Wedding Forum - Struggling with paying it all!...

I can only imagine how stressful it is at this time. I've already done my own fair share of stressing and we've still got 18 months or so to pay everything off!

Have you sat down and worked out exactly how much there is left to pay and taken into consideration your pay days, how much you're able to put aside each month, etc?

It's no good lying awake at night worrying, you're just going to make yourself poorly :( maybe try taking sleeping tablets if it's really that bad? Comfort eating isn't such a bad thing though, got to love food ;) x

We've tried but my H2B gets himself all stressed and just gives up saying we will deal with it closer. I had spare cash the other day so paid some off our flowers and favors but he never seems to have spare cash. Seriously don't know whats happening with our money, we're worse off since I started working. I start to write stuff down to try and come up with a plan but then something crops up which means that money is used somewhere else. I need to prioritise and decide what needs paying first etc.

Just do it yourself... Check everything you have paid and how much is left. I know my h2b wouldn't be helpful at all lol When you get how much is left and when it's due, you can make a plan with him... or just tell him how much he will need to give you to sort it out. I have about 27 months, and I'm already checking prices on everything, so I know if my budget will be enough. He thinks I'm crazy for being worried about the wedding by this far, but I can't help it. My parents are paying for the wedding and I will try to do everything I can without needing any more money.
Just try to do it, try to find out how much more you have to pay, and after that, you decide how you're gonna do it.

OMG! that could of been me that wrote that post!

This is EXACTLY how I am feeling right now. It's suddenly hit me that we only have 4 more paydays until the majority of our balances have to be paid. Here's what I have done:

1. Tell your family that Christmas this year will very small and then set yourself a budget per person. We are only spending £20 a family member where we would usually spend about £50 per person. Seriously cut back on food bills etc if you haven't already done so. I have told my friends I am passing on socialising the next few months - it'll be worth it on the wedding day!

2. If you haven't already done so, get a budget system going. I've used Excel and have a list of all our suppliers, the total amount, what is paid and how much is left to pay. Then as we pay things off I can amend the spreadsheet.

3. Next (this is the scary part!) work out how much you can realistically put towards the wedding between now and then. You HAVE to be realistic. There is no point pretending you can contribute more than you can afford to as when you cant do it you will then be really stressed.

4. Plan for any shortfall. We worked out we will be about £500 short and so we have told ourselves we are fine with this going on credit card/over draft for the time being.

I also have the added stress that we are buying a house at the same time, a new build that is due to complete 2 weeks before we get married! So on top of paying for the wedding and honeymoon I have also been stressing about paying for the house too.

I have just told myself there is no good panicking this late in the day. If we needed to, we have access to £7000 on credit cards and overdrafts. Obviously we don't want to use it but lying awake panicking is useless as if the worst happened then we would just use that money!

I hope this has helped and I promise you once you know the figures you should feel a whole lot better. I slept so well last night for the first time in a week!

Well we have:
£500 left to pay off suits
£500 left for our wedding singer/dj
£295 left for photographer
£99 left for flowers/favors
£300 left for the cake
We pay £75 a month off our rings and last payment is January (I think-may be December)

The rest is a blur!
We still need to buy flower girl dresses, we need 3 and can't buy until close to the wedding as they're all growing so quick, was going to go to D3b3nhams or somewhere similar. till need my shoes and accessories etc. Need to pay hairdresser which is approx. £130 for myself and 3 bridesmaids
Then the venue is our struggle, my H2B is adamant he wants a drinks package but I think it's not essential. I get that it can be an expensive day for guests etc. but it's going to add £800 at least onto the cost of the venue.
And finally we still have some of the registrar fees to pay!

I think I've got it all :/

Sydnie - as the other ladies have said, get a spreadsheet going - including a separate one for household bills & other outgoings so you know exactly what you can afford to save up/pay off.
For Christmas, is there a way you can give favours instead of presents, say a nights babysitting, a day gardening or using your skills for something? That could save money!

You could get the dresses in the sales if you're lucky - look now & make a wish list of which ones you would like & go bargain hunting in January. Send pics to family members if they live near other stores so they can grab missing sizes etc. on your behalf. Plan well & you could save a bundle on them.

As for the drinks package - its nice if you can afford it, but not essential. My BFF had one but was under-used as people preferred to get their own drinks, as you can't suit everyone's tastes (the cocktail they had was horrible). Our guests preferred to get their own beers, ciders, spirits etc - and they didn't mind. If h2b is so adamant he wants it, why not let him stump up the cash for it?

I started sending emails out to people to find out when they need final payments and kept all the information on a spreadsheet. I have a column for how much it costs, how much the deposit was and who is paying for it and when it needs paying by. I'm panicking a bit because the church don't want payment until about a month before the wedding!

Bh$ are good for reasonably priced bridesmaid and flowergirl dresses.

We are also having a cheap christmas and will have to stay in on new years eve. The problem I have is that my Niece's birthday is 13th December and H2B's birthday is 22nd December! An expensive month. My Sister is expecting baby number 2 on 28th December!

It probably doesn't feel like it right now, but everything will come together as long as you keep your spreadsheet accurate and up to date. You'll be fine if you've got a plan and stick to it :o)

My hen night is on 20th March too Katie :o)

thats the best thing to do sydnieH i did a spread sheet from day one and worked out what I was going to purchase every month, its worked a treat and avoided much stress

Well I did a lot of math last night and we were going to talk tonight but my H2B is now working through the night so wont see him until tomorrow night. Spoke a little with him earlier on the phone and he's going to talk to his dad and my mam and dad have offered to help a little which is great, even though we didn't want to have to ask. Spread sheet definitely helped!!

Well you're getting some where at least :-) have you thought of ebay ing anything? Ppl seem to pay more in the run up to xmas, and the best time for your item to end is Sunday between 7-9pm if you decide to do it x

Should probably add though that the suits price includes the purchase of 3 pairs of shoes and 3 set of cufflinks. 3 adults suits and 2 kids suits. So sounds expensive but on the break down probably not too bad, could have made a £100 saving or so elsewhere like.