He proposed. You said yes. Now what do you do? Set the date? Pick out your dress? Plan the guest list? Find a venue? There are so many decisions you will have to make. But the first and most important part of planning any wedding (or any event for that matter) is to start with a budget. A realistic budget.
Gone are the days when the bride's parents paid for the wedding and the groom's parents paid for the rehearsal dinner. No longer does the groom expect a sizable dowry for his bride-to-be. In today's dual-income economy more couples pick up the tab for their own wedding. But I am sure in this tough economy, any parental contribution would be gladly accepted.
While the sluggish economy has had a definite affect on American's spending habits, wedding industry reports show that they are holding their own. According to wedding industry statistics for 2010, the average American bride will spend between $18,000 and $20,000 which represents about a 10% cut in spending from 2009.
Roughly broken down using $20,000 as the average the snapshot would look like this:
Attire for Bride and Groom 10% $ 2,000
Flowers 10% $ 2,000
Invitations 5% $ 1,000
Gifts for Bridal Party 2% $ 400
Miscellaneous 6% $ 1,200
Photography/Videography 10% $ 2,000
Reception & Ceremony 50% $10,000
Rings 5% $ 1,000
Transportation 2% $ 400
While these statistics are average, each couple will have to decide what works best for them. Prioritizing the categories is a good way to put it into perspective. While one bride may feel it necessary to spend thousands of dollars for the perfect dress, another may opt for a less expensive wardrobe, but insist on having a lavish sit down dinner and a live band. The choice is personal, but whichever direction you go, starting with a well thought out budget will get you going in the right direction.
Great job, Kim!
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