Planning your wedding should be an exciting time. You should look at it as a time to get to know the things about each other that you didn't already know. A time to spend together learning to compromise with each other and falling even deeper in love. Frankly, if you can enjoy planning your wedding together while listening to others advice and not let it get the best of you then believe me, you are doing better than most. You can handle anything! Your wedding day will only last as long as that one special day lasts but the planning will likely take months and months to plan. So, please enjoy the whole process. You will be glad you did looking back.

I believe if you break down each expense into categories and decide on a budget amount for each, early on, it's the best way to see the big picture. This is why I have put together this example to help with the budgeting part of the wedding planning. This will provide you with the expenses that can be incurred in any size wedding. I have broken the expenses down into ten categories. I also have given an example percentage spent on each category. This is an average of most weddings, but you could change them to suit what is most important to you. After you figure out your total budget, then simply break it down into categories. You will have a much better idea of what you can spend on each item, service and event.

The first category I have named pre-wedding expenses. This category usually takes up 3% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Newspaper announcements
• Marriage license
• Prenuptial agreement
• Wedding consultant
• Online wedding planning

The second category is all the stationery expenses. This category, also usually takes up 3% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Announcements
• Wedding invitations
• Response cards
• Seating cards
• Save the date cards
• Directions
• Thank-you cards
• Stamps

The third category is the wedding attire. This category usually takes up 10% of your overall budget. This is usually due to the wedding gown being the biggest expense in this category. This includes items such as...

• Wedding gown
• Alterations
• Headpiece/veil
• Jewelry
• Garder
• Shoes
• Hair
• Makeup
• Nails
• Grooms attire

The fourth category is gifts and parties. This category usually takes up 7% of your overall budget. With the rehearsal dinner being the biggest expense. This includes items such as...

• Bride's gift
• Groom's gift
• Bridesmaid's gifts
• Usher's gifts
• Bridesmaids' luncheon
• Rehearsal dinner

The fifth item is the flowers. The flowers, also usually take up 7% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Bride bouquet
• Maid of honor bouquet
• Bridesmaid's bouquet
• Hairpieces, if floral (maid of honor, bridesmaids, and flower girl)
• Corsages
• Boutonnieres (groom, ushers, and other family and friends)
• Ceremony site flowers
• Reception site flowers
• Floral delivery/ set-up fee

The sixth category is rental items. This category usually takes up 5% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Tents/coverings
• Dance floor
• Tables
• Chairs
• Linens
• Tableware
• Limousine/other

The seventh category is the music. This category also usually takes up 5% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Ceremony music
• Reception music

The eighth category is Photography and videography. This category usually takes up 15% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Service fees
• Engagement photograph
• Formal bridal portrait
• Extra prints/CD
• Main video
• Titles
• Extra copies of DVD

The ninth category is the ceremony. The ceremony usually takes up 5% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Ceremony site fee
• Officiant's fee/gratuity
• Guest book
• Guest pen/penholder
• Ring bearer pillow
• Flower girl basket

The tenth, and final category, is usually the most expensive, but most exciting category of all. The reception! The reception usually takes up 40% of your overall budget. This includes items such as...

• Reception site fee
• Liquor/beverages
• Bartender
• Gratuity
• Hors d' Oeuvres
• Meal
• Caterer
• Cake
• Cake top
• Cake knife
• Toasting glasses
• Room Decorations
• Centerpieces
• Napkins
• Card box
• Party favors
• Rose pedals/rice

To calculate the exact amount you can spend in each category, just multiply your total wedding budget by each percentage. If you find after adding up all of your categories that the total amount is more than what you had in mind to spend, decide then, which items are more important and make the adjustments to show that. Also, if anyone else is helping with any expenses be sure to keep track of that and make the adjustments.

Make sure as you purchase items, or hire your service providers, you write down the actual expenses. This will help you stay within your wedding budget. Good luck and enjoy!