You’re engaged! Congratulations!
The first thing most engaged couples do, as soon as the ring is planted firmly on a finger, is to begin to consider what type of wedding they want. Questions abound. When? Where? Who? And, unfortunately for some, how much?
We suggest that the very first decision you should make before you begin site visits and cake tastings is to determine how much money you can afford to spend on the entire celebration. There are plenty of things that will come up that you don’t consider at the outset, so it’s important to be both realistic with the funds you have to spend.
To be fair, setting and sticking to a wedding budget is extremely stressful for many couples, according to wedding site Zola. There are plenty of fun things to come as you get into the decision-making stages so bite the bullet and set a budget upfront so you can narrow your options a bit and not give yourself a chance to fall in love with something you simply cannot afford.
So, how do you set a wedding budget? Here are some tips.
1. Where is the money coming from?
Are you two paying for the entire affair on your own? If so, how much money have you set aside? Do you have family willing to pitch in? Perhaps you are lucky enough to have parents who are willing to foot the entire bill! Unless money is no object, it’s important to know how much money you have to work with so you can decide how to allocate it.
2. What’s worth the money?
I you have limited funds, you may decide to spend it on the venue and cut back on the dress and tux. Maybe you have a photographer friend but really want to spend on the band or DJ.
At the Bellport Country Club, the food is unbelievable devine! If you are a foodie and/or want to impress your guests with the best cuisine, you may decide that your culinary budget should get some extra attention while something else gets a more modest nod.
3. Who’s Coming?
This is an important but often overlooked, consideration when determining a wedding budget. Every person needs to eat and drink! This means your entire budget needs to cover the number of guests! This is simple math. Wedding venues charge by the head so you need to have your max invitee number in mind so you can make sure your budget covers your list!
Another important aspect of knowing how many people you are inviting is this: you need a space large enough for tables and chairs, a dance floor, etc. Again simple math…a room that holds 50 people max won’t be able to handle a wedding party of 150!
Start with the Venue!
Once you know how much you have to spend and you’ve set your priorities about what’s worth the splurge and what can take a backseat, you are in a position to start getting recommendations about venues.
It’s a good idea to start with location because everything else flows from that decision. It helps to determine the date (meaning season!) which is important for dress shopping and color schemes. Once you’ve selected your venue, you will have a good idea of how much the main costs will be and then you’ll know how much extra money you have for other niceties.
Keep in mind that some places, such as the Bellport Country Club, offer comprehensive wedding packages that include location, food, drink, flowers, cake and more!
You can have the wedding of your dreams with all the bells and whistles you like! Contact the Bellport Country Club for a tour of our beautiful location soon. We have many “venues” to choose from — beach, golf course, outside, inside — your wish is our command!