# data[].attributes.body
Hello and welcome to my wall! This wall will give you an inside look at wedding costs and how people break down where their costs go to.

# data[].attributes.body
Website #1
Summary of the website: This website breaks down the average cost of a wedding in Canada. It states weddings cost between $22,00 and $30,000 and that Canadian couples getting married are most likely going to end in debt. Having that big of a debt right when you first get married could cause fights once a week about finances and 30% will end up in divorce. It stated the prioritize three things that matter most to you on your wedding day.

Why I chose this website: I chose this website because it provided an average cost and tips on what you should cut from your big day to save some money. One piece of advice the website gave was to skip the limo, save your money and arrange a ride with a friend or take a taxi

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Spoiler: The average wedding costs between $22,000 and $30,000. But many Canadians would rather do other things with that money. And that's why we asked the authors of The New Wedding Book to share their best tips for saving money on your big (or not-so-big) day.

"But you're getting married! You have to!" That empty statement is on the other end of everything from wedding cakes to bachelorette parties, lace veils, engagement photo shoots and selfie stations. It seems that from the very minute you are betrothed, everyone and their mother (perhaps especially your mother) has opinions about what you should do at your wedding. The notion that couples will only have their big day once is also used to justify tossing their financial goals out the window, and the results aren't very romantic.

According to a survey from BMO Financial Group, Canadian couples dip into their savings and investments to front more than half (60%) of their wedding costs. For most North American couples, it is almost accepted that getting married is going to end in a sizeable debt and some serious financial stress. Does that have to be the case?

Say it with us now: It is not worth it. No wedding is worth stress breakouts, zero sex drive, fighting with your partner, or going into debt over. The Institute for Divorce Financial Analysis reports that money issues are one of the three leading causes of divorce in North America. So while couples might feel like it is totally worth it to max out your credit card, borrow money, or talk yourself into going over budget in order to have The Perfect Wedding, it isn't. A review of 115 studies about divorce found that couples who argue about finances at least once a week are 30% more likely to get divorced and couples who spend liberally on their weddings are more likely to divorce than couples who stick to a tight budget.

At the risk of putting too fine a point on the matter, the financial implications of weddings are very, very real.

The average wedding cost in Canada

Estimates range that in Canada (at least before the arrival of COVID's micro weddings), the average wedding costs between $22,000 and $30,000 (slightly more, at around $33,000 in the U.S.). Some report that the cost of weddings have doubled in 10 years, while the median annual family income in Canada increased about 26%. It just doesn't square: We're spending heaps of money on weddings that have outpaced our salaries (and for many couples starting their lives together, the ability to buy property together), and what's more, divorce rates aren't really budging. What is driving all of this hoopla?

A massive machine called the wedding industry, to the tune of $72 billion globally. For couples trying to climb out of the tulle and champagne and keep their heads (and their budgets) straight, they have an uphill battle. The pandemic has prompted a reckoning in the sector, with couples opting for smaller, more intimate (and drop dead romantic) nuptials that are high on emotion and easier on the wallet. Prioritizing sustainability has couples looking to rent or buy previously loved attire, rather than spring thousands for a gown that will be worn only for a few hours-that's likely made from a poly (i.e. plastic) blend, that will never, ever decompose, should it end up in a landfill. All of these factors, and more, are contributing to a realness and practicality for weddings in general and wedding budgets in particular.

How to cut wedding costs

We dove deep into this very topic while researching The New Wedding Book: A Guide to Ditching all the Rules (Dundurn Press, 2021).

Tell a little lie

When shopping around for a venue and vendors, withhold the small detail that it is for a wedding. By conveniently leaving out that particular, you'll get a clear sense of a cost without it being inflated because it is a wedding. If a vendor doubles their price when you do tell them it's for a wedding, decide, "Is this really someone I want to be part of my wedding day?"

Prioritize three things that matter the most

Identify three things that are really important to you as a couple. Maybe it is the catering because you love food, a great band to dance the night away to, and a photographer whose work you love. Shop around for those items first so the rest of your budget can fall in line.

Have a smaller wedding

It sounds harsh, but it is really simple: invite fewer people to your wedding and your costs will go down.

Ask your vendors for their advice

People seem shy about asking vendors if they have any advice to trim their budget. Put on your adult pants and do it!

Cut your stationery

"Save the date" mail-outs are good for two things: Adding waste to the environment and blowing your budget. Moreover, is having that oversized square envelope that requires double the postage really worth it? Who is to say that you need printed invitations at all?

