The B word: Budgets
It's time to visit about that sensitive topic, wedding budgets. I work with a wide range
of budgets and am very upfront with couples regarding what will or won't work with
the budgets we discuss at our first initial meeting. There are however many hurdles
I face during the planning that make my job as your wedding planner more
challenging. Here are some actual situations and why I offer suggestions or guidance
with budgets, but no longer manage your spending.
1. A bride gives me a $15,000 budget for her wedding of 80 guests. I have seen
this work many times as long as the couple is willing to compromise on many aspects
of the wedding. There is not just one venue to choose from, but several that are
all inclusive in order to save on bringing in rentals, catering, staff, china, etc. She
decides on simple, but elegant centerpieces using a lot of my glass inventory. She
knows her decisions on her wedding gown, accessories and attendant gifts all
impact the budget. This bride had a fantastic wedding that the venue now wants
to put photos of in their portfolio. Definitely a great budget wedding.
2. A bride gives me a $25,000 budget for her 200 guests. I explain the guest count has to
go down in order to make this work, based on the venue the bride has in mind. Having to
bring in every aspect of the wedding for a ceremony and reception site adds up quickly.
The bottom line is it is your wedding and I am not signing the checks for the details you
"have" to have. I can only guide you. We know a DJ is much less than a band, but your
parents have always wanted a band. We lay out the options and costs, but ultimately
your family is paying for a once in a lifetime experience and we are not going to say you
have to have a DJ. Once we discover that your vision is going to be much more
expensive, we still watch where the money goes and we definitely aren't going to start
recommending additional or more expensive services outside the original budget, but
the 5 extras touches (band, lighting, valet, upgraded rental items and video) are why the
budget ends up at $40,000. Everyone was thrilled with the wedding, but it wouldn't have
been the same event at $25,000.
3. A bride's parents aren't giving her a budget. They want to see how much things cost
before they just throw a number out there. I understand they don't want to say $70,000
if the wedding will actually come in at $50,000 but a ballpark figure does help. I work
with a wide variety of vendors and we need a starting point. Do we even consider the
$8,000 photographer because photos are one of the key elements to the bride? Perhaps
she'll like one of my fantastic photographers in the $4,000 price range. I need to see
examples of what wedding styles she likes in order to know where the money is going.
Does she have grand floral ideas, does she want custom linens, upscale invitations,
are we focusing on 150 guests or are you inviting 300 guests, does she want fireworks
at the reception, hair and makeup for all her attendants? All of these items make a huge
difference on what her budget will ended being. Once we have discussed all the possible
areas I can give her parents a better idea of the costs. Sometimes parents are comfortable
with me getting 2 bids in all the categories based on my past experience with the vendor,
then they can make their selection. An actual budget number doesn't have to be decided
on but we do need to discuss the parents and the bride's expectations.
4. Then I have the bride and her parents that want to know how much they should expect
to spend for her wedding of 500 guests on their family's ranch in the hill country. The
same questions apply as in question 3 as far as gathering the ideas in order to create
bride's wedding vision. We need to add transportation, comfort stations, tenting, staging,
etc in order build a ceremony and reception venue on their ranch. I gather prices and we
estimate it's going to be $150,000. We receive feedback from other family members that
we should be able to do it for closer to $40,000 if we watch where the money goes. Um,
no sorry not for a wedding in 2010 in Central Texas. When the band the couple has their
heart set on is $10,000, her wedding gown is $5,000, the estimated food and beverage
will be $100.00 per person we are already at $65,000. We see events all year long and
know the pricing of the different vendors. Let us recommend the right vendors, at the
right price and everyone will be talking about your fabulous wedding. It's what we do.
Every bride has a different budget for her wedding and all weddings are not created
equally. If you have a vision you are not willing to compromise on make sure you have
the budget to carry it out. If you are open to making sacrifices in order to have your
dream day, the wedding planning process will be far less stressful. I wish all brides could
have platinum weddings, but that isn't the case so trust your planner when you have a
budget that is realistic for your financial situation or postpone the wedding and save for
your dream day.
We plan picture perfect Austin weddings throughout the year, but unfortunately we can't
control each brides spending or the must haves that the family want for the big day.
Starting your wedding planning with your eyes wide open is the best way to tame the B word.
Here's to your dream day,
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com
of budgets and am very upfront with couples regarding what will or won't work with
the budgets we discuss at our first initial meeting. There are however many hurdles
I face during the planning that make my job as your wedding planner more
challenging. Here are some actual situations and why I offer suggestions or guidance
with budgets, but no longer manage your spending.
