Daunted by the mammoth task that lies ahead? Fear not, our troubleshooting guide to wedding planning is here to help PLANNING Getty Images Whether you got engaged during the popular festive season, or you’re knee deep in spreadsheets at this point, our troubleshooting guide to wedding planning is here to help. If you’ve just set out on your journey to W-day, no doubt your head is swimming with questions right now. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find all the answers in one handy place? We’ve got you! We’re here with the most common wedding worries and discuss how to handle them. Wedding stress? Pah! We laugh in the face of wedding stress! HOW MUCH IS THIS ALL GOING TO COST ME? The simple answer is that it’s entirely up to you! Before you book anything, before you even look at any inspiration, decide together what you can realistically spend on the big day. Work out not only what you can spend, but what you want to spend. The last thing you need is to fall in love with everything on Pinterest only to end up disappointed when the elements you had your heart set on turn out to be out of budget. Once you have a ballpark total figure you’re both comfortable with (ideally without starting married life in heaps of debt), break your budget into categories. Have a look at our handy guide to allocating your spend. While working out where to spend what, discuss your nonnegotiables list. These are the elements you’ll want to allocate more budget to; there’s a time to compromise and save, and there’s a time not to. Our top tip is to avoid cutting corners on your photographer. They are often priced to reflect the quality of their work and as the photos are the one part of the day that’ll be with you forever, you don’t want to be left with regrets. Likewise, it’s tempting to fall into the trap of believing you can DIY most of it, but there are smart ways of doing this. Before you go gung-ho down the crafting route weigh up the costs of your materials and potential impact on the environment versus the costs of hiring. Considering your guest count will be crucial when navigating your budget – indeed, the two go hand in hand. If you need to lower your budget, cut your guest list. Another way to save is to look for off-peak venue options. You can often save a packet by opting for mid-week dates, winter weddings, or looking out for late availability deals. Yes, we know it’s boring, but spreadsheets will be your best friend! Trust us, it pays to be hyper-organised when it comes to wedding planning, as losing track could see your budget spiral out of control. Include quotes, deposits, balance due dates and remaining balances so nothing sneaks up on you. When contacting suppliers for quotes, make sure you understand anything that could potentially trip you up. For example, VAT, travel charges, and any other hidden costs. TYPICAL BUDGET BREAKDOWN Venue and catering: 40 to 50 per cent Photography and videography: 10 to 15 per cent Entertainment: five to 10 per cent Venue styling and flowers: eight to 12 per cent Attire and beauty: five to 10 per cent Wedding planner or coordinator (if you decided to opt for one): 10 to 15 per cent Everything else (favours, transport, gifts): five per cent Contingency fund: five to 10 per cent Panic-free unsplash.com@markuswinkler 36
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