How to Budget for a Wedding in Yucatan? 💸 ⛪

To start with the planning of your wedding, the first thing you need to know is how to budget for a wedding. Surely, like many brides, you’re wondering how to do this. If you are having a wedding in Yucatan, let us give you some tips of destination wedding cost that will help you have certainty and clarity when doing the math.

 

How to budget a wedding in Mérida?

Every wedding is different, so each one requires its own destination wedding budget. To calculate what you will need for your wedding in the Yucatan, start by choosing what you would like to have, such as the wedding place for the reception, the church, the wedding ceremony, the banquet, the wedding theme, etc. 

Then quote with the places and suppliers (as many as you consider necessary) to get a good price range. With this, you can calculate an average and to know how much does a destination wedding cost. When quoting remember to ask for everything in writing, to avoid misunderstandings and to know what date you have to hire the service with the price you were given.

 

 

Remember that at this stage you are not buying anything, you are just gathering information to be clear about costs. Don’t feel compelled to compromise or make decisions on the spot. Once you have gathered the prices of everything you would like, do the math with your partner. Eventually, you will have a fairly reliable idea of the amount you will need.

This stage requires a lot of energy, so why not turn it into something fun? Such as an outing with friends or your family, they can give you their opinion and help you make choices! This will also help you share more invaluable moments with them even before the big day.

 

 

To make it clearer to you how much you should invest in each aspect of the wedding without going over your wedding budget, you can base it on the following percentages to get an average destination wedding cost:

• Reception: 50-55%.

(Location: which can vary and extend the budget depending on whether it is a cenote wedding, hacienda wedding, beach wedding, etc. wedding catering services, drinks, furniture, decoration, lighting).

• Wedding Planner: 10%.
• Music: 5-10%.
• Ceremony: 5%.

(Church payment, judge’s payment, Catholic wedding and/or civil bond paperwork, pre-marital talks, pre-marital analysis).

• Bride and groom’s trousseau: 10%.
• Other expenses: 20-30%.

 (Invitations, souvenirs, photo and video, rings, candy and cake, fireworks, makeup and hair, transportation of guests).

 

 

 

 

👉 Discover the best tips to start planning your wedding 👈

 

 

 

Often, couples do not consider hiring a Wedding Planner as a first choice, but doing so will be one of the best investments for your civil or religious wedding. A Wedding Planner will take care of wedding plan, keeping your accounts clear, keeping your budget under control and dealing with Yucatan’s suppliers, allowing you to concentrate on other things, like spending time with your loved ones and getting excited.

It’s especially a good idea to hire a destination wedding planner if you are having a wedding in Yucatan and you are planning it remotely. He will keep your accounts and be your ally without you having to be there. Consider 10% of your total budget to hire this service. 

 

 

Extra expenses in a civil or religious wedding

There will always be little extra expenses you should consider so that you are not taken by surprise. Martha Stewart recommends that you leave an additional 5-10% of your wedding budget.

It’s also important that you consider the VAT, this small tax can be a big headache if you don’t check the costs carefully. At the time of hiring, or even when you are quoting, make sure that the price you are given includes VAT, otherwise, count it in your account and save it for later (it is 16% of the purchase), so you won’t have any scares when paying.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Priorities

Make different lists together: on one, write down what you will need; on another, what you want; and on a third, the things of which you have imagined.

Although they may overlap or be similar, differentiating each category will help you set your priorities. For example, you may want to hire a magician to entertain the guests during the private photo session, but if your session will be brief, it may not be a necessary expense and that amount can be invested in the much dreamed of lace wedding dress.

Once you have your lists and decided on your priorities, add other categories: what you can afford right away, how much you need to save to get other things, and what are the best alternatives to stay within your budget.

Filling in the numbers for each wedding element will be easier as you begin your research, but you should designate at least approximate amounts that are as realistic as possible.

 

 

 

 

👉 Discover the average cost of a Wedding in Mexico👈

 

 

 

3. Search and Compare

When you start choosing your services and products, define concrete quotations tailored to your needs. Know all the options of wedding suppliers and compare the prices of all of them, without losing sight of the quality of what you are about to acquire.

Clearly record the prices of each option consulted and what they include. If you consider it pertinent, negotiate prices and quantities with them until you reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

Keep a cool head: do not get carried away by haste or emotion, only contract or purchase your products and services when you are sure that you are respecting your budget.

 

 

 

4. Attention to Contracts

Your contracts should have clear information on prices, insurance, quantities, and general conditions. Note down (and preferably, state in your document) possible extra expenses, costs of unforeseen events and charges for changing some conditions if necessary. For example, establish if the arrangements will increase the price of the wedding dress, if the amount of the favors is wholesale, or if the wedding candy table may have a different variety than planned. Keep your receipts and invoices and keep them handy to ensure warranties.

 

 

 

5. Budgeting Is a Two-Way Affair

Keep track of your budget in a shared record. Write down all the necessary data, especially payments due and payments made, with their dates and what each includes.

If you both have access to this record and keep track of it, it will be easier for you to stick to your established spending. To help each other, create a wedding file with all the important documents.

 

 

 

6. Frequent Reviews

Do not wait until you’ve spent all your available budget or until you’ve finished hiring and procurement to review progress. Once a month, once a week, or after each expenditure, review together the money spent, and the money left over. Do not make expenditures without consulting each other, so that you are up to date with your records.

Balance the amounts spent, your priorities and what is left over. Adjust the figures for each item in order to stick to your total budget. Although all this may seem cumbersome, it will save you money and work at the end of the wedding, you will be well prepared for possible unforeseen events, and you will get off to a good start in controlling your family’s finances.

 

 

 

7. Fatten up the Piggy Bank

Label an amount of money for contingencies. There are many ways to have a little stash without directly affecting your finances. For example, you can save 10% or 15% of every amount spent, start a piggy bank together by saving a certain amount each week, or simply save as much as possible on everyday essentials.

At the end of your wedding preparations, if you do not use up your contingency fund, you can spend it together or invest it in some church wedding favors you may have dismissed in the beginning, an extra hour of mariachi or the perfect beach party dress for a super romantic honeymoon.

 

 

Sticking to your wedding budget requires discipline and effort, but the goal is for both of you to enjoy your spending. All the small sacrifices will be worth it when you savor your wedding cake and you will never forget that, although you may have had to let go of your international food station, you enjoyed the wedding flowers you always dreamed of. Let’s start organizing your wedding with the best attitude and clear priorities!

We hope that with these tips you can start planning your wedding with clarity and precision in the costs. Distinguish the essentials of your wedding, the ones you might want to let go of, and don’t rule out the idea of investing in a Wedding Planner, believe us, it will make all the difference in your final bill.

 

Photo credits: Aniela Fotografía & Jaime González Fotografía