Skip the limo

They're expensive and sort of a prom throwback. Roll up in an Uber Black car or take a taxi.

How much should you give for a wedding gift?

If you're attending a wedding (or two or 10) this year, you might want to start budgeting for gifts. There are lists out there that give dollar amounts based on the relationship you have with the person, but it's hard to put a monetary value on a friendship or familial relationship. Take your relationship with the couple into account-you don't want to get the most expensive item on a distant cousin's wedding registry if you're not particularly close with them. You also don't want to go into debt over a wedding gift. See what fits within your budget. Consider whether it's a local wedding or a destination wedding (if travel is involved, you'll need to factor in that cost) and your level of participation in the wedding (the more involved you are, the more effort you might put into your gift). Bottom line: There's no "right" amount to spend, so check out the couple's registry, ask people close to them if there's anything they'd really like, or tuck some cash into a card.

Are there any "rules" for wedding gift amounts?

You might have heard the rule of thumb for wedding gifts: You should give at least what the couple spent on having you attend their big day (often, the cost per head for the reception). But this is really a made-up wedding custom. It's best to consider the four factors discussed above: your budget, your relationship to the person, your level of involvement in the wedding, and the type of wedding it is.

What MoneySense readers say

In a Twitter poll, we asked about your approach to giving wedding gifts. Vote below:
https://twitter.com/MoneySense/status/1656735870718705664?s=20
Video: Five things to know about joint bank accounts

Read more about weddings:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What does the average wedding cost in Canada? - MoneySense

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Spoiler: The average wedding costs between $22,000 and $30,000. But many Canadians would rather do other things with that money. And that's why we asked the authors of The New Wedding Book to share their best tips for saving money on your big (or not-so-big) day.

# data[].attributes.body
Image #1
This image shows the different categories that you will need to divided your budget between. Within each category there will be sub categories but this is a good guide to help someone start planning.

https://cdn0.weddingwire.ca/article-gallery-o/00000/3_2/1280/jpg/articles-canada/2019/05-01-2019/shutterstock-436358755-wedding-budget.webp

# data[].attributes.body
What did you learn about your topic that surprised you the most?
What surprised me the most about this topic was how expensive weddings truly are. Without a budget you can go over by thousands of dollars. Keep track of your expenses in a spreadsheet to know where your money has gone and what you have left in your budget.

# data[].attributes.body
Provide a real-life example of how this topic is relevant or interesting for you.
This topic is extremely relevant to me personally because I am getting married in April 2022. It is interesting to me because it helps me get a better understanding of where my costs will be going and how to not go into debt to have a wedding. It helped me organize my costs and break down the percentage based on your budget you should be spending on each category.

# data[].attributes.body
If you could pass on your knowledge to a family member or friend, what do you think is the most important thing to pass on?
The most important thing to pass on that I acquired is to not go into debt for your wedding. It does not start off your marriage on the positive note as there will already be debt problems.

# data[].attributes.body
Website #2
Summary of the website: This website breaks down three different couple and their costs and thoughts on each of their weddings. One couple spent $15,000, one spent $35,000, and another one spent $85,000. It asked each couple what was a must have, advice for planning, where did you save, and what was your biggest splurge.

Why I chose this website: I picked this website because I liked being able to see three different perspectives with three different price points. It helped show where most of your costs go and what people recommend and don’t recommend. It was interesting to see where different couples spent their budgets.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
There's the dress, flowers, cake and venue. Your wedding day is a major life milestone, but how much should you spend on it?

Once you're engaged, you may be in full-swing wedding planning mode. Your best bet is to start with an honest conversation with your partner about how you both envision your big day. You also have to consider how much money you're working with.

"When my clients come in, the first thing I tell them is before we do anything we have to understand what your budget is and what your priorities are. That dictates what venues to look at, what your flowers could look like, what designers you want for your dress," Toronto-based wedding planner, Lynzie Kent, told Global News.

"Finances can be a sensitive subject, especially if there are other contributing parties other than the bride and groom themselves," according to Wendy Lee, who is a Toronto-based wedding planner.
READ MORE: Gift registry? Wedding bands? Here are the 'traditions' the wedding industry helped prevent
Kent said your budgeting works in tandem with finding a venue and setting a wedding date. It's hard to lock in a photographer, florist and other services without a location and date.

Global News talked to three couples with different budgets for their big days.
James and Amanda Partridge
James is an economist and Amanda is a midwife.

