10 Mistakes Couples Make that Throws Off Their Wedding Budget

Jun 10, 2019

Article by: Hazafa Hasan

 

Uninvited guests, interrupted weddings, crazy relatives turning your wedding into a circus might make for hilarious movie plots, but your real weddings can really do without the drama.

Real weddings are expensive. Big Time! There are no two opinions about it. Regardless of the total of your financial assets, you can be sure it will decidedly impact the sum total. The only way around is to forgo a posh wedding and have a minimalistic one, which of course will not be something you are willing to do if you have been planning your dream wedding since forever. The next best thing is to ensure that you have a wedding budget and you stick to it. Avoid these common costly mistakes made by couples that makes them overspend their wedding budget.

(Video: Clip from the movie ‘Jerry Maguire’)

1. Not Setting a Realistic Budget

Many engaged couples forgo this step and face problems as a result. You need to have a sum total in mind that you can easily spend. It can either be in millions or it could be more reasonable, but there has to be a digit that you both can bear to part with. You don’t want your married life to start with money problems. It will make for a sour beginning that may lead to fights. So sit down beforehand and plan what kind of wedding you want and what kind of wedding you can afford within your set limits. Making a few adjustments and compromises can set this wedding ship on a smooth route and smooth sailing!

(Video: Jonas Brothers Carpool Karaoke by The Late Late Show with James Corden)

2. Not Setting a Contingency Sum

There may be a few unforeseeable expenses that no engaged couple can plan for in advance, so it might be nice to set aside a portion of the budget that can be used up in case of emergencies. There may be dress emergencies, venue booking complications and a whole lot of scenarios that you couldn’t have dreamt up in advance.

(Video: F.R.I.E.N.D.S)

3. Incurring a Huge Décor Bill

We know that a dream wedding includes a fairytale décor. However, the décor bill can get grossly out of hand if you aren’t being careful. Too much of décor will play against the effect you wish to achieve, so make a reasonable décor plan and keep to it. You don’t need to import flowers if they are out of season. You don’t need ice sculptures of crystal chandeliers. Overdoing the décor will only distract people from the couple.

(Video: Lebanese Weddings, YouTube)

4. Splurging on Favors and Stationarity

We know that you love handing out pretty favors at your wedding. Things that people like and can appreciate for a long time after your wedding is concluded. However, there is no point in spending something overmuch on favors as they are a luxury and not an essential. Opt for personalized DIY favors if you can. Also, since we can’t all be Isha Ambani and have our wedding invitation cost over 3 lakhs, so let’s just keep the invites simple and gorgeous. Giveaway chocolates or insert artificial flower petals in the invites to add that special touch to your wedding invitation.

(Video: BuzzFeed Nifty, YouTube)

5. Making Last Minute Bookings

It’s always a good practice to make all your bookings a few months prior to the wedding. If you put everything to last minute, not only will it cost way more but you may also lose the good vendors. Suppose you are having a destination wedding, you will need to ensure that everything is well planned out months before the date, so you can accommodate any last minute changes without resorting to any drastic measures.

(Video: Clip from ‘Gossip Girl’)

6. Impulsive Shopping Sprees

We get that you are in a great mood and you feel like the whole world is your oyster.  However, that can sometimes mean an onslaught of impulsive buying decisions. Purchasing random things that you don’t need can overthrow all your budget really fast, so avoid looking at online sites or going window shopping. Don’t justify your impulse purchase as needs instead of wants.

(Video: Clip from ‘Confessions of a Shopaholic’)

Note: This video has been taken from Youtube and we do not take responsibility for copyright issues associated with its content or the music in the background.

7. Not Prioritizing the Planning Agenda

You need to get the groom involved in this part. Discuss the aspects of marriage that you both can or can’t live without so you can come up with a game plan. As a bride, your priority might be a designer dress that you have to have. Your Mr. Right might wish you to take some international destination for the honeymoon. Communicate what you will be splurging on and which wedding elements don’t matter that much to you. Like personally, we prefer small guests list to the wedding.

(Video: F.R.I.E.N.D.S)

8. Incorrect Headcount

Having a big desi family sometimes means that if you invite two people from a family the whole bunch will show up – “Just because they love you so much.” Also, the desi guests don’t normally even consider children as being part of “the list”, so you better do it and add them when head counting. Your catering company or venue will need to make adjustments accordingly, so keep a margin for these uninvited guests.

(Video: Clip from ‘The Ellen Show’)

Note: This video has been taken from Youtube and we do not take responsibility for copyright issues associated with its content or the music in the background.

9. Not Hiring a Wedding Planner

Yes, that might sound expensive but hiring a wedding planner is a necessary evil. You being a newbie wouldn’t be able to foresee everything that can happen at a wedding, while an experienced planner knows everything that could go wrong and how to best avoid it. When your wedding is guided by a disaster handler, you will end up saving money that would have been elsewise spent on any unpredicted problems. Also, most wedding planners get discounts on things that will also help you out.

(Video: Clip from ‘You Again’)

Note: This video has been taken from Youtube and we do not take responsibility for copyright issues associated with its content or the music in the background.

10. Being Too Flexible

Your mom has been dreaming of this day right along with you, so both as a bride or a groom you have to carry the burden of a range of familial expectations. Your sister wants a gold set for wagh pakari, your saali wants earrings for doodh pilai and so on. However, you don’t have to give in to every whim of every family member just because you are tying the knot. Consider your situation and put your foot down every now and then.

(Video: Clip from ‘EMI’)

Note: This video has been taken from Youtube and we do not take responsibility for copyright issues associated with its content or the music in the background.

If you follow these instructions, we are affirmative that your wedding cost will not give you a near heart attack. Planning all this might be a chore, but its better than being in financial trouble that may take years to subside.