Post # 1
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2295 posts
Buzzing bee
If you are budgeting closely on your wedding, do you have a buffer for unexpected expenses built in on top of the expenses you’re planning? If so, what % of your overall budget is it? You can share numbers if you prefer, I just figured a % is more comparable.
Just counting the wedding (not the honeymoon), we have an 8% buffer built in (Total Money Set Aside minus Planned Expenses = Buffer). I do think I’ve estimated high in a few areas that hopefully can come in a bit lower as the wedding gets closer, but there probably will be some unexpected items too.
Post # 3
Member
1716 posts
Bumble bee
Our expenses are coming in at $4500. We set the budget at 5500.
Post # 4
Member
1716 posts
Bumble bee
I’m bad a precentiles, so I guess thats what…uh %15?
Post # 5
Member
4659 posts
Honey bee
No buffer, I just try to overestimate things…
Post # 6
Member
1068 posts
Bumble bee
So far expenses are at 38k and that’s me overestimating everything, but our budget is 50k.
Post # 7
Member
319 posts
Helper bee
I don’t think I intentionally set a buffer, but when making our budget I definitely took the high number as a guess rather than putting in the smaller. For example, we’re toasting with glass Dr.Pepper bottles and I budgeted $300 but they came out to $120.
Post # 8
Member
2295 posts
Buzzing bee
@Terryal87: I LOVE that idea!!! We have a lot of non-drinkers at our wedding and something like that would be really unique. Now, Fiance and I aren’t soda drinkers, so we won’t do it, but it’s still an awesome idea.
Post # 9
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2968 posts
Sugar bee
i wanted to keep it around 7,000, but was willing to go up to $10,000 and i think that’s about how much we spent.
Post # 10
Member
3302 posts
Sugar bee
We have an extra $2000 set aside in case some crazy expense happens.
Post # 11
Member
1114 posts
Bumble bee
We’ve budgeted £15,000 but would prefer to come in around £12,000. I’ve also planned for a 10% buffer, so that’s £16,500.
Post # 12
Member
989 posts
Busy bee
We had zero unexpected expenses. We put EVERYTHING in our budget and had no surprises.
Post # 13
Member
2692 posts
Sugar bee
I don’t have a buffer per se but am looking at going over my budget with the honeymoon. I budgeted for 150 guests… we’ll see how much I actually spend depending on how many people rsvp yes.
Post # 14
Member
152 posts
Blushing bee
I don’t even have a budget. I’m just keeping a spreadsheet of what I’ve spent so far.
Post # 15
Member
5668 posts
Bee Keeper
@Terryal87: We did something similar.
I estimated high and rounded up when we were initially budgeting. We ended up with money leftover that went back into our savings, even with some unexpected expenses.
Post # 16
Member
1710 posts
Bumble bee
- Wedding: May 2013 - Walt Disney World
We never set a buffer per se, and initially are estimating around $25k (that I have saved)…but we’re creeping to $30k…yikes!
ETA: our honeymoon and my engagement ring are not included in the budget…I really hope we don’t go above $28k…
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