1: How much should I budget for my wedding?

The budget for a wedding can vary greatly depending on several factors such as the size of the wedding, location, and the specific preferences of the couple. However, as a general rule, most wedding planning experts suggest that couples allocate around 10-15% of their total wedding budget toward their wedding attire, 40-50% toward the reception venue, catering, decorations, and entertainment, and the remaining 10-20% for flowers, photography, invitations, transportation, and other miscellaneous expenses. you will want to book your venue, and wedding planner and photographer first. These will give you an idea on the biggest expenses, and whether or not you will be providing food, and how many guests you will be having your day.

To determine an appropriate budget, couples should first create a list of priority items and assign a spending limit to each item. This can help to ensure that the most important aspects of the wedding are adequately funded while minimizing overspending in other areas. It is also important to consider the costs associated with hosting a wedding, such as taxes, service fees, and gratuity or tips, which can add up quickly and may not be included in the initial price quotes. Yes I do recommend tipping the vendors who truely went all out for your wedding day.

Ultimately, the budget for a wedding will vary based on individual circumstances, preferences, and priorities. It is important to create a realistic budget early on in the planning process, and to stay flexible and adaptable in the face of unexpected expenses or changes in plans.

The average wedding budget for a DIY low budget wedding is roughly $10,000. But some have done it for less than $5000.

The average budget for a lavish wedding is roughly $30,000-60,000.

And if you really want to save some money, but still have a lavish wedding, I recommend trying to look into destination weddings in the Philippines! They can do a LAVISH over the top $150K wedding for under $30,000.

Also check out this blog post for HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON YOUR WEDDING DAY.

2: How far in advance should I start planning my wedding?

The answer to this question depends on several factors, such as the type of wedding, availability, and complexity of your plans. However, as a general guideline, it is recommended to start planning your wedding at least 12-18 months in advance, especially if you are having a larger or more elaborate wedding. When you start planning your wedding the last thing that your gonna want is to message every vendor of your dreams and the venue and find out they are BOOKED. This is why I recommend booking atleast a year to even 2 years advance for really high in demand vendors! You can be sure to get the vendors you want by booking 2 years in advance, as most do not book this far out. But be weary of any non refundable deposits you cannot afford to lose should you choose to change your wedding date later on. This can be a major issue for most vendors as they do not reschedule with their deposits, and you will lose your deposit, and maybe even the vendor you chose migh tbe already booked!

To give you an idea of what services you should book first, would be venue, photographer, celebrant, and videographer in that order. Once you have those booked you can move on to florists, and dresses, decor, and rental items like chairs, and food caterers. There are so many vendors you will need to book I recommend following this general timeline blog post, to help you get everything organized in a timely manner.

3: How do I choose a wedding venue?

Often the first thing to consider is what kind of style of wedding are you having, is it more earthy, or more modern, is outdoor or indoor better for you, do you want to customize the venue, or just get hitched on some grass? Would you like to save money by choosing a budget venue?

Choosing a wedding venue is one of the most important decisions you'll make during the wedding planning process. Here are some factors to consider to help you select the perfect wedding venue:

1. Budget: Determine how much you can afford to spend on the venue. The venue cost is typically one of the biggest expenses of a wedding, so be sure to select a venue that matches your budget.
2. Location: Consider the location of your venue in relation to your ceremony site and reception. Choose a location that is convenient and accessible for you, your bridal party, and your guests.
3. Style and Theme: Choose a venue that matches or complements the style and theme that you have in mind for your wedding day. Whether you're looking for a rustic barn, ballroom elegance, or a beachside location, choose a venue that aligns with your vision.
4. Capacity and layout: Determine how many guests you plan to invite. The venue should accommodate all your guests comfortably. If you're planning a larger wedding, look for a venue with ample indoor space to avoid overcrowding.
5. Services and Amenities: Look for a venue that offers additional services, such as catering and decoration, which can help to streamline the planning process for you. Also, check for amenities such as parking, AC, power supply, restrooms, etc.
6. Reviews and ratings: Check venue reviews and ratings on social media, Google, and other wedding vendor directories to ensure that past experiences were positive and the venue is reliable
7. Visit the venue: Finally, always visit the venue before booking. This will give you a better sense of the atmosphere, layout, and ambiance of the diverse spaces available. Make sure they have a backup plan in case of inclement weather.

By considering these factors, you can select the perfect wedding venue for your big day.

4: How do I select my wedding vendors (e.g. DJ, photographer, florist)?

Choosing the right vendors for your wedding is important for making sure that your big day runs smoothly. Here are some key considerations to help you select the best vendors:

1. Determine Your Needs and Priorities: Take some time to consider your wedding needs and the size of your budget. Decide which vendors are essential (such as the caterer and photographer) and which ones are optional (e.g. videographers, transportation services).
2. Research and Compare Vendors: Do some research on the vendors that you are interested in hiring. Check their website, read reviews or testimonials from past clients, and compare services, packages, and pricing to make an informed decision.
3. Get Recommendations: Ask for recommendations from friends or family members who have recently planned weddings, and learn from their experiences. The vendors they recommend can become an excellent starting point for your own search.
4. Schedule Interviews: Once you have narrowed down your list, schedule interviews with each vendor. This can help you get a sense of their style, personality, and work ethics.
5. Take Note of Communication Skills: Communication is very important, especially when you and the vendor will be working closely together. Ensure that the vendor is responsive during the interview process and the weeks leading to your wedding day.
6. Understand the Contract Details: Make sure you read and understand all vendor contracts before signing them. Look for details such as payment schedules, cancellation policies, back-up plans, and other contingencies.
7. Trust Your Instincts: Trust your instincts when choosing vendors. If you have doubts about a particular vendor or unclear the contract, it's best to pass and find someone else.

