For many women since they were children they dreamed of the day the would be getting married. The gorgeous and elaborate church they would be getting married in and the stupendous reception that would follow. The $20,000.00 dress they had on would be accompanied by diamond necklaces, rings, tiaras, and would be set in gold. They would have a major entertainer singing at their wedding who would in the middle of his song glance sorrowfully at the thought that you were married and not available for him any longer.
Most people grow up and get a little more realistic about what they can do and afford for their wedding. You learn to set up things like budgets to help insure you do not overspend in any area and if you do then you know you will have to sacrifice in some other area.
The problem you have nowadays is watching TV shows about weddings you quickly get the idea that everyone can have a lavish wedding. Ever notice that the planner may talk about the budget but the bride and groom keep on ordering and ordering more and more outlandish things for their wedding day. Everyone wears diamonds, limousines to drive everyone around, cigar bars, even helicopters to ferry you around.
The problem with these shows is they are not at all realistic about what you should do to have a gorgeous wedding on a realistic budget. That is why you really need think about what your wedding needs to look like, how it needs to be decorated, what sort of extras it must contain. Then you need to get preliminary pricing on all those things.
Your budget needs to include the normal things such as floral arrangements, pew bows, candelabras, and aisle runners for your church. It then needs to include things for the reception area. The venue, the DJ, food, linens, table and chairs if not furnished, and the decorations. You need to price these primary items first. Then when you know you can adequately pay for all of them you can start adding luxury items. One thing I always tell couples is try to have luxuries that last beyond your wedding day. Jewelry is a good example of something that has lasting enjoyment.
You can have 200 guests for roughly $27,000. That is the national average. One great way to get what you want is to focus on quality and not quantity. Having 400 guests is great but do you really want to spend that much more money for more guests. Think about what you really want and also what you can afford. If you can afford it try and compromise on both sides of the equation. If you cannot afford anymore then start to cut the quantity out of your guest list. Always try to balance how many people you want with what things you must have at your wedding. You are basically debating with yourself so you know in the end you will win the argument.
