1. Know who’s paying what.

The first step in figuring out your budget is knowing who’s contributing funds. Sometimes the bride’s family will cover the whole cost of the wedding, but more often it’s a combination of both families, as well as the bride and groom. Discuss with everyone involved how much they’d like to pay or consider having each family cover a particular part of the wedding, like the flowers or catering.

2. Keep your funds organized.

Consider putting all your wedding money in a single checking account, so you can easily track your spending without confusing your wedding budget with your daily expenses.

3. Be honest about your spending limits.

Tell potential vendors your budget upfront, so there are no surprises when you’re ready to book.

4. Budget for the small details.  

Don’t forget to include the small but essential things in your budget, like stamps for your save-the-dates and invitations and even marriage license fees. None of these items may cost much, but when added up, they can easily put you over budget if you don’t plan ahead.

5. Be careful using credit.

Credit cards are a great way to pay for wedding expenses. You can rack up reward points that can help pay for your honeymoon. But be careful not to overdo it with credit and don’t charge more than you can pay off in the next 30 days.