setting a wedding budget is one of the first—and, frankly, most important—planning tasks to complete. unsurprisingly, the biggest chunk of your wedding budget will go to the biggest investment, which is often the venue. we found that, on average, 7% of the wedding budget is dedicated to florals. save 5% of your total budget to cover the cost of a wedding planner. whether you're planning to have a traditional cake or a spread of alternative sweets, use about 1% of your wedding budget here. if

if you’re too attentive you risk becoming the dreaded bridezilla or get carried away and completely blowing your budget. you definitely need essentials for planning a wedding, like the wedding budget spreadsheet. it comes pre-loaded with recommended budgets for different categories and makes you feel absolutely fantastic as you add positive numbers to the over/under budget section. the free wedding budget template from bridal musings skips the bells and whistles and plunges into functionality.

when the third wedding was added to our 2022 calendar, i was delighted to have another joyful event after a year and half of small, limited celebrations. “the closer you are to the couple, the more expensive it is,” said landis bejar, the founder and director of aisletalk, a new york city-based therapy practice specializing in wedding-related stress. don’t forget all the additional expenses associated with being in the wedding party, too, if you think or know you’ll be asked to take on a role.

you just have to get creative with your choices and nab some of the strategies and ideas below. set aside a time to discuss what you will use the money for later. take a good, hard look at the numbers and set a budget you can live with comfortably. most people will understand if you don’t have the budget for a large wedding. invite a witness and a handful of people to the brief ceremony at town hall. be clear with the owner that you plan to have a small wedding there. get married in the

your marriage is at the endpoint and you are giving careful consideration to leaving your husband. even if you and your husband view your split as amicable, consult with a lawyer. make sure your lawyer knows your rights and the rights of your children (look for someone specialized in family law) and suggest the best way to leave your husband. you will no longer be sharing a joint account, and you need to establish your own credit independent of your spouse’s. can you stay with your parents?

there are a lot of exciting activities for you leading up to the wedding, so don't let the associated costs blindside you! how to save: talk to the bride about your budget concerns before she chooses bridesmaids' dresses, and rest assured that there are plenty of gorgeous options in an affordable range. how to save: if you're able to wear the accessories of your choice, try to wear something you already have or can borrow from a friend. how much: if you're asked to host, set a budget before