The wedding budget is not meant to keep you from getting what you want out of your special day. Their purpose, in fact, is just the opposite. A budget allows you to consider alternatives, and provides a guideline that allows you to have what you want on your big day.

The following 5 tips will help you set a wedding budget to get the most for your money:

1. Budget categories.

You will need to make a list of everything you need to spend money on. For example, there is the rehersal dinner, the ceremony, the flowers, the music, the reception and so on. Each category is then assigned a certain percentage of the total budget. There are many great available to help you every step of the way.

2. Budget amount.

The budget amount is made up of all the sources of income you want to devote to your wedding ie. your savings, money your parents and/or future in-laws will be contributing, etc. Nowadays, parents don’t foot the bill like they used to. Weddings have become more elaborate and more expensive, so it is not uncommon for couples to have to contribute a considerable portion of the budget in order to have the wedding of their dreams.

3. Discretionary fund.

Make sure that you devote at least three percent of the budget for those inevitable last minute expenses, after all you don’t want to receive a large bill at the last minute that you can’t pay.

4. Imagination is key.

Decide on what your priorities are when making your budget. Is a beautifully decorated hall a must for you? While it is great to decorate and have party favors, how much money are you willing to devote to them? If the church or venue is beautiful as is, why not consider spending less of your budget on decorating it? And party favors don’t need to be expensive to show your appreciation to your guests. There are plenty of bulk wedding favors available online at discounted prices, all you need to do is spend some time shopping around. Prioritizing your expenses according to their level of importance will allow you to devote a little more of your budget to those items that are more important to you (perhaps the cake or your dress) while less is spent on other areas.

5. Enlist the help of friends.

Do you have any friends who are professionals? Perhaps a florist, or a printer? It never hurts to see if they will give you a discount or even do your flowers or programs as a wedding gift.

Don’t think of your wedding budget as a constraint, but rather a means to narrow your focus. After all, even if you can afford an extravagant wedding, you don’t have to spend an extravagant amount of money to get what you want.