one step

the boyfriend and i talked yesterday about our wedding budget. I figured out how much i think we'll want to spend.... $9000 including the honeymoon. (too much? too little?... i still don't know yet but that's what we're working with). and we backwards planned how much money we'll need to save every month to pay for it. It feels really do-able this way, even though i'm about to go to school for two years so my income will be really reduced. I do love having a plan.

the B word

the budget is something that will definitely be a big part of wedding planning for us. We are just starting out and there are a lot of things that we are saving for, not just a wedding. So i think that 10,000 is the max-i-mum i would like to spend on a wedding. I've read of brides doing weddings for $4000 which would be just peachy, but that usually involves a backyard wedding and i just don't have access to a beautiful, large backyard so there you have it. However, today i am making a guesstimated budget and can't believe what i found. According to a survey by weddingbells.ca this is the average budget breakdown for Canadian brides.

• Reception Venue = $6,922
• Bridal Gown = $1,093
• Bridesmaid Dress = $263
• Bridal/Bridesmaid Shoes = $112
• Wedding Bands = $1,761
• Photographer = $1,727
• Videographer = $754
• Stationery = $302
• Wedding Cake = $324
• Florist/Decor = $821
• Transportation/Limo = $533
• DJ/Musicians = $824
• Guest Favours/Gifts = $343
• Honeymoon = $3,448 

Bringing the total AVERAGE cost to $20,129!!! Really? it just seems like sooo much money for one day. one really great party... $20 000?!? I have definitely rolled my eyes more than once after hearing some celebrity spend $20 000 on a dinner party. But essentially, that's the same thing as a wedding, minus the lifelong commitment part. I can't believe it. I have a sneaking suspicion that there's a lot of things i haven't thought of yet....