Money: A Top Marriage Stressor ($25)

 

This award winning games does not require a financial planner background. This simple to use game will get you and your partner (or parents!) on a new level of understanding about your ATTITUDES on money...spending, saving, security.

 

No matter what your money views, there is no "right or wrong." A few big "a-ha" moments may greatly help your wedding and married life. read more

Wedding Discounts for Marriage Preparation

 

You take driving lessons, cooking classes, get coaching on sports, but somehow the most complex, life long relationships are assumed to magically work.

We are teaming up with wedding vendors to offer you wedding discounts for qualifying marriage prep purchases (books and classes.) Get Details

We're Going to Be One Happy Family...or else!

 

A very unique book written by a nationally respected marriage and family therapist, along side his GenX daughter.

 

A mother loved our book so much, she bought over a dozen copies to give to everyone in the family! They used the guidance from beginning to end to reduce conflict and avoid the "emotional landmines" that are sure to arise in wedding planning. read more

 

Wedding Reception Budget

 

Your wedding reception will be roughly 40-50% of your wedding budget. This is important to note because there is a myth that if you simply reduce the guest list, you'll save a lot of money. It's important to think through, can you afford a small wedding? There are many fixed costs separate from the number of guests. This includes:

 

Fixed costs (generally unimpacted by your guest list)

• wedding dress and accessories
• wedding party attire
• ceremony site
• reception site (this varies greatly but small and large weddings happen in low cost and expensive settings)
• beauty and pampering
• honeymoon
• rings
• parent and wedding party gifts
• officiant
• transportation
• music
• photography
• videography

 

The national averages, according to The Wedding Report, is as follows:

 

Reception Budget = $11,457
	2009
Hotel Room for After Reception	$252
Other Accessories or Decorations	$252
Reception Bar Service	$2,309
Reception Food Service	$3,299
Reception Location	$2,636
Reception Rentals (Tent, Table, Chairs, Etc.)	$1,881
Reception Table Centerpieces	$294
Toasting Flutes	$98
Wedding Cake	$334
Wedding Cake Topper and Serving Set	$102

 

The music at your wedding of course plays a huge role in your budget. Again, national averages:

 

Entertainment $895/musicians, $1,295 DJ, $1,731 band
	2009
Band at ceremony	$605
Band at reception	$1,126
Dance lessons	$405
DJ at ceremony	$643
DJ at reception	$652
Musician/s at ceremony	$384
Musician/s at reception	$511

 

Remember as well your reception has to do with your guests comfort, how fancy they should be dressed, how far they have to drive (either from your ceremony to reception or simply from the reception back home.) Your reception also has to do with how kid-friendly your wedding will be, how easy it is for guests to find (downtown, parking issues, tucked away in an esay or hard to find neighborhood, etc.)

 

Your reception also sets a good part of the tone of your big day, whether it's regal or relaxed, how easy it is for guests to walk around, to dance, to mingle. Does the reception feel comfortable based on the types of guests you have (the country club social circle or the VFW social circle) and are you in a big public area with a lot of other non-guests around to either add to the energy of your event or to take away from your specialness?

 

First Dance Song Ideas

The First Dance with Todays Complex Families | First Dance Wedding Etiquette

Wedding Priority Worksheet

Wedding DJ Unique Q&A