Before laying the money on the table

Perhaps the most important thing that must be done when you are ready to begin planning your wedding is to first create your budget. Your budget is important because it is almost impossible to know what you can afford for each aspect of the wedding if you don't give yourself a limit to the overall spending costs.

For most people, creating the budget is the hardest job to do because you want to have the nicest and most memorable wedding that you can afford.

The days when the wedding is paid for by the parents of the bride are practically gone now. Parents will often make a contribution at some level, but it is rather rare for parents to cover the whole cost of the wedding these days. Usually it is because the parents simply can't afford it, but couples today often prefer to pay for their own weddings because it ensures that they can do it the way that they want to without interference.

According to some experts in the field the average cost for weddings in the US amounts to about 45 dollars per guests. If you are going to have a huge wedding, that will of course add up rather quickly. In total cost the average is about 8 500 dollars. If that sounds like an awful lot of money, you'll be pleased to hear that there are many ways in which to (even quite dramatically) reducing the costs of your weddings. I don't like the term "settling for something", but it goes without saying that for a lover sum you may have to cherry pick the things you really want.

When we're mentioning figures anyway, it is also worth pointing out that it is indeed not entirely uncommon for people to spend $30,000 on their reception alone, but history has also seen charming receptions that set the couple back only a couple of hundred dollars. Your goals and the funds available to you will naturally dictate which alternative will be the best one for you.

Once the official limit has finally been set it's time to start doing the actual math. Part of planning the budget involves neatly categorizing all the things you will need and then calculating as exactly as possible how much money will be spent for each category. Even if you should try to stick to facts as much as possible, a certain amount of guessing to figure out how much they are going to spend will most often be involved. Where you can't say exactly, at least try to define rough estimations of the cost.

Once the estimations are made the couple can move on to the shopping around phase, finding out how much the items they need or want will actually cost as well as the various options and vendors that are available to them. By having a basic budget set from the start, the couple will then more easily be able to identify areas where they can cut corners and save money.

To sum up, it is extremely important not to overlook the importance of well planned wedding budget. In the end the hard work will more than likely pay itself back in more than one way.

Feeling anxious about wedding planning?

Wedding planning is an exciting time of your life, but it can be pretty stressful as well. In fact, the level of work involved is quite enough and the last thing you need are those intrusive family members and friends telling you what to do, and what not to do, on how you should be planning your wedding. Sometimes you may not express yourself just to stay out of trouble, or maybe your just afraid to speak up.

It's perfectly normal for you to feel a little anxious when it comes to planning a wedding. I've been there, done that. You're wondering right now how to get the most out of your wedding. This is the first in a series of article where I will try to help you figure it out, I'll try to advice you to the best of my knowledge. Planning a wedding can be quite tough on all the people involved. Everyone, all absolutely included, will have an idea on what you should do and how you should do it.

Go ahead and tell them that the only way that matters is your way! Albeit, within a reasonable economical frame of course. Because where the dirt hits the road you and your fiancé are the only two people who matter. Plan your wedding like you want to have it. Naturally you shouldn't run people over left and right, and hurt people's feelings either.

When you're in love and about to get married, the world tends to become another place. It is important to both cherish this feeling, while opening your eyes to reality at the same time. A wedding will not plan itself, but you should also not allow it to become such an undertaking that you - or your love for your partner - is consumed in the process.

Although a good planning strategy is the corner stones of a great wedding, you also need to relax. I can from experience tell you that almost every wedding has a way of turning out great in the end.

Make no mistake though, planning a wedding is a huge undertaking. I have determined that there are several areas that will need extra attention if you're going to SAVE BIG MONEY on your wedding costs. You'll need to have a serious heart to heart with your fiancé. This process will help you to determine what is a priority for you as a couple.

One of the first things to discuss is if there are certain things specific to the wedding that you must have. It could be special arrangements for the musical entertainment or a certain color to wear. Or it could be a particular location to have the wedding or reception at.

For example, I know a bride who absolutely wanted to have her wedding at an exclusive resort. The wedding chapel was in the midst of a garden beyond belief. While they spent a great deal on reserving the location, they actually ended up saving money because they didn't have to buy flowers. Once you determine your must haves, you can then begin to incorporate them into your wedding.

When it all comes down to it, wedding planning is certainly one of the most difficult things many person will do during their lives. Because it requires the need for so many different items to be decided upon and choreographed, many people choose to simply hire their own personal wedding planner.

In either case you can get inspiration and many wedding planning ideas from the site www.weddingplanningnotes.info.