Too often couples sit down to sort out the wedding budget with no sense of what a wedding costs or what it takes to get them from A to Z. They have grand ideas but no concept of how those ideas translate into reality or how much those ideas really cost. The amount of cash it will take to pull off the wedding of your dreams is all too often greeted with astonishment.

Wedding Costs

Are there any guidelines to help me figure out how much I should spend? It is hard to make a blanket statement about what weddings cost. Two of the largest factors are the size and location of the wedding. For example, a big wedding in New York City will set you back more than a big wedding in Little Rock. The date you select will also affect your final costs. May through September are considered prime or high-season wedding dates.

Maybe one of the biggest factors in determining how much a wedding will cost is your own personal taste. If you have grown up eating caviar at the finest restaurants, a cake and punch reception at the local community center is probably not going to satisfy you, although it might work for someone else. To get a basic idea of the cost of a wedding in your area, ask recently married friends and check out local wedding websites (many vendors post prices). Scheduling a budget consultation with a wedding planner is an invaluable resource. Many planners will charge an hourly fee, and you can pick their brains for budget information.

My fiancé and I have saved about $10,000 over the last few years. We do not expect our parents to contribute to the budget. Is it possible to pull off a wedding for $10,000? Anything is possible, but you have to be realistic. $10,000 will not get you into the most sought-after hotel in town, or allow you to invite 200 guests to a sit-down black-tie dinner. The key is to make the money you have work for you. As you will hear time and again, the best way to make your money go further is by limiting the guest list. Additionally, be wise when you select a venue and a time. Consider a morning or afternoon wedding, when you can offer a lighter menu.

Finding the Cash

We are considering charging the bulk of our wedding expenses on a credit card. We'll earn rewards and can easily finance our wedding this way. Is this a good idea? As long as you have the funds to pay the bills when they come in, charging wedding expenses on a credit card is a fine idea, especially if you are earning airline miles or other rewards. Keep in mind that many credit cards have high interest rates and you will pay a lot of money in interest if you wait to pay off your bills.