Determining your budget when you have 2 co-hosts

Finding and moving money was my favorite part of wedding planning in my 5-month engagement. We were only willing to use existing disposable income, and kept a budget range using research of local vendors. But, I will admit I made an early error picking a more expensive dress before determining my endpoint on everything else. ah well. No budget or funding surprises except from declines.

Hi Michelle! We got engaged December 30, 2022 and plan to marry in August 2023. We are planning to revolve our budget around the venue cost. I have been saving since we went ring shopping July 2022, but he has not started saving. Super nervous to have the money talk this month.

Hi Jerriona. Congratulations on your engagement! Have you put a deposit on the venue and secured your date? If yes, did your partner have a comment then? I understand your worry and so do several other posters on WW (just do a search). At first, I was annoyed my now husband did not plan or save like me, we had been already living together and he knew I was marriage- focused. But, these money conversations have to come up so you can jointly plan together and feel secure in your financial investment. In other words, you both need to focus on throwing a wedding you can afford and not cancel last minute. Don't be shy talking with your life partner about money now or later. You two are a team. Another poster from a different post provided a good go-to question, "so how much are you willing to put into the wedding?" This wakes up a FS real quick about committing to a plan. Best wishes!

We have 3 venue tours booked for Monday. I am hoping once they go over costs he will get more focused. Since we have not joined finances yet, I fear he will say he can afford an amount to please me and then not be able to pull through.

Hi Jerriona. I started another board where posters had good ideas including setting up a separate shared savings account: https://www.weddingwire.com/wedding-forums/savings-or-pay-as-you-go/6a6aa00a429b1071.html

Many venues send their brochures and price packages ahead of time. I would suggest sitting with fiance this weekend and discussing your guest list range (as this will be asked of you on Monday). Expect F&B will be priced per person. Then, neither of you will have such a big sticker shock and waste your time. You don't have a wedding until you book a venue with date so consider being flexible with date options including weekday or day weddings for lower costs. Last, if you think you cannot trust your partner to keep promises, consider waiting to put down a deposit until you are both on the same page. This is your first big project together.