1. A bride gives me a $15,000 budget for her wedding of 80 guests. I have seen
this work many times as long as the couple is willing to compromise on many aspects
of the wedding. There is not just one venue to choose from, but several that are
all inclusive in order to save on bringing in rentals, catering, staff, china, etc. She
decides on simple, but elegant centerpieces using a lot of my glass inventory. She
knows her decisions on her wedding gown, accessories and attendant gifts all
impact the budget. This bride had a fantastic wedding that the venue now wants
to put photos of in their portfolio. Definitely a great budget wedding.
2. A bride gives me a $25,000 budget for her 200 guests. I explain the guest count has to
go down in order to make this work, based on the venue the bride has in mind. Having to
bring in every aspect of the wedding for a ceremony and reception site adds up quickly.
The bottom line is it is your wedding and I am not signing the checks for the details you
"have" to have. I can only guide you. We know a DJ is much less than a band, but your
parents have always wanted a band. We lay out the options and costs, but ultimately
your family is paying for a once in a lifetime experience and we are not going to say you
have to have a DJ. Once we discover that your vision is going to be much more
expensive, we still watch where the money goes and we definitely aren't going to start
recommending additional or more expensive services outside the original budget, but
the 5 extras touches (band, lighting, valet, upgraded rental items and video) are why the
budget ends up at $40,000. Everyone was thrilled with the wedding, but it wouldn't have
been the same event at $25,000.
3. A bride's parents aren't giving her a budget. They want to see how much things cost
before they just throw a number out there. I understand they don't want to say $70,000
if the wedding will actually come in at $50,000 but a ballpark figure does help. I work
with a wide variety of vendors and we need a starting point. Do we even consider the
$8,000 photographer because photos are one of the key elements to the bride? Perhaps
she'll like one of my fantastic photographers in the $4,000 price range. I need to see
examples of what wedding styles she likes in order to know where the money is going.
Does she have grand floral ideas, does she want custom linens, upscale invitations,
are we focusing on 150 guests or are you inviting 300 guests, does she want fireworks
at the reception, hair and makeup for all her attendants? All of these items make a huge
difference on what her budget will ended being. Once we have discussed all the possible
areas I can give her parents a better idea of the costs. Sometimes parents are comfortable
with me getting 2 bids in all the categories based on my past experience with the vendor,
then they can make their selection. An actual budget number doesn't have to be decided
on but we do need to discuss the parents and the bride's expectations.
4. Then I have the bride and her parents that want to know how much they should expect
to spend for her wedding of 500 guests on their family's ranch in the hill country. The
same questions apply as in question 3 as far as gathering the ideas in order to create
bride's wedding vision. We need to add transportation, comfort stations, tenting, staging,
etc in order build a ceremony and reception venue on their ranch. I gather prices and we
estimate it's going to be $150,000. We receive feedback from other family members that
we should be able to do it for closer to $40,000 if we watch where the money goes. Um,
no sorry not for a wedding in 2010 in Central Texas. When the band the couple has their
heart set on is $10,000, her wedding gown is $5,000, the estimated food and beverage
will be $100.00 per person we are already at $65,000. We see events all year long and
know the pricing of the different vendors. Let us recommend the right vendors, at the
right price and everyone will be talking about your fabulous wedding. It's what we do.
Every bride has a different budget for her wedding and all weddings are not created
equally. If you have a vision you are not willing to compromise on make sure you have
the budget to carry it out. If you are open to making sacrifices in order to have your
dream day, the wedding planning process will be far less stressful. I wish all brides could
have platinum weddings, but that isn't the case so trust your planner when you have a
budget that is realistic for your financial situation or postpone the wedding and save for
your dream day.
We plan picture perfect Austin weddings throughout the year, but unfortunately we can't
control each brides spending or the must haves that the family want for the big day.
Starting your wedding planning with your eyes wide open is the best way to tame the B word.
Here's to your dream day,
Barbara
www.barbarasbrides.com
Posted by Barbara at 8/5/2010 5:19 AM 
Categories: Wedding Facts
Tags: Austin Weddings Budget Brides Wedding Budgets Austin Wedding Planners Planning an Austin Budget Wedding
Categories: Wedding Facts
Tags: Austin Weddings Budget Brides Wedding Budgets Austin Wedding Planners Planning an Austin Budget Wedding
Thanks Barbara for a very informative and realistic perspective-SB
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