 |
 The
Wedding Planner
The following is provided courtesy
of Premier
Bride New Mexico
The Guide for the New Mexico Bride! |
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Establishing a wedding
budget is the first, and most important, step of the planning
process.
Survey the following expense categories. Then, prioritize
them by determining which elements of your wedding celebration
are most important to you (example: We want to have more funds
for catering, so we will cut back on...).
Determine the financial resources
available to you and your fiancé from your own funds
and from family. Allocate ample budget for the important items.
TIP: Your wedding reception will
probably be the most costly part of your plan. Be realistic.
Don't expect to get great food and great service for "take-out"
prices. If you have to make cuts, reduce the size of your
guest list, not the quality of your party.
Don't be surprised or concerned if
your budget priorities and allocations shift during the early
stages of the research and budgeting process. Just be sure
to stay within total-budget bounds (and to use a pencil for
the first round!).
TIP: You may want to hire a Bridal
Consultant to help you with this. A Consultant’s knowledge
of the local wedding industry can help you to save time -
and money! |
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| Who
has financial responsibility for wedding costs? |
It is no longer expected
that wedding costs will be assigned according to tradition.
The bride and groom should discuss their plan and budget for
the wedding with their families to determine whether to follow
a traditional division of financial responsibility for the wedding
costs.
If circumstances don't allow the families to follow tradition,
the proper rationale in deciding who pays for what portion is
basic: whoever is most willing and most able to pay for a wedding
expense assumes responsibility for that expense. |
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| Traditional
division of financial responsibility for wedding costs: |
| BRIDE |
• Personal
stationery
• Groom's wedding ring
• Wedding gift for groom
• Gifts
for bridal party
• Gowns for bridal party
(optional)
• Accommodations for out-of-town
members of bridal party (optional)
• Luncheon for bridal party
• Gift
for parents (optional) |
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| BRIDE'S FAMILY |
• Engagement
party
• Wedding gift for newlyweds
• Wedding reception costs
• Wedding
ceremony facility costs,
including
decorations
• Bride's wedding apparel
and trousseau
• Bride's parents'
wedding apparel
• Invitations, announcements,
thank-you notes, postage
•
Wedding ceremony programs
• Engagement
and wedding
photographs
•
Videographer
• Musicians/vocalists
• Bridal party bouquets and
flowers
for flower girl
• Flowers for ceremony
and reception
• Transportation for bridal
party
to ceremony and reception
• Security and insurance for gifts
•
Welcome party for out-of-town
guests
(optional) |
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| BRIDAL PARTY MEMBERS |
• Bridal
shower for bride
• Wedding apparel and
shoes
• Accommodations for self |
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| GROOM |
• Bride's
engagement
and wedding rings
• Bride's bouquet and
going-away
corsage
• Wedding gift for bride
•
Honeymoon
• Boutonnieres for men in
wedding party
• Mothers' corsages
• Gifts for best man, groomsmen,
and
ushers
• Groomsmen's apparel (optional)
• Accommodations for out-of-town
members
of groom's party (optional)
• Marriage
license
• Fee for officiant
•
Gift for parents (optional) |
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| GROOM'S FAMILY |
• Engagement
party (optional;
following party
by bride's parents)
• Groom's personal
stationery
and thank-you notes
• Groom's wedding apparel
• Groom's
parents' wedding apparel
• Rehearsal dinner
• Wedding gift for newlyweds
• Shipment
of wedding gifts
to couple's new
home
• Welcome party for out-of-town
guests (optional) |
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| GROOM'S PARTY MEMBERS |
• Bachelor
party
• Wedding apparel and shoes
• Accommodations for self |
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| Budget
Checklist |
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BUDGET |
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ACTUAL |
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PAID FOR
BY |
Reception
Catering/food
servers/tax/gratuity
Facility rental
Rental equipment/decorations
Beverages/bar/corkage fee
Cake/cake cutting fee
Other
Ceremony
Facility
rental
Officiant fee
Marriage license
Rental equipment/ decorations
Other
Apparel (Bride)
Bridal gown
Headpiece/veil
Shoes
Lingerie/Hosiery
Jewelry
Alterations
Other
Apparel (Groom)
Groom's formalwear
Accessories (shoes, cufflinks, etc.)
Other
Photographer
Wedding
package fee
Prints/album
Engagement portrait/prints
Wedding portrait/prints
Other
Videographer
Wedding
package fee
Video copies
Other
Flowers
Bride's
bouquet
Bridesmaids' bouquets
Boutonnieres/corsages
Ceremony site flowers
Reception site flowers
Flower girl's flowers
Other
Music/Entertainment
Ceremony
Reception
Other
Transportation
Limousine service
Transportation for guests
Other transportation
Health & Beauty
Hair & make-up
Manicure/pedicure
Spa/skin care
Stationery
Invitations/Reply
cards
Wedding programs
Thank you notes
Announcements
Maps/Save the date cards
Postage
Other
Reception Accessories
Cake knife & server
Cake topper
Guest book & pen
Toasting flutes
Flower girl accessories
Ring bearer accessories
Favors for guests/cameras
Other
Gifts
Bridesmaids
Groomsmen & Ushers
Parents
Other participants
Wedding Coordination
Bridal consultant
Event insurance
Gift insurance
Other
Additional Expenses
Tax on products & services
Tips for vendors
Other
Optional Expenses
Wedding party accommodations
Bridesmaids' gowns
Flower girl's dress
Groomsmen's formalwear
Ring bearer's formalwear
Bridal party luncheon
And don't forget
Bride's engagement ring
Bride's wedding ring
Groom's wedding ring |
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