Wedding date: September 17, 2016

Budget: $15,000

Venue: Guelph Youth Music Centre

No. of guests: 100
(Photos courtesy Amanda Partridge/Jennifer See Studios) How did you come up with the amount for your budget?
After discussing with our wedding planner, we felt this number would achieve all of our wedding goals. After much consideration, we decided to get married in Guelph, Amanda's hometown, at the Guelph Youth Music Centre. Toronto was our first choice, but too expensive. The GYMC allowed us to select all our own vendors, and bring in our own alcohol, which saved us a lot of money.

What was your biggest expense?
Food was our largest expense. We were able to save money by opting for cocktails over a plated dinner, though. We had food vendors that had hors d'oeuvres service. There was a variety of food options served after the ceremony until the music started, like salmon lollipops, samosas, mini chicken pot pies, Philly cheese-steak sliders - there were at least 10 different options.
What did you try to save on?
We saved on the décor - almost all of the decorations were DIY or thrift shop finds. We purchased flowers that were in season, inexpensive and easy to acquire. We made our own wine and guests RSVP'd online through our wedding website, which we saved on postage.

We hired vendors that are new or up-and-coming so they weren't overly expensive but were working hard to earn their stripes.

James' aunt is from England with a summer house in France. She supplied a popular sparkling wine for us as the first toast before cocktail hour. That saved us a lot of money.

The venue only allowed beer and wine so we didn't have hard alcohol. We had our family buy Groupons for The Wine Butler and we made bottles of our own wine for really cheap.
What was your biggest splurge?
We hired a second band! This wasn't planned, or budgeted for, but we had to have them.
What was your must-have for your big day?
We wanted our guests to have the best wedding experience ever. So hiring a second band was a no-brainer.

We hired our first band and a few months later we saw another band, they do covers of old school hip hop and R&B - that's the type of music we really like. When we saw them we knew this was the band we needed. The venue we selected had an auditorium with a stage so we were able to set up both bands on the stage, with a background of all their gear. It was basically music from 9:30 to 1 a.m.
What is your advice to other couples when it comes to planning and budgeting for the big day?
The day moves by so, so quickly, sometimes it's really hard to enjoy every moment. Carve out a short period of time for just you and your partner so you can reflect on what's happening and have time together without being in a large group of people.

Be prepared for rain. The day before it looked like it was going to rain so we got umbrellas, looked at indoor options for our photos and made sure we had a backup plan.
Mark and Dian Vernest
Mark is a senior investment analyst at a boutique firm and Dian is an investment and wealth advisor at RBC Dominion Securities.

Wedding date: October 11, 2014.

Budget: $35,000 (excluding a $10,000 honeymoon)

Venue: Berkeley Fieldhouse

(Photos courtesy the Vernests/ Sara Wilde photography)

No. of guests: 150. The venue gave us the discipline we needed. It can't accommodate more than 150 people. We looked at six venues in one day and we made our decision that afternoon. We didn't want a church or hall or something stuffy.
How did you come up with the amount for your budget?
We had an interview process with our wedding planner and we asked her what the typical downtown Toronto wedding costs. We had no benchmark, we had no idea how much flowers or a band was going to cost.
How did you save up?
We're both in finance and we've always been good with our money. Neither of us had help from our parents - we only wanted to have our friends and didn't want to be obligated to [invite parents' friends] so we didn't want that financial help. We were saving for a while. It wasn't like we had $50,000 sitting there waiting, but we got to pay installments here, a deposit there. We didn't have to make any cutbacks.
What was your biggest expense?
Food and booze. We had a good caterer and didn't skimp on the food. We wanted people to have a good meal - it was beef short ribs and nothing too complicated. We didn't even give people an option unless they had allergies or were vegetarian.
What did you try to save on?
We didn't go all out on flowers, we did the bare minimum. We had a nice bouquet for Dian and the bridesmaids, boutonnieres, a few centrepieces here and there but that was it. We saved on using preferred partners from our wedding planner - we used all her vendors and didn't have to waste time checking out people to know if they're good and if they'll show up, etc. By doing that, we saved 25 per cent because she's a repeat client. [Our wedding planner] paid for herself ten-fold.

