Stonebridge Life Insurance Company

Wedding costs

How to have your cake and eat it.
Weddings can be as lavish or as simple as you like. But if there’s a wide gap between what you want and what you can afford, you may have to forgo the ice sculpture and embossed invitations. Starting married life with a big wedding debt may stop you from getting that new car or accumulating enough money for a down payment on a house.

Here are a few ways you can cut your wedding costs:
  • Go with a buffet table rather than table service
  • Bake the cake yourself or ask a friend to do it
  • Ask your friends to take photographs, tend bar or videotape your wedding
  • Buy in bulk from a discounter
  • Buy flowers from a floral wholesaler and choose flowers that are in season
  • Rent your wedding dress
  • Get married in the off-season
  • Don’t splurge on both your wedding and honeymoon (choose one or the other)

Print out the worksheet below to estimate your wedding costs. Then decide where you need to make cuts to stay within your budget.

Wedding Cost Worksheet
Rings
Bride’s wedding band
Groom’s wedding band
$__________
$__________
Stationery
Invitations
Announcements
Thank-you notes
Postage
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
Clothing
Bride's gown/dress
Groom's tuxedo
Drycleaning
$__________
$__________
$__________
Flowers
Bride’s bouquet
Bridesmaids’ bouquets
Corsages for parents and family
Wedding ceremony
Reception
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
Photography
Bridal portraits
Wedding photos
Album
$__________
$__________
$__________
Reception
Site rental
Food
Beverage
Music
Decorations
Wedding cake
Tableware
Serving staff
Guest book and pen
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
Honeymoon
Lodging
Travel
Meals
Spending money
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
Other
Wedding consultant
Engagement party
Bridesmaids' luncheon
Videographer
Gifts to attendants
Beauty (hair, nails, facial)
Marriage license
Clergy's fees
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
$__________
ESTIMATED TOTAL $__________

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