafty person myself (love making things), however, not when it comes to flowers. A couple blooms in a small vase, or submerging a flower – yeah, I can do that. Beyond that, nope. It’s not gonna look good. So although it may save me money by doing a flower arrangement myself instead of hiring someone to do it, it won’t look good. Since my skill set is so limited, it is not a project I personally would attempt.
Choose DIY projects that you are skilled at and have adequate time to complete.
4. Wedding Insurance
Helpful for big weddings or to ease the stress that something might go wrong.
Although having a wedding coordinator can help avoid any mishaps and make sure the day runs smoothly, coordinators are not a replacement for wedding insurance, as they cannot provide recourse if your photographer goes MIA or a guest gets food poisoning, for example.
For wedding insurance, check out sites like WedSure.com and WedSafe.com
Click here for the entire article by Scott Unger.
Hearts, Joy, Love!
Jean
Whether you’re just starting with your wedding plans, or your wedding is right around the corner, I can help! Contact me today at [email protected] or by phone or text at 937-581-3647!