We hired Ryerson University film studies students to be our videographers. They put together an incredible video for us for one quarter of the price and it's incredible.
What was your biggest splurge?
Of importance to us was that everyone had a good time, we just wanted to have a party so we splurged on premium booze, good wine, an awesome band and a DJ that had everyone dancing until the lights were on. We wanted a surprise dance, so our wedding planner got us in touch with a choreographer.
What was your must-have for your big day?
The entertainment. We really wanted to have a band, our surprise dance and we wanted our ceremony to be easy and breezy. We hired an officiant who was more casual and we worked with her on the script, which included how we met. We wanted the flow to be really smooth, we didn't want people waiting around. We did pictures during the day so people didn't have to show up to the wedding until 5 p.m. We joined them during the cocktail hour and it went right into the dinner reception and then to the party.
What is your advice to other couples when it comes to planning and budgeting for the big day?
Do pictures ahead of the ceremony if possible. It makes everything less stressful so you can focus on guests right away. We had a cute first look earlier in the day, that was our reveal to each other. We weren't as emotional during the ceremony getting that part out of the way in a private moment.

We thought engagement photos were lame and our photographer said we didn't have to use them but let's do them anyway because it's practice. We got used to knowing how to look into the camera and built a relationship with the photographer. It's frustrating how many photos you have to take so this makes it less of a surprise.

Right after your ceremony, eat. We ran back to the bridal suite and we had little appetizers already up there waiting for us. When you're talking and mingling, you don't want to eat and at dinner you don't really eat.
Mark and Kirsten Hannay
Mark works in corporate strategy in the mining industry and Kirsten is a nurse.

Wedding date: May 27, 2017.

Budget: $85,000

Venue: King Edward Hotel. Kirsten loves history and a lot of the different vacations we've been on have been cultural so the building had a look like some that we'd seen in Europe. We thought it was very elegant and had a lot of little details.

No. of guests: 150
(Photos courtesy Hannays/Rhythm Photography) How did you come up with the amount for your budget?
Our original budget was around $65,000, but we talked to our wedding planner and with our parents - it was a collection of understanding what our vision was for the wedding combined with talking to our parents who were gracious enough to help us with the funds.
How did you save up?
Our parents obviously helped but we've saved over the past few years and we had funds available that weren't wedding-specific, just general savings. We were probably more frugal than we'd been before. Our wedding planner helped us stretch our budget and delivered us some savings - we cut $10,000 off the wedding price when we moved our date to May from October 2015, which was a major thing.
What was your biggest expense?
Food and drinks for the dinner reception. We had a six-course meal, an open bar and a sweets table after dessert with a collection of cookies, tarts, cheesecakes, panna cotta, and popcorn.

Traditionally in a Chinese wedding, there's an eight to 10-course meal and each course has different symbolism. The hotel provided us four courses and we brought in an outside Chinese caterer for two more courses so we had Chinese and Western courses. For the Chinese lobster course, we served a lobster bisque, and for fish, we had salmon. For fowl, we had a Cornish hen.
What did you try to save on?
There were certain areas we were more willing to take more of a cut on: we got a lower priced DJ, we didn't want to go overkill on flowers because we knew they'd look great no matter what and we skipped on a limo. We wanted some sort of Rolls Royce or an old school car and they would have been nice for photos between the church and hotel, but we went with a more budget-friendly SUV.
What was your biggest splurge?
We splurged on photography. We wanted to make sure our day was captured very well and Kirsten and I had a specific look in mind and we found that in our photographer. The price was higher but we were comfortable with that.
What was your must-have for your big day?
We wanted to make sure we had the mixed cultures. [Mark's] is Western and Kirsten is from Hong Kong so we wanted to merge them together. We had a Chinese tea ceremony in the morning with elder relatives from both sides of the family (Kirsten wore a traditional Chinese cheong sam), and we weaved the traditions into our meals.
What is your advice to other couples when it comes to planning and budgeting for the big day?
When you're creating your schedule for the wedding day, give some buffer time for things. You're not doing yourself any favours with aggressive scheduling because things will go off course. Be generous with time or you might run late.

(Graphics created by Janet Cordahi/Global News)

carmen.chai@globalnews.ca
Follow @Carmen_Chai

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
These couples had $15,000, $35,000 and $85,000 weddings. What their big days looked like

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
There's the dress, flowers, cake and venue. Your wedding day is a major life milestone, but how much should you spend on it? Once you're engaged, you may be in full-swing wedding planning mode. Your best bet is to start with an honest conversation with your partner about how you both envision your big day.

