Blue Ridge Catering is a central Virginia preferred caterer north of Charlottesville, VA specializing in indoor and outdoor weddings, wedding receptions, bridal showers, luncheons, parties and more.

Wedding Budget Etiquette - Who Pays for What?

Learn which side of the family is typically responsible for which wedding costs and the tradtional wedding budget etiquette.

Tradition states that the bride’s parents are responsible for fronting the bill for the wedding reception; these days, the bride’s parents, groom’s parents, and the couple themselves all contribute to the wedding pool. That said, it helps to come to the budgeting table prepped with the traditional list of which side pays for what. These conventional “rules” can then be adjusted according to your financial situations:

Wedding Costs Paid by the Bride and/or Bride’s Parents:

Ceremony rental fee
Bride’s dress and accessories
Ceremony flowers and décor
Bouquets for bridesmaids and flower girl
Photography and videography
Engagement party
Bridesmaids’ luncheon
All vendor services for reception, including food, beverages, décor, and entertainment
Groom’s ring
Invitations and stationery
Transportation for bridal party to and from ceremony and reception

Wedding Costs Paid by the Groom and/or Groom’s Parents:

Marriage license and officiant’s fee
Groom’s attire
Bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for ushers, and corsages for mothers and grandmothers
Honeymoon Travel
Rehearsal dinner
Bachelors’ dinner
Both of the bride’s rings

Costs Incurred by the Wedding Attendants:

Their own attire, including shoes and accessories
Bridal party hosts bridal shower and bachelorette party
Groom’s party hosts the bachelor party

This article, Wedding Budget Etiquette, is being provided with permission courtesy of elegala.com, elegant galas–made simple.

How to Set Your Wedding Budget

Get started with these three steps to setting your wedding budget

The numbers are in, and they aren’t pretty. With the average wedding cost at over $28,000, it’s no wonder tackling the budget is one of the most overwhelming tasks on your to-do list. We’ve sorted the figures to help you put it all in perspective and build a plan of attack.

Step 1: Talk to all contributing parties

As the cost of weddings increase, so does the number of people paying for them (good news for the bride’s parents, who no longer need to take out a second mortgage to fund their daughter’s nuptials). You’ll need to sit down with everyone who is going to contribute to the wedding-day piggy bank and discuss how to logically divide the tab and arrive at a total number.

The old-school rules dictating who pays for what are meant to be broken, but you can definitely use the above "wedding etiquette - who pays for what" tips as a starting point for your budget discussion.

Step 2: Allocate totals for each service accordingly

Now that you’ve arrived at a reasonable total budget, you’ll need to determine where that money is going to go. Come up with a list of items/vendors/details you’ll need, and how much you’ll allocate to each. Then you can customize each amount based on your style and priorities. For instance, if a fabulous. wedding gown is particularly important to you, you may splurge in that area, and make up for it by cutting back on your floral arrangements.

Step 3: Get a system and start saving

You’ll need to establish a reliable method to keep track of all savings and expenditures. There are endless ways to save and track your finances, from sophisticated software to old-fashioned spreadsheets. You can download easy-to-use budgeting software at My Wedding Organizer, Five Star Software or Elm Software for $29.95.

Bank it
If you’ve already got a hefty seed to put down for your affair, talk with your financial institution about the best way to accrue interest leading up to your big day. A seemingly nominal interest rate can mean the difference between Vera Wang and hand-me-downs. Just be sure to open an account separate from your personal savings so that you won’t be tempted to dip into the funds and ultimately find yourself in the hole.

Save smart
If you are starting from zero with your wedding-day savings, consider paying for as many of your expenses as possible on a credit card that amasses benefits like frequent flier miles, rewards, or cash back that can go toward your honeymoon travel.

This article, How to Set Your Wedding Budget, is being provided with permission courtesy of elegala.com, elegant galas–made simple.

How to Stick to Your Wedding Budget

Oops – they did it again. Nearly half of all couples report spending more on the wedding than originally planned. These budgeting tips will help you stay on track.

Step 1: Get a Budgeting System

Establish a reliable method to keep track of all expenditures. Try to keep your wedding fund separate from your personal accounts, so you can easily determine what’s being spent on the wedding.

Step 2: Prepare to Go Over

Set aside five percent of your budget for a just-in-case fund. If you absolutely cannot exceed $20,000, aim to spend $19,000. When last minute costs come up (and they will), your reserve funds will save you from debt.

Some common costs you may not have considered when setting your initial budget:

Tips for your vendors – 15-25% is customary for certain services. Read more on how much and which vendors to tip
Trial runs - make-up and hairstyling – about $20-$100 each
Overtime fees if your reception goes longer than expected – anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars
Last minute dress cleanings or tux pressings – anywhere from $50-$100 each
Postage for invitations and stamps for RSVPs – cost depends on how heavy your mailings are and how many you send
Marriage license fees – approximately $15-$90; depending on state

Step 3: Cut Back

Serve three courses instead of five (save on catering). Have four bridesmaids instead of 10 (save on bouquets and gifts). Invite 150 guests instead of 200 (save on almost everything).

Step 4: Beware the Up-sell

With every detail planned, someone is going to try to up-sell you. Don’t crack under pressure! The fabulous designer dress, the top shelf bar, the succulent lobster tail – they all seem like good ideas at the time, but be wary that all of these upgrades add up. The key is to prioritize beforehand. If you want to serve an elaborate five-course meal with all the bells and whistles, you may have to sacrifice your dream of a 10-piece ensemble.

Step 5: Tighten the Purse Strings

Here’s a goal – try to save 20% of your income for your wedding expenses. It may sound impossible, but there are easy ways to cut corners in your personal life to make saving for your wedding a tad easier. Simple lifestyle changes like brown bagging your lunch to work, cooking meals at home, brewing your own coffee, renting a DVD instead of pricey trips to the theatre, and inviting your friends over instead of expensive evenings at the club all add up to substantial savings. The best part? You can take these thrifty habits into your marriage – and make it easier to save for other big ticket items like a new home, vacations or a college fund.

This article, How to Stick to Your Wedding Budget is being provided with permission courtesy of elegala.com, elegant galas–made simple.