Remember, selecting good vendors is critical to ensuring that your wedding day is everything you’ve dreamed of. Take your time, be thorough and make sure you feel comfortable

5: What are some unique and creative wedding ideas?

There are countless unique and creative wedding ideas that can help make your wedding day stand out and reflect your personal style. Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Incorporate a theme: A themed wedding can be an excellent way to make your wedding unique and meaningful. Consider themes like vintage, rustic, beach, or a cultural theme that ties to your heritage.
2. Get creative with the seating: Consider untraditional seating arrangements like long farm tables, lounge furniture, or even mismatched chairs for your guests.
3. Use unconventional decor: Unconventional decor ideas could include a floral installation hanging above the reception tables, an accent wall covered in greenery, hanging chandeliers or lighting installations.
4. Fun wedding favors: Consider wedding favors that are both practical and remind your guests of your wedding. It can be as simple as customized face masks or a tote bag with the couple's initials on it.
5. Personalized welcome sign: Welcome signs that are unique or personalized to the couple can create a beautiful first impression of the day. It could be anything from vintage flags to a marquee-style letter sign.
6. Non-traditional entertainment: Hire entertainers who can add an unforgettable element to your wedding, such as a photo booth, neon sign station, or casino tables.
7. Unique food and beverage offerings: Move away from traditional wedding meals and try something unconventional such as a food truck, grazing table, or self-serve drink stations.

Remember, the goal of any wedding is to make it a memorable and authentic celebration of the couple’s love and commitment. Be creative and make your wedding day yours through incorporating unique ideas and elements that reflect your personality and style.

6: How do I create a wedding timeline and stay organized throughout the planning process?

Creating a wedding planning timeline is crucial to ensuring that you stay organized throughout the planning process and don't become overwhelmed. Here are some steps to follow:

1. Determine your wedding date: Start by determining the date of your wedding day. Once you have that locked in, you can work backward to create a timeline. The timeline should start from 12-18 months away from the wedding date.
2. Reach out to vendors: Reach out to your desired vendors (such as caterers, florists, photographers, and DJs ) as early as possible to schedule appointments and finalise any packages.
3. Make a list of tasks: Make a comprehensive list of all the tasks you need to complete before your wedding day. Break them down into smaller steps to ease the planning process.
4. Prioritize tasks: Prioritize the tasks that are most important and must be completed before the less

7: What is the proper wedding etiquette for invitations, seating arrangements, and other details?

Typically there is a few things to consider when it comes to your invitations and seating arrangements and these are more the heart centred social aspects of a wedding most brides despise discussing and figuring out with your partner. The crucial things to consider for both inviting whos coming to your wedding, as well as who sits by who, and where... Will all be much the same.

1. Relationships between you and the guests and your partner, are they close, have they been around awhile, and are there any links in the wedding that wont mix and mesh well, you may have to choose one guest over another to avoid any conflicts. sometimes hosting an engagement party can null and void these as you invite some to your engagement but not everyone to your wedding day.
2. What family members are most important, and what ones are the social ones, that love to get along with everyone, or certain members of the family. Send these invitations first, and set them up in their seat arrangements first to get the primary guests out of the way and sorted.
3. If you have to choose between whom wants to be at the wedding, its best to keep it between you and your partner and less drama. You can always send a love note to the guests who you couldnt invite, and an apology and explanation why, as well as a promise to send them the photos and video, and leave room for recieving a gift of love from them as well to keep things all mutually agreeing and less tense.
4. You can also enlist your parents to sort out the seating arrangements and some extra invitations to the family members and friends you know will want to be there, and be close with your family on the seating charts.

8: How can I incorporate my cultural or religious traditions into my wedding celebrations?

Incorporating your cultural or religious traditions into your wedding day can make it more meaningful and memorable. Here are some ideas to consider:

1. Clothing: Wearing traditional clothes or incorporating traditional fabric into your wedding dress or attire is a great way to showcase your cultural or religious ancestry.
2. Ceremony Rituals: Incorporate traditional cultural or religious practices such as unity candles, lighting of the lamp, or the sand ceremony, which can be incorporated into the wedding ceremony.
3. Food and Beverages: Incorporate traditional foods and drinks into your wedding day. You can set up food stations with traditional foods or have guests served with a traditional dish.
4. Music and Dance: Add cultural music and/or dancing to your wedding day. Incorporate an ethnic band or dance troupe, which can enhance the celebratory mood
5. Décor: Include traditional decorations or details in the wedding décor. If getting married in a traditional church, incorporate cultural