What To Consider Before Setting A Wedding Budget

We get it, talking about wedding planning is MUCH more fun when you don’t have to consider the price. While you might be feeling a bit engaged and confused now, setting a budget for your wedding will give you the framework you need in the planning process.

Whether you’re having a small intimate wedding with a low budget or looking to rival Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries nuptials (in price, not marriage length), setting a budget that you can be accountable for is key. Wedding Weddingman, Ashley McHone of Always Flawless Events & Planning has helped hundreds of couples set a realistic budget and shares her advice in this article.

Budget Now Or Forever Hold Your Peace

It’s never too early to start thinking about your wedding budget, but it can be too late. The last thing you want is for you to have to go over budget because of impulse buys. With a bottle of wine and easy access to a credit card, you can be looking at $5000 of DIY supplies you’re never going to finish.

Instead, you should sit down with everyone who is involved with paying for your wedding, because chances are, they want a say in the budget. Together, come up with a total number or range you would like to stay within for your big day.

Budgeting The Big 3 Is Key

Ashley recommends booking the big three first, your venue, photographer, and caterer. Booking this trio is extremely important to the success of your wedding. As they tend to be expensive and book quickly, sometimes couples feel as if they need to jump on opportunities before considering their budget or even having one

“As a planner, what I see often is that couples come to me having booked their venue, and potentially their photographer and they haven’t fully set a budget yet. What happens is they keep adding things to their wedding day and it gets out of hand really quick.”

All The Bells & Whistles

Budgeting for your big three first allows you to have a better idea of what you have left for the fun stuff and if at this point, you realize numbers aren’t your thing, you can budget for a wedding planner to take that weight off your shoulders.

Always Flawless planning guide includes a wedding budget spreadsheet. This spreadsheet includes all the bells and whistles of your wedding. Expense categories such as “bridal attire” are broken down into itemized lists such as wedding gown, alterations, shoes, jewelry, and veil, so you can map out how much you’re willing to spend per category and total!

Categories include: Wedding Planner, Bride’s Attire, Men’s Attire, Beauty, Venues, Food & Beverage, Cake/Dessert, Stationery, Photography/Videography, Entertainment, Floral, Officiant, Rentals, Favors & Gifts, Travel & Accommodation, Rehearsal Dinner and, Brunch.

“Once you map out your expenses, it will be a lot easier to book vendors that fit into your price points and will prevent you from going way over budget.”

Link to Always Flawless FREE 25 + page planning guide.

Meet Your Wedding Wingman!

Ashley McHone is a wedding planner and designer who founded Always Flawless Productions nearly ten years ago. With hundreds of incredible weddings under her belt, Ashley joined Wed Mayhem to help couples dive into this crazy process with a plan.

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4 min

5 Easy Back Exercises for Your Backless Wedding Dress

By Amelie Bauer

This workout plan is meant to be quick and easy so you can tone your back before your morning coffee has even finished brewing! Whether you are looking to tone up for a dress with a plunging back or just want to feel your best on your wedding day, these simple exercises will help knock your back into shape. All of the exercises just use body weight and can be done when you get up in the morning, before bed, or if you have the space throughout your day to lean against a wall, grab a door frame, or lie on the floor.

All exercises have been approved as time-effective ways to tone backs by Brad Seng, the University of Colorado Boulder Triathlon head coach, D3 Multisport head coach, and Team World Vision nationals head coach.

1. Scapular Wall Slides

Lean against a wall making sure that your head, upper back, lower back, and butt are all pressed against the wall. Next, press the back of your hands against the wall on either side of your head. Make sure that you are pressing everything from your wrists to your elbows against the wall. Now, slowly slide your arms up the wall trying your best to keep your wrists and elbows from coming off. Once you have gone as far as you can, slowly bring your arms back down to their starting position. Complete 2-3 sets of 8-10 repetitions of these scapular wall slides. Remember to engage your back muscles in order to feel the burn!

2. Wall Pulls

For this one, we are going to use a door frame, pole, or sturdy tall object; reach your arms straight out and grab it. Place your feet next to one another so that they are touching. The closer your feet are to the door frame, the harder the workout–the farther away they are, the easier the workout. Now, pull yourself towards the door frame until your chest touches it and hold this position for a few seconds. After, slowly ease away from the door frame and return to your starting position. Complete 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

3. Bent Over W’s

Begin by placing your feet shoulder width apart and slowly hinge at your waist and stop when your chest is parallel with the floor. It is important that you do not round your spine. Add a slight bend to your knees. Hold your arms out on either side of your body with a bend to create a W-like shape with your palms facing the floor. Your elbows should be facing the wall behind you. Very slightly bend your knees and bend your arms. Pull your arms into your chest, rotating your arms so your palms are now facing each other at your face. Make sure to squeeze your back muscles during this exercise to get the best result. Complete 2-3 sets of 10-15 repetitions.

4. Superman

Get ready to fly! Begin by laying face down on the floor with your arms reached out in front of you. At the same time, activate your back and core to lift both your arms and legs off of the floor to create a superman-like pose. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds and then bring your arms and legs back to their starting position. Complete 2-3 sets of 8-10 repetitions.

5. Prone Thoracic Extensions

Begin by laying face down on the floor with your arms bent and your hands touching the back of your head. Activate your glutes, your core, and your back by working to lift your chest off of the floor. Hold this position for 5-10 seconds and then return to the starting position. Complete 2-3 sets of 8-10 repetitions.

All exercises can be enhanced by creating extra focus on tightening and squeezing the muscles that are activated during the exercise.

And with that, your coffee has just finished brewing and you have completed a full back workout! Easy enough! Make sure to modify each set as you feel if it is too challenging or not challenging enough. You are now bound to look your best on your wedding day if you are to follow this workout plan.