1.    Determine who is going to pay for your wedding, your rehearsal dinner, and your honeymoon.
Traditionally the parents of the bride have covered the lion’s share of wedding expenses, leaving
the groom's parents to pay for the rehearsal dinner, a wedding gift (which may be monetary), the
beverages for the reception, and their own wedding attire. Nowadays, over half of engaged couples
pay for the wedding and honeymoon themselves. Discuss what feels right for the two of you and your
families, and don’t be shy to ask for help (just be ready to graciously take no for an answer). If your
parents are willing and able to chip in, suggest they set an amount to contribute rather than paying
for separate items. It will help you stay on budget as things unfold.

2.    Set your maximum budget and leave a 10% cushion for “extras.” Consider your savings and
expendable income first. If you find that you need to borrow money for your wedding a good rule of
thumb is to borrow no more than you can pay off in a year.

3.    Create two guest lists, a dream list and a shorter list of must-have attendees. Later when many
of your expenses are calculated on a “per head” basis you’ll be able to make quick calculations
about your options.

4.     Create a spreadsheet where you can keep track of your separate expenses. Make a column for
projected expenses and one for actual expenses so you can adjust for differences. Keep in mind that
the expenses associated with your reception, such as food, beverages, catering service, tableware
and décor can require up to 50% of your budget or more.

5.    If you find yourselves struggling to make decisions about certain expenditures, check your priority list

and be sure you're spending money on something that matters to you.

Some helpful tips: