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We have all heard the stories about brides and grooms who have completely blown their wedding budgets and started out their life together mired in debt. The good news is that it does not have to go that way for you! Here are some tips on how to keep your wedding on track and to even come in under budget.

The number one tip on how to stick with a wedding budget is to make it realistic. If you come up with a firm upper limit on what you can spend, you must be prepared to juggle your wedding plans to fit within that framework. Sometimes couples take a more flexible approach, wherein they sit down, estimate what every part of the wedding will cost, and use that total figure as their budget. The only problem with this method is that you are very likely to forget about something or to underestimate the true cost of some portion of your wedding.

Once you have decided on your total wedding budget, the next step is to allocate each percentage of it to all of the different parts of your event. The little extras can really add up, so when you are establishing your budget, do not forget about things like postage, tips, taxes, hair and makeup, and so forth. Set around around 8-10% of your budget for all of these small details so that you are not hit with a surprise at the last minute.

You should also think carefully about your priorities; If you have always been a real clotheshorse, for instance, you know that you are going to be tempted to splurge on your dream gown and a fabulous set of crystal bridal jewelry to match. This does not have to be a budget buster if you allocate a larger than average portion of your budget to your attire. Also think about shopping online to get the best deal on your accessories, such as your crystal bridal jewelry, shoes, and handbag.

Another thing that you need to establish early in the wedding planning is whether it is more important to you to have a certain size wedding or a certain style of wedding. If leaving no one off of your list is your priority, it may be necessary to get creative on how to cut costs on your venue, food and drink, and the like. On the other hand, some couples have their heart set on hosting their wedding in a particular location. To afford it, plan to be very strict about the size of your guest list. Often couples will divvy up the number of guests that they can afford into equal parts for each family. If your mother-in-law insists on inviting 10 extra guests at $ 200 a head, she will have to politely be informed that they will be on her tab. This is where having a firm budget to point to can be helpful in arbitrating family disputes.

The final tip on how to keep your wedding under budget is to economize wherever you can. This may mean making your own invitations on your home computer instead of having custom letterpress stationery. Or depending you could host your wedding on a Thursday night instead of a Saturday afternoon. Enter all of your expenses in a spread sheet as you go along, so that you can immediately see what has been spent and how much is left in the coffers. Once you learn where to look and how to track your costs, you will realize that there are all sorts of ways that you can trim expenses to get the style of wedding that you want at a price you can comfortably afford.

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Source by Guy Antonelli