Welcome to Brides-To-Be, Inc.

Advice

Timelines

Budgeting

Budget Form

	Choosing a date in the off season can be very helpful. You will find more availability of services and in many cases, you can receive discounts. In some cases, services discount for Fridays and Sundays as well. The order of popularity for months are as follows (most to least popular): September May and June October August July April November December March February January
	The little details add up quick when planning your wedding. Having at least one person assisting you with the numerous tasks will relieve some of the stress. The members of your wedding party can often be called on to help with the details.
	Choose a single hard copy planner to help you organize all the important tasks of your wedding. Make a copy as a back up of all plans. Also, keep all of your receipts in a single organizer or location.

Contrary to popular belief, nine months is not the recommended average amount of time spent planning a wedding. The time line varies somewhat depending on what area of the country you live in. However, by today's standards a full scale wedding is planned in at least nine months and in many cases as much as two years.

It is not a question about whether or not it can be done in less, it certainly can. The real concern is whether you will be able to have your first choice of the things that are important to you. For example, some reception halls are so popular they have bookings three years in advance.

Item list for 9 months and earlier

Determine a budget
Choose a wedding date
Select a ceremony location
Select a ceremony officiate
Select and reception location
Select a wedding coordinator / consultant
Consolidate guest list
Select and order wedding gown and headpiece
Determine your color scheme
Select wedding party
Order passport, visa or birth certificate
Choose primary services: Photographer, Entertainment, Videographer

Item list for 6 to 9 months

Give the responsibility cards to wedding party
Select and reserve a location for the wedding night
Select attire and accessories for wedding party attendants
Schedule fittings and delivery dates

Budgeting is one of the most underestimated factors in planning a wedding. Products and services are often more than you might expect and because there are so many exciting options, you may find yourself adding items you never dreamed of.
To help take some of the sting out of your shopping, we have compiled a list of the most commonly used products and services along with their prices and time lines.
These prices and time lines are based on actual wedding professionals. Friends, relatives or hobbyist can be less depending on what things are most important to you.

Item	Timeline in months	Price range

Ceremony Location	9 - 24	$150.00 to $1000
Ceremony Officiate	9 - 24	$50.00 to $300.00
Ceremony Music	6 - 18	$100.00 to $1200.00
Reception Location	9 - 24	$18.00 to $90.00 per person
Wedding Gown / Accessories	9 - 24	$750 to $3500.00
Wedding Coordinator / Consultant	9 - 24	$500.00 to $1500.00
Photographer	9 - 24	$900 to $4000.00
Videographer	9 - 18	$1000.00 to $4000.00
Bands / Orchestra	9 - 18	$1500.00 to $5000.00
Disc Jockey	9 - 18	$500.00 to $1600.00
Flowers	6 - 12	$800.00 to $4000.00
Wedding Cake
Bridesmaid Dresses
Tuxedos
Limousine / Transportation
Invitations

Budget Analysis

	Budget	Actual
Your Total Wedding Budget	$	$

Ceremony (Typical = 5% of Budget)
Ceremony Site Fee
Officiate's Fee
Officiate's Gratuity
Guest Book, Pen, Penholder
Ring Bearer Pillow
Flower Girl Basket

Subtotal 1

Wedding Attire (Typical = 10% of Budget)
Bridal Gown
Alterations
Headpiece & Veil
Gloves
Jewelry
Stockings
Garter
Shoes
Hairdresser
Makeup Artist
Manicure/Pedicure
Groom’s Formal Wear

Subtotal 2

Photography (Typical = 9% of Budget)
Bride & Groom’s Album
Parents’ Album
Extra Prints
Proofs/Previews
Negatives
Engagement Photograph
Formal Bridal Portrait

Subtotal 3

Videographer (Typical = 5% of Budget)
Main Video
Titles
Extra Hours
Photo Montage
Extra Copies

Subtotal 4

STATIONERY (Typical = 4% of Budget)
Invitations
Response Cards
Reception Cards
Ceremony Cards
Pew Cards
Seating/Place Cards
Rain Cards/Map
Ceremony Programs
Announcements
Thank-You Notes
Stamps
Calligraphy
Napkins and Matchbooks

Subtotal 5

RECEPTION (Typical = 35% of Budget)
Reception Site Fee
Hors D’ Oeuvres
Main Meal/Caterer
Liquor/Beverages
Bartending/Bar Set-up Fee
Corkage Fee
Fee to Pour Coffee
Service Providers’ Meals
Gratuity
Party Favors/Disposable Cameras
Rose Petals/Rice
Gift Attendant
Parking Fee/Valet Services

Subtotal 6

MUSIC (Typical = 5% of Budget)
Ceremony Music
Reception Music

Subtotal 7
BAKERY (Typical = 2% of Budget)
Wedding Cake
Groom’s Cake
Cake Delivery & Set-up Fee
Cake-Cutting Fee
Cake Top, Cake Knife, Toasting Glasses

Subtotal 8

FLOWERS (Typical = 6% of Budget)
BOUQUETS
Bride’s
Tossing
Maid of Honor’s
Bridesmaids’

FLORAL HAIRPIECES
Maid of Honor/Bridesmaids’
Flower Girl’s

CORSAGES
Bride’s Going Away
Other Family Members’

BOUTONNIERES
Groom’s
Ushers and Other Family’s

CEREMONY SITE FLOWERS
Main Altar
Altar Candelabra
Aisle Pews

RECEPTION SITE FLOWERS
Reception Site
Head Table
Guest Tables
Buffet Table
Punch Table
Cake Table
Cake
Cake Knife
Toasting Glasses
Floral Delivery & Setup

Subtotal 9


DECORATIONS (Typical = 3% of Budget)
Table Centerpieces
Balloons

Subtotal 10

TRANSPORTATION (Typical = 2% of Budget)
Transportation

Subtotal 11

RENTAL ITEMS (Typical = 3% of Budget)
Bridal Slip
Ceremony Accessories
Tent/Canopy
Dance floor
Tables/Chairs
Linen/Tableware
Heaters, Lanterns, Other

Subtotal 12

GIFTS (Typical = 3% of Budget)
Bride’s/Groom’s Gift
Bridesmaids’/Ushers’ Gifts

Subtotal 13

PARTIES (Typical = 4% of Budget)
Bridesmaids’ Luncheon
Rehearsal Dinner

Subtotal 14

MISCELLANEOUS (Typical = 4% of Budget)
Newspaper Announcements
Marriage License
Prenuptial Agreement
Bridal Gown/Bouquet Preservation
Wedding Consultant
Wedding Planning Software
Taxes

Subtotal 15

GRAND TOTAL	$	$
(Add "Budget" & "Actual" Subtotals 1-15

40700 Hayes Road - Clinton Township, Michigan 48038 - office: (586) 228-2700 - fax: (586) 228-7210