I can't believe it's over a year since I wrote this! So I'm reposting for those of you who are struggling while trying to work out a budget.

If you find it useful... please SHARE on social media. There's a link just after the end of the post.... on a little bar. And please LEAVE US A COMMENT! We love hearing from you!

I deal with a regular flow of Brides and Grooms to the studio, to make and create their wedding stationery. I try to offer a service to fit ALL budgets. One thing that always amazes me is the answer to my question

"OK.... so what's your budget?"

At this point I usually get one of 2 answers.

1) "We haven't got one"

or 2) "We don't really know"

When probing further I realise that most couples

have no idea where to start.

I've promised to write this article for some time and today I feel I really MUST get round to it.... I hope it helps in some small way.

Couples would do best to see what they can afford and work from there, instead of working on what they want, costing it all out and then having to postpone their wedding when the harsh reality of EVERYTHING COSTS kicks in.

Remember: £35 a meal can sound like a bargain, but it can be a real eye opener when you times it by the number of guests you have coming! And that's just the 'food side' of things.

Far better to work out a final budget and work it like this, then at least you will know where to cut back if you need to and f you save money on one thing you have more to spend on another.... SIMPLES :-)

So.... to make it easy for me to work it out for you.... lets say you have £10,000 to spend.

Reception 45% (£4.500)

Your food and beverages will eat up the largest percentage of your budget. This category includes:

Site fee, if applicable
Catering costs
Bar and non-alcoholic drinks, punch, shots, etc.
Drinks for toasts
Wedding cake and sweets

*Don't forget to haggle on price here. If you don't ask, you don't get! You have nothing to loose. If you find that the cost is far more than your budget and you are determined the venue is the absolute place you want to get married and there's no way you are going to shop around for somewhere cheaper.... consider 1 of 2 things.

1) Cut down on your daytime Guest list
2) Have a late Wedding and 1 buffet evening reception

Transportation 5% (£500)

If you are on a strict budget, this is one place you can save. Transportation should be one of the smallest percentages of your budget. This category includes the following:

Limousines
Speciality cars, etc.

If your Wedding is at a venue and you are staying there over night, there's no reason why you shouldn't get ready at the venue itself. If the venue is 50 yards down the road, it's quite a saving if you get a friend with a posh car, to add ribbons and get you to the Church on time. Do you really NEED this?

Entertainment 10% (£1000)

This category includes the following:

Ceremony music
Evening reception buffet
Reception Music (DJ or band)

Flowers 10% (£1000)

Be very careful. It is easy to get "carried away" ordering the most "visual" aspect of your wedding. This category includes:

Ceremony - site flowers
Bridal bouquet
Wedding party flowers
Parent's flowers
Reception centrepieces and floral displays

Attire 10% (£1000)

This is another category that is really easy to go wild on. While selecting your "gown" keep your "bottom line" in mind. This category includes:

Dress
Headpiece/veil
Lingerie
Jewelry
Shoes/wrap/gloves
Hair and makeup
Grooms tux or suit

Photography 10% (£1000)

Your memories will eat up another 10% of your budget. This category includes:

Photography
Videography
Engagement portrait
Wedding - album package

Stationery 4% (£400)

This is another category in which you can save by choosing a simple invitation. This category includes:

Daytime and Evening Invitations
R.S.V.P and other enclosures)
Announcements
Menus
Order of Service
Guest Book or Wishing Tree Tags
Seating Plan
Wedding Post Box
Place Cards
Thank You Cards

You can cut down a little on this budget, like having only 1 Order of Service per couple for instance. Talk to the person who is designing and making all your Invitations and On the Day stuff and negotiate a discount.
We at Inspired by Script give our customers a whopping 15% discount on our couples ' On the Day' items IF they have come to us for their Invitations. It's our way of saying a big THANK YOU for choosing us in the first place :-)

Talk to whoever is making your Wedding Stationery

and see how they can help!

Extras 6% (£600)

This is where you put all the miscellaneous items that can really add up to BIG MONEY!! If you choose all of the little extra touches, you will go way over your allotted 6%. You need to make a choice on how important each category is to you and "borrow" percentage points from other categories which may be less important to you. Items usually needed: