Tag Archives: save the date announcements

Last week, we introduced you to the Ann’s Bridal
Bargains wedding checklist. This week, we’re going to take you inside the first
topic — what to do after you get engaged — for an in depth look at what comes
next.

Upon Engagement

You’ll want to spend some
time reveling in your new and exciting news, but don’t take too long. There are
some important things to take care of right away. Of course, what tasks need to
be tackled when will depend on your timeline — our wedding checklist is based
on a one-year engagement.

Item 1. Set the Wedding
Date

Seem early? It’s not.
Popular wedding venues often book up a year or more in advance. Same goes for popular
bands, caterers, florists, etc. (We’ll cover reserving wedding services next
week, so be sure to check back!) You’ll need to start looking into all of these
details early on, and that means knowing your wedding date right away.

Item 2. Decide (with
fiancé, of course) on wedding style

We know, we know. You’ve
probably been thinking about your wedding day for quite some time (we won’t
disclose how long), so you already have a few ideas about what style of wedding
you want, but may we remind you, you do have an other half to consider.

Have a discussion right
away about what kind of wedding you both want to have — themed, elegant,
destination, small, large, HUGE? There are lots of things to figure out before
you begin planning. (Maybe you’ll be lucky and your fiancé will give you free
creative reign — a bargainista’s dream!)

Item 3. Determine Your
Wedding Budget

Most of today’s couples are
planning a wedding with a set budget in mind, but if you’re a true bargainista,
you enjoy the thrill of finding a great deal and the creativity involved in
working within a budget. That’s why Ann’s offers everything from discount
wedding invitations to bridal party gifts, so you can plan a fabulous wedding
for a fabulous price!

A Typical Wedding Budget

(Note: This will differ for
every couple, but here are some general guidelines.)

• Food – 40%

• Reception Venue – 10%

• Attire – 11%

• Flowers – 8%

• Photography/Videography -
7%

• Music – 7%

• Stationery
(save-the-dates, wedding invitations, thank you cards) – 3%

• Gifts – 3%

3 Tips for Planning Your
Budget

1. Start a wedding checking
account to keep everyday finances completely separate from wedding finances.

2. Dedicate one credit card
to paying for wedding services and items. You’ll quickly rack up points toward
a rewards program, but be sure to pay it off monthly, before interest accrues.

3. Start and maintain a
spreadsheet that includes a column for your budgeted costs and a column for
actual costs. You’ll fill both columns for each big-ticket wedding purchase,
such as the categories listed above. Keep updating the spreadsheet and consult
it before making all large purchases.

Item 4. Discuss Financial
Responsibilities

Traditionally, the bride’s
family paid for the wedding, but most of today’s couples choose to pay for the
wedding themselves or split the cost with both sets of parents. This is a
personal discussion that should be held with each side of the family.

Our Hot Summer Sale ends tonight but may help your budgeting needs!  Start browsing now for great deals!

 

Next Chapter: Upon
Engagement Part 2

Check back in one week!
We’ll cover site reservations, choosing a bridal party and beginning your guest
list.