By Shiv Nanda of MoneyTap
Your wedding, although a joyous occasion, can turn into a financial nightmare if you haven’t thought it through. There are so many things happening on that special day. And with so many emotions running wild right before you say, “I do,” a single unexpected marriage expense can throw things out of whack fast.
Instead of waking up on your wedding day to a financial crisis, here are four steps you can take to reduce the financial impact of a last-minute wedding expense in case you ever have one. After all, it’s better to be safe than sorry.
1. Accept that things can go wrong.
First, you need to know that your wedding isn’t going to be perfect. But, guess what? Even if it’s not how you dreamt it would be, it’s still not the end of the world. You are getting married to the person you love and that’s all that really matters.
2. Set a budget, but also add an emergency fund to your final cost.
It’s always a good idea to set a budget for your wedding that includes the costs of your venue, decor, floral arrangements, stationery, and attire. There is no such thing as a “high” or “low budget;” the best budget is the one that you can afford.
Setting up a budget is a progressive step towards planning a hassle-free wedding. With that said, you don’t want an unnecessary last-minute expense to ruin your wedding day. So, add an emergency fund to your budget. Ideally, the emergency fund should be about 10% of the budget.
If you have not thought about adding an emergency fund to your budget, don’t fret. You can apply for a low-interest personal loan for marriage expenses at credible financial institutions.
See Also: Love Money: A 7-Step Guide to Merging Finances with your Partner
3. Designate a person to manage your wedding event.
Ideally, this role is carried out by a wedding planner, but if you cannot hire one, delegate the work of organizing your wedding to a close and dependable relative or friend. The person who you are going to ask has to be skilled at handling stressful situations, financial and otherwise that may crop up at the last-minute of your wedding.
4. Keep your wedding plans simple.
Complicated wedding plans can sometimes lead to disaster because it’s difficult to pull off a wedding without a hitch. So, you’ll need to scrutinize your wedding plans for loopholes. Proactively think about potential problems and come up with their solutions. This exercise helps to minimize day of emergencies.
To summarize, the secret to avoiding last-minute marriage expenses includes accepting that your wedding is not going to be perfect. So, plan ahead as much as possible. The more you accept that there are going to be problems, the better you’ll plan and the closer you’ll be to having a wedding that won’t break the bank.
What financial tips do you have to offer for last-minute wedding expenses? Share them with us in the comments below!
Shiv Nanda is a financial analyst who currently lives in Bangalore and works with MoneyTap. Shiv is a true finance geek, and his friends love that. They always rely on him for advice on their investment choices, budgeting skills, personal financial matters and when they want to get a loan. He has made it his life’s mission to help and educate people on various financial topics.
Sources
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