how to set a wedding budget

We’ve created a downloadable wedding budget spreadsheet to take the guesswork out of budgeting for your big day, but we thought we better share some hot tips as well!

Money, Money, Money - get talking

The first step towards planning your dream wedding is to assess your financial situation. Review your savings together and any contributions from family or loved ones. Calculate how much you can realistically save during your engagement period. This will also help you to have an idea of when your wedding might be.

Set a rough budget and agree on what is important to both of you

Once you have a figure in mind, download our wedding budget spreadsheet (it outlines most of the key elements of a wedding). To avoid surprises, you can start reaching out to vendors you like for quotes, or start checking their websites for pricing. This will help you allocate funds based on your shared priorities and ensure your budget covers the essential aspects. Don’t forget to include a buffer for unexpected expenses.

Create a savings goal

Consider opening a savings account specifically for your wedding and setup some auto transfers.

How much does everything cost?

Like everything in life, it varies. But realistically here’s a very rough guide on how to allocate your wedding budget:

  • Venue, Food & Beverage: 50% of your budget

  • Photography, Videography and Celebrant: 20% of your budget

  • Music/Entertainment: 10% of your budget

  • Flowers: 10% of your budget

Want some hot tips to reduce costs?

Make it smaller

Be ruthless with your guest list. Is a big wedding for you, or does a micro wedding or elopement sound more appealing?

Do you need a wedding party?

Do you need your people standing up with you, or are you happy for it just to be the two of you? This can remove additional expenses incurred for accommodation, hair and makeup, flowers, clothing, shoes, and other expenses that come with having a wedding party. If you do choose to do this you can still get ready with your favourite people, and even sit them in the front row of your ceremony. Think outside the box.

Flexibility with florals

Trust your florist and work with them to create something that fits within your budget. Ensure you communicate your budget with your florist from the initial consultation. We have an incredible list of florists on our directory.

Multiple service vendors

Some photographers may offer videography or content creation add ons, your celebrant might offer an MC service, your ceremony entertainment might morph into a dance floor filling DJ.

The cheapest venue might not be the cheapest in the long run

Venues that require minimal additional decor or rentals can be more cost-effective in the long run. Sometimes the less businesses you need to involve in your wedding can actually save you money (transport, meals, time spent communicating with multiple vendors etc.)

Consider mid-week or winter

We know our Tassie winters are cold, but they are also absolutely stunning! Don’t feel like you have to get married on a Saturday during wedding season, consider an off-peak date, or even a mid-week wedding. The people coming to your wedding are your favourite people in the world - they can manage a day or two of annual leave.

And finally - don’t rush!

It’s 2024 and most of us are already living with our partners by the time we are engaged - there’s no rush to get hitched! A longer engagement gives you more time to save and have the wedding you truly want.

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how to choose your tasmanian wedding venue