This is the time when all your dreams and ideas for your special day become reality. Planning the wedding of your dreams is easier if you follow a few key guidelines. Good planning will increase the enjoyment you, your fiancé and your families will have on your wedding day. These guidelines will help you handle the details and limit the chaos of wedding planning.
Today, more than ever, engaged couples are determining their own rules and guidelines, often sharing expenses or incurring most of the costs themselves. Together, you and your fiancé need to discuss the kind of wedding you want and establish a budget for expenses. After establishing the budget, you can discuss with your families the level of their involvement. The list of expenses in this planner is divided in three sections; the bride and her family, the groom and his family and varying expenses.
OVERALL WEDDING EXPENSES
The Bride and Her Family Wedding invitations, announcements and mailing costs
Wedding dress, veil, accessories and trousseau
Engagement and wedding photographs and video services Fees for the wedding locations, sexton, organist and soloist
Reception: location, wedding cake, food, drinks, music, decorations
Groom's ring
Wedding gift for the groom
Gifts for the bride's attendants
Lodging for out-of-town bridesmaids
The Groom and His Family
Bride's engagement and wedding ring
Marriage license
Officiant's fee (clergy or judge)
Wedding gift for the bride
Complete honeymoon trip
Gifts for the best man, groomsman and ushers
Lodging for out-of-town groomsmen and ushers
Varying Expenses
Attendants Dresses (These are usually purchased by each attendant, but the bride and her family may purchase them if they choose) Bridesmaids' Luncheon or Party (This event is usually given by the bride, but may also be given by the attendants or a family relative)
Rehearsal Dinner (Usually hosted by the groom's parents, however it may also be hosted by friends or relatives)
Transportation for the Bridal Party. Special means of transportation may be arranged by either the bride's or the groom's family
WEDDING FLOWER EXPENSES
The Bride and Her Family
Flowers for the female attendants
All corsages with the exceptions of the mothers and grandmother's
Flowers for the ceremony, aisle runners and rental equipment
Reception flowers
The Groom and His Family
Boutonnieres for the men in the wedding party
Varying Expenses
The bride's bouquet (Usually a gift from the groom but may be included in the bride's family expenses as part of her ensemble)
Corsages for the mothers and grandmothers (These are traditionally given by the groom's family, however they may be given by the bride's family)
Flowers for the rehearsal dinner (These are usually purchased by the hosts of the party, usually, the groom's family hosts the dinner)