Tag Archives: wedding budget

How to Budget for Wedding Lighting + Entertainment

Marriage is an important milestone in a couple’s lives and is often seen as the beginning of happily ever after. A wedding is a once-in-a-lifetime event, so it’s no surprise that many couples want to celebrate it in the best way possible. This involves months, or even years, of planning every detail so that their vision comes to life and everything is perfect on the big day. One of the trickiest yet most crucial parts of wedding planning is the budget.

A wedding doesn’t have to be expensive to be beautiful or meaningful. The couple will likely appreciate their wedding more if they didn’t have to go into debt for it!

Good lighting, however, is one thing couples should not scrimp on. Not only does it allow the guests to appreciate the elements in the room, but it also sets the perfect mood and ambiance. The cost involved can range from $200 to $5,000, depending on the chosen venue and the couple’s requirements. For example, outdoor weddings often need more lighting, for practicality as well as aesthetics.

And of course, while guests may forget the exact flowers in the bride’s bouquet, the flavor of the wedding cake, or the calligraphy on the invitation, they’ll never forget the experience! The ceremony, the dancing, and the music are what your guests will remember forever. Entertainment is one thing you shouldn’t overlook when planning your event.

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For those who need help budgeting for their wedding, here are some valuable tips:  

Organize your wedding budget.

Whether you are planning a simple wedding or a grand affair, an organized wedding budget spreadsheet is a must! This simple tool allows you to keep track of how funds were designated along the way and how much money is left. It will keep all the important numbers in one place and help you make more realistic decisions.

Work together to budget for your must-haves.

Whether it’s the budget or event details, it is vital for couples to be on the same page about their wedding. This involves discussing and understanding each other’s preferences. The final decision should take into account both their joint and individual needs to ensure the wedding budget is allocated to keep both partners happy.

Do your research from the start.

Do you want to book a DJ or a ten-piece band? Have you decided whether a custom monogram wash or a gorgeous chandelier is needed? What you agree on determines how much you spend, so do your research beforehand. Then, when you start interviewing vendors and getting more involved in the process, you’ll know exactly what you need!

Connect with lighting & entertainment companies.

Getting estimates from the companies you’re interested in will help create a realistic budget for the wedding and reception. Plus, it will help you compare packages to ensure you’re getting what you want at the best rate. Just be sure to check in on companies’ online reviews to ensure they’ve kept other clients happy!

There you have it! Having a detailed budget plan from the start can save you an incredible amount of time, energy, and resources. If you need more help with your wedding lighting and entertainment, let’s chat!

How To: Let’s Talk Budget

So, it’s time for the budget talk… While it’s not the most romantic part of planning your wedding, it is one of the most important steps that you and your partner will take together. It is imperative that the two of you take the time to sit down early in the process to ensure that everyone is on the same page when it comes to financing your big day.

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Before divvying up the budget, you’ll want to determine who is contributing to your wedding. Gone are the traditional days of the bride’s parents covering the costs – trends show that couples are contributing significantly, as well as other family members.

After determining the sources of your funds, you’ll want to discuss what you value the most on the big day – we like to suggest coming up with a list of top 3 “Must-Haves”. This is one of the most essential parts of your budget discussion, so be sure to agree on some common ground when it comes to your financing (perhaps the cigar bar isn’t a requirement!).

Most likely, you’ll be finding a number of sample budget templates online which will tell you how much to spend in what departments. However, at the end of the day, it’s really up to you to decide where your money is spent! It may help to create a spreadsheet or budget template to keep track of your expenses throughout the process.

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Once all is discussed and settled, it’s time to get organized. You’ll want to start by researching vendors in each category of your wedding plan to get a better idea of what you can get for your price points. When doing your research, it’s imperative to give wedding professionals all relevant information—preferred date, number of anticipated guests, etc.—so they can provide you with an accurate quote for your records.

One last note about budgeting – it can be easy to overlook some of the “extra” costs associated with your wedding, so keep the little things in mind as well – postage for invitations, transportation for the two of you after the wedding, gratuity for vendors, gifts for your wedding party, etc. Planning in advance is always key for a smooth and seamless process!

Proudly serving Bay Area Weddings for over twenty years, Fantasy Sound aims to be engaged couples’ first stop- offering Disc Jockey, Videography, Event Lighting Décor and Wedding Planning services. They are fueled by great ideas paired with strong coffee, and will never turn down a piece of red velvet wedding cake.

Ask Kevin- How Do I Create A Budget?

Leave a reply

Hi Kevin,

I’m just starting to jump into planning my wedding, and I am at a loss when it comes to creating a budget. I don’t know what qualifies as a reasonable amount! Can you help me?

Thanks,

Anita- Dublin, CA

 

Hi Anita!

Creating a budget is a tricky process, so I am glad you asked! The first step to figuring out your budget is to figure out where all the money is coming from. Are you and your fiancé going to pay for everything? Are your parents footing the bill? Maybe you have a generous great aunt on your mother’s side. Regardless of who is contributing to your wedding, make sure to get hard numbers. Someone telling you they will give you $2,000.00-$4,000.00 is less helpful that having a commitment for $2,500.00. The average budget contribution breakdown for 2012 was:

  • 59 percent: You and your groom
  • 12 percent: Your parents
  • 28 percent: A combo of people
  • 1 percent: His parents

Once you have figured out how much money you have, it’s time to figure out how you will allocate the money. There are a couple of ways to help you get an idea of how you much you should expect to spend. One way is to ask your wedding venue how much a typical couple at their venue spends. Another way is to assign a dollar amount per guest that you are willing to spend. For instance, if you are willing to spend $200.00 per guest and you have 180 guests, you will need at least $36,000. Finally, if you attended a wedding that you love, and you are close with the couple, ask them how much they spent on their wedding and ask for some tips.

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If you’re looking for a general guideline for how much of your budget to dedicate to each aspect, here is the average breakdown for 2012:

  • Groom’s Formalwear (Rental): 1.1 percent
  • Favors: 1.3 percent
  • Officiant: 1.5 percent
  • Hair & Makeup (Including Attendants’): 1.8 percent
  • Attendants’ Gifts: 2 percent
  • Invitations & Other Printed Materials: 2.8 percent
  • Transportation: 2.9 percent
  • Flowers: 5.7 percent
  • Wedding Rings: 6 percent
  • Music: 6.8 percent
  • Wedding Dress, Veil & Other Accessories: 7.5 percent
  • Photography & Videography: 13.6 percent
  • Reception Site, Meals, Cake & Bar: 47 percent

If you are having problems staying within your budget, figure out what’s important to you. Are you a huge foodie, but flowers aren’t as important to you? Go ahead and get that meal upgrade and cut back on your flowers. Don’t be shy about using any money saving tips you may have. Saturdays are typically the most expensive days, but Fridays and Sundays are almost as good and usually cheaper. Have a crafty friend? Have her help you make centerpieces, place cards, etc. Is your brother-in-law a professional photographer? Have him do your wedding photos. There is no shame saving some money wherever you can because you always want to plan for any unexpected charges, like the gorgeous pair of Louboutins you saw!

Make sure to keep track of your budget, either on paper or electronically. We like http://wedding.theknot.com/wedding-planning-tools/tools-wedding-budget.aspx from theknot.com. When you keep track of your budget, you are less likely to go over, which is important!

Wedding planning can be complicated, and it only gets more complicated when there are multiple people contributing money and opinions to your wedding. The important thing to remember is that it is YOUR wedding day. Discuss what you and your fiancé want for your big day and make sure you always stay on the same page.