# data[].attributes.body
Image #2
I chose this image because to me no matter how much money you spend on your wedding day, it is about the love not the price tag. Just enjoying time with the one you love and being in the moment.

https://www.seventhheaven.ca/hubfs/How%20Much%20Does%20the%20Average%20Wedding%20Cost%20in%20Canada--.jpg

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost in Canada--

# data[].attributes.body
Website #3
Summary of the website: This website breaks down all the categories for the wedding and the average cost for each of those. This is very helpful for couples starting to plan their big day. The author breaks down each category and explains that depending on your budget you shouldn’t go over a certain amount.

Why I chose this website: I chose this website because it really goes into detail about each section that you will need to save for and why you will need to save a certain amount and how much not to spend. As a bride to be I found this article extremely helpful as I did not know how much to spend in each category.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Congratulations, you're getting married! But now you've got to plan the damn thing. The first thing you need to figure out is your budget and what you've got to work with. From the big costs to the smaller items, everything adds up but with the right financial planning, you'll be able to make your big day perfect.

A poll conducted for Global News found that Canadians believe a realistic price tag for a wedding should be just under $9,000. But Jodi Gagné, wedding planner and founder of Simply Perfect, believes that's a serious low-ball. A more realistic number? $40,000 to $50,000. That's based on 100 guests at $200 a person. A bit of a blow to the bank account? Maybe. But realistic nonetheless.

Read on for a breakdown of the average cost in Canada for what you can expect. Keep in mind, Gagné works out of Toronto, and while you may find similar costs in other popular metropolitan areas like Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary, the costs will differ slightly from province to province.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
What is the Average Cost of a Wedding in Canada? - Slice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Congratulations, you're getting married! But now you've got to plan the damn thing. The first thing you need to figure out is your budget and what you've got to work with. From the big costs to the smaller items, everything adds up but with the right financial planning, you'll be able to make your big day perfect.

# data[].attributes.body
Website #4
Summary of the website: This website offers tricks to cut costs of a wedding. Some tricks they offered was not going with tradition, not spending so much on the dress, and not going with the trends of the wedding. Opt for a less formal event, you could email your invitations or skip the fancy wedding cake. Shop at sale warehouses or when wedding shows have big events. You don’t need to have the wedding trend that are all over social media, for example, you don’t need a photo booth, you have a phone it works just as well these days.

Why I chose this website: I chose this website because it offered great tips and tricks that I didn’t find on other websites. They were more designed for the younger generation getting married.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Chances are, someone you know will get married this year. A recent unscientific survey by Weddingbells magazine says there will be 162,056 weddings across the country in 2014, each with an average price tag of $31,685.

And let's face it, much like the budget for anything else goes, when the bill comes in, the final tally could ring in much higher. Wedding planning can take a toll on any couple's sanity, but it doesn't have to deplete their savings. There are lots of ways to cut back without sacrificing the special day you want.

Don't keep with tradition

Opting for a less formal event allows the flexibility to forego pricey wedding traditions. Ditch paper and postage costs by going digital. Email invitations have become more acceptable, particularly with sites like Paperless Post and Postmark offering more polished choices. The details are delivered in a digital envelope, and the sites make it much easier to track RSVPs.

Take a slice out of costs by skipping the fancy wedding cake, which is often just an $800 photo op anyway. Most banquet halls already include dessert on the menu - and if you have a cake, they may charge you an additional fee just to cut and plate it.

At $75 or more for fresh flower centrepieces, decor is an easy place to find savings. Choose cheaper alternatives such as silk flowers or candles - or just leave the tables bare. And more often than not, wedding favours are forgotten on the table, so why spend money on something a guest rarely notices?

Say no to trends

Getting sucked into Canada's $5-billion wedding industry (trust me, that figure is for real) is easier than you might think. Stop me if you've heard this before: "I used to be a rational person, but it all went out the window as soon as I started planning my wedding." The pressure to put on the perfect party has become even greater as social media sites like Pinterest boost expectations and competition among brides-to-be. You know the industry has gotten out of hand when a hotel offers this service: a social media concierge who will live-tweet your wedding for the tidy sum of $3,000.

From photo booths (when most guests already carry a smartphone) to late night snack bars (when you've already provided dinner), or having a drone photograph your wedding ( if you want to talk about taking wedding spending to ridiculous new heights) just say no to trends.

Say yes to a cheaper dress

The search for a perfect wedding gown can be all-consuming for a bride. It's such a drama-rich process it sparked the creation of outrageously popular reality TV show, Say Yes to the Dress (a new Canadian version of the program will launch in winter 2015). Retailers routinely mark up dresses by 200 per cent or more, so wedding gowns may well be the most expensive item of clothing a woman ever buys, even though it's only worn for a few hours.

