6 Questions To Ask Before Getting Married
Getting engaged and planning your wedding is one of the most exciting times of your life. However, with so much planning, decisions to make, and the overall cost, it can become overwhelming. This is why it is important to think about, talk through, and make key financial decisions with your partner after getting engaged. Here are 6 questions to ask before getting married…
Think about all that goes into a wedding. There are the outfits, venue for the ceremony and reception, food and drinks, music, flowers, decor, photography, and more. With these costs quickly adding up and also needing to have leftover money for the beginning of your life as a married couple, you need to decide what’s most important for both your wedding and life afterward as soon as possible.
Once you do that, you can come up with a budget. Stick to that budget as closely as you can. However, you should also include a little bit of wiggle room as unexpected costs can pop up.
6 Questions To Ask Before Getting Married
With this in mind, here are some of the financial decisions you and your partner should make shortly after getting engaged. Before getting married, these are some questions you should ask yourself.
How soon will you get married?
The length of your engagement directly relates to how much time you’ll have to save up money and spread out your spending. This is just one of the benefits of a long engagement. Having more time to save extra money can allow you to expand your budget more than a shorter engagement. For example, if you want your guest list to be a little longer, then a long-term engagement provides you with the time to put extra money away to pay for those people’s plates.
Even though a longer engagement offers you more saving opportunities, a short engagement isn’t a bad thing either. With a shorter engagement, you can quickly make your budget and have more of a reason to stick to it. You will also be more inclined to make your decisions quickly and avoid extra, unnecessary purchases.
What should be on your registry?
While you might not think of your registry as a financial decision you need to make, what is on your registry can make a huge difference in your finances. If you and your partner don’t have all of your home essentials before getting engaged, your wedding registry is the perfect place to get those items you’ll need for everyday life. This way you won’t have to spend extra money after the wedding on things you’ll need for your home.
More often, couples are also asking for money on their registry, which is a great way to make up for some of the money you’re spending on the wedding. It can also provide you with a nice cushion as you transition into married life or even allow you to go on your dream honeymoon. No matter what you put on your registry, make sure it’s something that will help you save money in your next chapter of life.
Who will make up your bridal party?
You’ve likely been dreaming about which of your friends and family members you want to stand by your side as you say “I do,” and it can be hard to leave some people out. You need to identify what will be best for you and your partner when deciding how many people will be in your wedding party and who specifically you’ll ask. Make sure you’re only asking people who can afford it. Common costs will include the dress/suit, accessories, hair and makeup, the bachelorette/bachelor party, and hosting a bridal shower. You don’t want to end up in a situation where you choose someone who can’t afford these things, as they’ll either back out, leaving you a person short or expect you to help them pay.
A more recent trend is providing your party with gifts as a thank you. These bridesmaids and groomsmen gifts don’t have to break the bank. They can be something they can wear for the ceremony, or be personal and fun. Just remember, you’ll need something for every one of them.
Where will you live post-wedding? // Questions To Ask Before Getting Married
Getting married is more than just your wedding day. It’s about starting a life with someone who you truly love. That’s why you need to look beyond the day of your wedding and also think about your life immediately after. If you don’t already live together, you’ll need to find a place to call home. This means setting aside some money you can use on a house and making sure you have the right credit score to buy a house. The better terms you can get for a loan, the more money you’ll have for your wedding.
Still, you may need to make some sacrifices where your wedding is concerned to ensure being able to afford the house you want. It all depends on what you and your partner feel are important. See where you’re able to make cuts or save some extra money to make both these dreams come true.
How soon do you want to add on to your family?
If you and your partner want to begin expanding your family right away, then you’ll need to start saving up for a baby before the wedding. Even if you don’t want to start trying until after your honeymoon, you should put money away for the cost of a baby as soon as possible. However, this will again mean making some cuts or sacrifices where your wedding is concerned.
Of course, some couples want to wait and give themselves ample time to save up and prepare themselves. Whichever decision you and your partner come to is yours alone to make. Should you not be on any specific timeline, it’s still a good idea to put some amount of money aside just in case.
Where can you cut costs?
When trying to plan a wedding and save up for your life post-wedding, it can be overwhelming and stressful to see how much everything costs. That is why if you can cut costs in any possible way, it’ll be beneficial to your bottom line. For example, using silk flowers in your wedding decor, like in your bouquets, can save you money without compromising the beauty. Plus then you’ll be able to have your wedding bouquet as a memento from the special day.
Another way to cut costs is to cut back on the scale of your wedding, although it can be difficult and lead to a heated conversation when having to trim the guest list. Working with an event planner can also help you discover some of the best deals and provide you with expert tips on working within your budget. Hopefully, these 6 questions to ask before getting married were helpful. Please contact us with any questions or if you need expert help on planning your wedding.
