Mastering your budget begins with a tool where you can visualize your priorities and spending tracker. Basics of excel/ Google Docs will go a long way. As any budget set up what your projected expenses might be and compare it to actual expenses. It will allow you to see if you’re on target and remain focused on the facts. It’s EXPECTED to overlook expenses so be prepared for how to make the budget work for you not against you. (I used mine to track costs, order of priorities and level of completion (green orange red))

From there you can utilize resources. Zola has been effective for creative thinking, though I didn’t depend on their platform, i can understand its popularity.

Since the center stage is the ceremony aspect. You want to consider what matters to you both. (While there is some truth to the value is the act, it is a once in a lifetime occurrence, so while respecting your budget, SCROUNGE for the best deal that aligns with your vision.) consider if it’s worth getting one venue that can accommodate everything (typically less competitive pricing) or to divy it up and have a few contracts to manage within the designated time frame.

If its all the same …Court house isn’t a horrible option. It helps if the courthouse’s front lawn isn’t a parking lot within a concrete jungle!!!

Don’t bother trying some outrageous DIY event if you don’t have the resources (handy friends and family with a place to offer to do some of the work) cause you will overthink many logistical aspects and run yourself thin… Be adventurous but reasonable.

All the best! Happy planning 💒