What’s one of the most intimidating parts about planning a wedding? Budgeting for your special day! With the help of our simple walkthrough tips, wedding costs don’t have to feel as intimidating as navigating Mount Everest - without a map. Read on for Micro Miami’s roadmap for conquering your wedding budget!

Photo courtesy of The Cardonas Photography and Video

It is no secret that creating a wedding budget and allocating the funds is not an easy feat. As your wedding is going to be a reflection of your love story, the budget will convey everything from your top three non-negotiable items or vendors to the level of quality you desire. That being said, everything will eventually be customized to fit your preferences, because every celebration is unique.

1. Drafting the initial sum

Everybody needs to start from somewhere - right? Even though talking about finances is not a romantic subject, it is a vital part of setting the base. Sit down with your beloved, make yourselves a cup (or three) of coffee, and let the conversation unfold into the creation of your wedding budget.

Take into consideration your individual savings, how much you can set aside from your current income (taking into account any debts, bills, or credits), and who from your families has expressed their wish to chip in. After a while, you will have an optimal sum that will serve as a base. Now, celebrate a little bit - you’ve already completed the first big step!

2. Discover your top three non-negotiable items

You have probably dreamed about your wedding even before the proposal, so you may already have an idea of which are your top priorities. As per everything, discuss this with your partner and decide what are the three things that must find their place on the top of the list. Each of them has a unique value and role in the expenses. For example, if aesthetics are an important aspect of your wedding, then you need to determine the quantity and quality of the décor items – and that fact alone can impact your budget.

If you wish for a more modern minimalistic adornment, the cost won’t be the same as having a whimsical luxury styling. Every segment can contribute to fluctuations, so it is important to know which are non-negotiable. For Sofi, lead planner at Micro Miami, the most important three items on her own budget list with her partner were a planner (yes, even planners need a planner), photography, and venue.. What are yours? Leave us a comment below on the blog with your own Big Three, once you have them in mind!

Photo courtesy of The Cardonas Photography and Video

3. Prepare a spreadsheet

Before we dive into the breakdown, it is handy to prepare a spreadsheet where you will input your Estimate Percentage, Modified Sums, and eventually input the Actual Cost. Our recommendation is to start with the venue and non-negotiables, and then work your way by listing all the vendors.

MMW tip: Spreadsheets don’t have to look like a headache-inducing accounting expense sheet! Add a little fun into yours by incorporating photos, your favorite colors, or some simple charts instead of yet another column of tiny numbers.

4. The Breakdown – simplified

The best way to decode this is by presenting each vendor and service through estimated percentages. Even though every budget is unique, these basic percentages will help you have a clearer idea.

● Wedding Venue and Catering: 50%

● Wedding Photography and Videography: 15%

● Florals and Decorations: 15%

● Officiant: 2%

● Entertainment: 8%

● Hair and Makeup: 4%

● Transportation: 2%

● Stationary, Favors and Gifts: 2%

● Miscellaneous : 2%

It is important to note that these are only estimates. However, the numbers can have a turnover depending on the quality, value, experience, etc. You may wish to host your special day on a family estate, but splurge on other items. Have you been eyeing a couture gown? If it is your priority, adjust the percentages. Do you desire luxury bespoke stationery? Then make sure the numbers fit the cost for this service. It all boils down to prioritizing vendors and services and adjusting the wedding budget breakdown. Look back at your Big Three from step 2 - what elements did you decide previously were most important to you, personally? Your big day is as unique as you are; your budgets will be, too!

Photo courtesy of The Cardonas Photography and Video

5. Be prepared for surprises

Pro tip: set aside about 10% extra, just in case of any unexpected expenses. In this way, if a surprise arises, you will be prepared and handle it in a stress-free way. Surprises can happen, but they become much smaller headaches if you have a bit of a safety net prepared! For example, Sofi at Micro Miami encourages brides to set some $ aside for tipping. Weddings are part of the service industry therefore require tips. Also, it is always good to have extra money for last minute surprises such as dress alterations, new must have items, etc.

Arriving at your destination…the completed budget plan!

Are you feeling confident about your big day finances? We hope that we have cleared some confusion and now you feel confident to pull off a wedding budget breakdown easily! If you wish to learn more about how you can properly take care of your budget and dreams, connect with us. Have a specific question on finances, or found this roadmap helpful in your own planning? Leave us a comment below - we’d love to hear from you!

See you soon,

Sofi & the Micro Miami Weddings team