Your wedding budget is one of the first things that you will sit down and discuss when planning your wedding. It can also cause the most stress during the planning process. 

Below are 3 things that could affect your wedding budget and add to your wedding planning stress.  

1. Where you wed. Your wedding location will play a leading role in the creation of your budget. Venues that are situated in popular areas will generally charge more than smaller venues outside of main cities. Venues also have different packages and policies that you’ll need to consider. For example, some venues might require you to use their vendors, some of which might not fit in with your budget. A lot of venues also have minimum catering requirements that may go beyond your guest list. It’s important to look at average costs of areas and venues before you make a final decision on where you want to get married.
   
2. Time of the year. Wedding seasons make a big difference to costs. Planning to get married on a Saturday in the summer? Chances are you’re going to end up paying a lot more for your wedding. Look at your budget and how it fits in with the venue and location you have in mind and whether you can move your wedding to another season or day of the week to save on costs. Vendors might also be able to offer you discounts for off-peak days and seasons. 
   
3. The number of guests. This is one area that can very easily get out of control. Your guests are going to take up a large portion of your budget so it pays to be sensible about who you’re inviting. Most venues will charge you for everything from drinks and food to the chair your guest will be sitting on so think twice about inviting your aunt who you haven’t seen in 2 years. Agree on how many guests you want to invite and stick to it. 

If you want to stick to your wedding budget and not be in debt by the time you come back from your honeymoon, carefully plan your finances before you even begin planning your wedding. Working with a wedding planner would be an added bonus as they can help you find better prices and keep you on track financially.