Wedding Budget Planner

Tying the knot used to involve a trip to the altar and a modest reception but modern couples are opting for more lavish affairs. In their American Weddings study, The Fairchild Bridal Group surveyed more than 1,000 brides and found that the average wedding in 2005 cost $26,327.    The average number of guests was 150.   In the 2006 U.S. wedding market, couples spent an average of $26,800.

Regardless of how much you plan to spend on your nuptials, a wedding budget is essential.   A budget will help you to determine what you need to pay for and how much you will spend on each aspect of the wedding.   The following allocations are based on the average expenditures of other brides.   Because every couple has different priorities and the cost of wedding services varies from state to state, use this planner as a rough guideline to get you started.

TOTAL WEDDING BUDGET__________
Category	% of Total Budget	Estimated Cost	Actual Cost
Ceremony Marriage License, Officiant's Fee, Site Rental, Decorations, Guest Book & Pen, Ring Bearer Pillow, Flower Girl Basket, Unity Ceremony Candle, Aisle Runner, Wedding Car Decorations, Wedding Send-Off (Bubbles, Environmentally Safe Wedding Rice, Confetti, etc.)	3%	________	________
Reception Site Rental, Food, Beverage, Cake, Decorations, Napkins, Table Centerpieces, Tablecloths/Table Skirts, Place Cards & Holders, Table Numbers, Table Reserved Signs, Toasting Glasses, Cake Knife and Server, Wedding Card Box (Wishing Well), Wedding Favors	48%	________	________
Attire Bridal Gown & Accessories (headpiece, shoes, undergarments, hosiery, garter, gloves, jewelry, handkerchief, coat, hair & makeup, gown preservation), Groom's Tuxedo & Accessories (shoes, dress hose, bow tie, shirt studs, cuff links, suspenders)	10%	________	________
Rings Bride's Wedding Band, Groom's Wedding Band, Engraving	3%	________	________
Flowers Bridal Bouquet, Groom Boutonnière, Bridesmaid Bouquets, Groomsmen Boutonnières, Mothers'/Grandmothers' Corsages, Fathers' Boutonnières, Ceremony Flowers, Petals for Flower Girl basket, Reception Flowers, Bridal Bouquet Preservation	8%	________	________
Music Vocalists/musicians/DJ for the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception; sound system rental	8%	________	________
Photography Engagement portrait, Photographer’s fee, Wedding album, Parent’s album, Additional prints, Videography	12%	________	________
Transportation Transportation for the wedding party (limousines, horse and carriage, vans), shuttles for guests, parking attendants	2%	________	________
Stationery Engagement Announcements, Wedding Invitations, Wedding Announcements, Reception Enclosure Cards, Response Cards, Map/Direction Cards, Escort Cards, Thank You Cards, Postage, Calligraphy, Wedding Programs	3%	________	________
Gifts & Keepsakes Bridal Attendants Gifts, Groomsmen Gifts, Ring Bearer Gift, Flower Girl Gift, Groom's Gift, Bride's Gift, Parents' Gifts, Invitation Keepsake	3%	________	________
Gifts & Keepsakes Bridal Attendants ,
Gifts & Keepsakes Bridal Attendants Gifts, Groomsmen Gifts, Ring Bearer Gift, Flower Girl Gift, Groom's Gift, Bride's Gift, Parents' Gifts, Invitation Keepsake