Planning a wedding can be one of the most exciting time in your life! However, how to create a wedding budget for an Alberta bride is essential to ensure your big day is everything you dream of without financial stress. As an Alberta wedding photographer, I’ve worked with countless couples and understand where you may want to focus your budget. Here’s a breakdown of recommended percentages to help guide your wedding budget spending and create a wedding day you’ll cherish forever

1. Set Your Total Wedding Budget First

Average cost of a wedding in Alberta: $20,000 – $40,000 (adjust according to your preferences and guest count).

Pro tip: Be realistic about your finances, and remember unexpected costs can come up! Setting an Alberta wedding budget can be stressful but they are many tips and tricks that can help below.

2. Allocate Your Wedding Budget by Vendor

Here’s a suggested breakdown to keep things in balance:

Venue: 30-35%

What this covers: Ceremony and reception location fees, setup, cleanup, and sometimes catering. Every venue is different so it’s important to book a tour and discuss all the details with your favourite wedding venues in Alberta. We are luck to have so many incredible options to chose from. I have compiled a list of the Top 5 Central Alberta Wedding Venues to help narrow down the list of options.

Pro Tip: Look for venues that include rentals, bridal suites or are all inclusive to help maximize your budget. It is also a great idea to seek out venues that include accommodations in their packages such a 52 North Venue. They include not only a honeymoon suite but also space for your bridal party to stay over. This is a great option since you may need to allocate a portion of your budget to accommodations if your venue does not provide them.

Wedding Planner/Coordinator: 5-10%

What this covers: Full-service planning, day-of-coordination, and event management.

Pro tip: A planner can actually save you money in the long run! Their job is to know this industry. They also know how to work a wedding budget and how to help you allocate your wedding budget the best ways. They will often have ideas on how to save money and where the best places to invest in will benefit you most. Megan with Opal & Oak Events is so talented and such a force in this industry. She is my go to girl for all things wedding planning!

Photography & Videography: 12-15%

What this covers: Engagement photos, wedding day coverage, photo albums/galleries and video highlights.

Pro tip: There are SO many incredible options when it comes to Alberta’s best wedding photographers (like me!) Picking the person to capture all of your memories on your wedding day is an important one so I have put together a whole post about how to find the best wedding photographer for your day here!

Wedding Attire: 8-10%

What this covers: Bride and groom attire, accessories, hair, and makeup.

Pro tip: Be sure to book hair and makeup artists early on. You should also schedule your makeup trial for the day of your engagement photos so you can have your makeup professionally done for those photos as well!

Catering and Bar: 20-25%

What this covers: Food, drinks, bar services, and gratuity.

Pro tip: Ask if your wedding venue offers in-house bar and catering services or preferred vendors with discounted rates.

Entertainment(DJ or Band): 7-10%

What this covers: DJ or live band, MC services, sound equipment and rentals.

Pro tip: Be sure to have your DJ or professional equipment available during your ceremony. I can’t tell you how many times the sound has failed mid ceremony due to lack of proper equipment. Hiring someone who offers all inclusive services such as Klay with Klay Tate Productions is a great option and will provide such an incredible and personal experience for you and your guests.

Florals and Décor: 10-12%

What this covers: Bouquets, boutonnieres, centerpieces, ceremony décor, and rental items.

Pro tip: Choose in season florals for the time of your you are getting married in. Don’t discount how much florals can make or break your wedding décor. Great florals go a long way!

Invitations and Stationary: 2-3%

What this covers: Save-the-dates, invitations, signage, and thank-you cards.

Pro tip: Many Alberta couples opt for digital save-the-dates and RSVP’s to save on printing costs so the can invest more on an stunning invitations and signage.

Favors and Gifts: 2-3%

What this covers: Wedding favors for guests, bridal party and vendor gifts(such as tips).

Pro tip: Personalized favors are a great way to make guests feel special without overspending.

Miscellaneous: 5-10%

What this covers: Additional fees, unexpected costs, transportation, and more.

Pro tip: Always leave some cushion in your Alberta wedding budget for last-minute surprises.

3. Tips for Staying on Budget

Prioritize What’s Important

Focus on the vendors and services that matter most to you and allocate your budget to those first. Often times if you have a favourite or “must-have” vendor you may be willing to spend a little more for their services and be willing to spend a little less somewhere else.

Look for “All-Inclusive” Packages

Venues, photographers, DJ’s and planners often have wedding packages that are all inclusive. They will also often have exclusive vendors lists that will help you to find great wedding vendors from one place.

Ask for payment plans

Many couples don’t know this but a lot of vendors offer payment plans to help balance your wedding spending costs throughout the course of the wedding planning journey. The reason a lot of people don’t know about these plans is because you usually have to ask for them. Don’t be hesitant to ask your wedding vendors about payment plan options. There is nothing worse than having massive expenses just before your wedding day when you can make equal monthly payments leading up to the day instead.

Creating a wedding budget helps ensure that you get the most out of every dollar spent. From capturing beautiful memories as your Alberta wedding photographer to helping with expert vedor recomendations, I’m here to amke your wedding journey smooth and joyful. If you’re planning a wedding in Red Deer, Calgary, Edmonton, Canmore or Banff Alberta, contact me to discuss how I can help photograph your wedding day.