Common budget questions:
- Our parents are contribting financially to our wedding, should they have a say in what we choose?
- Our relatives haven't offered us any money towards the wedding, is it ok to ask them for money?
- What if the family doesn't come through with the money they promised?
- My in-laws can't afford to contribute as much as my parents, how do I handle this situation?
- Are there any hidden expenses like setup costs or taxes?
- How can we avoid going over our budget?
- What is the most expensive time of year to get married?
- Is it ok to negotiate prices or ask suppliers for discounts?
- If a supplier delivers something totally different to what I ordered, can I get a refund?
- Should I get wedding insurance?
- Some parents will be hands off, and some will want to add their opinion on how they would like their money invested and what the return is going to be like.
- A solution to this is to ask your parents which areas they would like to oversee and offer them a list of three of your chosen suppliers in any particular area e.g. Wedding Décor, Entertainment, Wedding Cakes.
- Sit down with both your families with a collection of images and explain to them how you would like your wedding to look. Ask them would they consider paying for a particular area of your wedding such as the wedding cake, the wedding accessories or the wedding entertainment.
- This is one of the rare times when it’s not taboo to ask about money, ask your parents to send the money directly to the suppliers or you could supply them with a payment schedule.
- Always have a contingency plan for payment, especially in today’s tough climate.
- Sit down with everyone & discuss which areas they would like to contribute to eg. , you don’t necessarily need to mention the cost of everything, this will save any red faces.
- Your wedding planner may also have a Wedding Registry service which will allow your parents & guests to contribute to the budget for your special day.
- Always ask about taxes & charges for delivery of your items, & ensure the final bill has a breakdown of all the charges. It is important to leave a cushion in your budget for any of these miscellaneous extra charges.
- Look for unexpected sources of supply, a trainee chef to bake your cake or a newly qualified photographer looking to improve their portfolio may want to take your shots.
- Summer , and no that doesn’t mean the months of the school holidays summer for weddings runs from May until October. Weekends are the most expensive time of the week to get married, as these are the most popular. Booking your wedding for the off-peak season can save you a substantial amount of money, ask wedding venues about their off peak offers.
- It never hurts to ask, some are more flexible than others. the motto at The Bridal Bar is ‘the more you get from us the more of a deal we’ll do for you’, the concept of The Bridal Bar allows us to negotiate better prices for your wedding cake, wedding stationery & we have also brokered deals with wedding photographers & wedding entertainment for you.
- It’s always best to meet with suppliers in any field before you agree on booking, read the contract very carefully & ensure it includes a contingency plan but that you must be notified of any changes before your wedding day.
- Wedding insurance is considered smart, you are spending a large amount of money & it is best to protect it.