The Weddingbells survey suggested Canadian brides would spend an average of $1,716 on their dress. So what's a bride to do? Consider a cheap and chic brand, many of which are increasingly trying to grab wedding dollars by offering inexpensive alternatives. H&M recently unveiled a $99 gown, while J. Crew's wedding line starts at $295. Big savings can also be found by buying secondhand. Try wedding-oriented sites like oncewed or SmartBride Boutique, or try a broader search on Kijiji or eBay.

Think outside the box

One of the reasons wedding costs can balloon is that many couples are thinking the same way, so there's increased demand for limited options. Think differently. With 65 per cent of weddings taking place between June and September, try to book in the off-season.

A Friday brunch reception in the winter can save you big bucks compared to a Saturday dinner reception on an August long weekend. Hire a music student instead of a professional violinist - it's unlikely guests would be able to tell the difference. And find low-cost replacements - taxis can be more fun than a stodgy limo, and cava or prosecco can cut costs compared to champagne.

It's OK to splurge ... within reason

Cutting costs on what might be the most expensive party of your life is great. But weddings generally only happen once, so it's OK to include a few treats for yourself. Everyone has a different idea of what they would splurge on. Just be sure to decide what means the most to you, and keep everything else to a reasonable budget. Reasonable is a good mantra when wedding planning. Just think, $31,685 could also get you a new car, a university degree, or a down payment on a new home.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
5 ways to save on wedding costs | CBC News

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Chances are, someone you know will get married this year. A recent unscientific survey by Weddingbells magazine says there will be 162,056 weddings across the country in 2014, each with an average price tag of $31,685. And let's face it, much like the budget for anything else goes, when the bill comes in, the final tally could ring in much higher.

# data[].attributes.body
Video #1
Summary of the video: This video breaks down how much you could spend on a wedding and how you can divide your final budget to know how much you will be spending per person. She gave an example of a $100,000 wedding with 100 people, it would equal $1000 person, but would look a lot different if the same budget was for 500 people it would be $200 per person. Though both weddings have the same budget both weddings will be a completely different experience. The video is explaining to not focus on the overall budget but focus on the price per person.

Why I chose this video: I chose this video because it gave a different perspective on how you should look at the wedding costs. It me the overall budget is a bit intense to look at, but when you break it down per person it seem more affordable.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
Valerie Gernhauser | The No-Nonsense Wedding Planner

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
WHAT DO WEDDINGS COST IN 2020? How to calculate your wedding planning budget and keep costs in check

# data[].attributes.body
Video #2
Summary of the video: This video breaks down how she planned a $5000 wedding. She said her number one money saver was having a backyard wedding. She did her own bar instead of having a bartender, saving costs. She didn't budget for a photographer instead she was going to have a family friend take photos. She was going to DIY and thrift all her decor. Also instead of a sit down dinner, she is doing a roam around with appetizers. This video really broke down how much each category she budgeted for to have a $5000 wedding.

Why I chose this video: I chose this video because I found it helpful on how someone could plan a $5000 in this decade. If I had access to a beautiful backyard within my family I would save a lot of money by hosting the wedding there versus at a venue.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
OUR $5,000 WEDDING BUDGET BREAKDOWN for our Simple Backyard Wedding

# data[].attributes.body
Video #3
Summary of the video: This video gives you the average cost of a wedding of different places around the world including Canada, which is $42,000. It shows a pie chart that breaks down how much percentage of your budget you should be spending in each category. It explains how to make a wedding budget and how you should prioritize what is most important. Use spreadsheets and get recommendations from people you know who have gone through the process.

Why I chose this video: I chose this video because it was the first time that I saw someone mention the families contribution. It was nice to finally see how the break down of what traditionally the parents would help out. Even if the parents cannot afford much it was nice to see that anything helps.

# data[].attributes.body
Video #4
Summary of the video: This video is about saving tips to be able to have the wedding of your dreams. The first tip they give is to save money on the invitations, it is more popular and common today to send your invitations electronically. You can save money by getting married in December because you can use the venues decorations for the season or choose in season flowers. Cutting down the time of the wedding will also help save money. Instead of doing a dinner, do a brunch or lunch it will cut costs tremendously and bring your own alcohol.

Why I chose the video: I picked this video because it gave great tips on how to save money in order to have a wedding of your dreams. I found it interesting about how getting married in December would save costs because of their decorations and flowers already out. I also liked how the video was layed out, it was very clear and precise.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Saving Tips for The Wedding of Your Dreams On a Budget