Feeling a bit panicky

I've had that exactly! We didn't set a budget to start off with but had an idea but I think that we were a bit naive! We're getting to the point now where we're going to have to start paying suppliers and pay for the honeymoons so I've been totting it all up and it is definitely a lot more scary when you actually add it all up! We won't have trouble paying for it, and certainly won't be paying any interest on it, but we have just got a credit card with 0% interest for 18 months so that we can take our time and have a bit more spending money for the honeymoon!

We started off with a budget sheet with everything on it for the very reason that the little things add up! It's good you know now, if it seems too much see if there's anything you can cut back on, but if you have the money just be strict in each area (and make sure the costs are realistic!) and you'll be fine!

I am starting to feel a bit panicky now we are getting near to paying off all the big balances! ?

It is also quite scary how much we have spent on the little bits and bobs, they soon add up! Oh well no point worrying about it now!

I do think that one of the benefits of starting early is you can pick up the little bits and bobs along the way and almost absorb them into your daily living expenses. It still all mounts up and is eye-watering. Looking at what some people are paying for elements makes my chin drop. I really do think it's like all thing these days - as soon as you compartmentalise it, ie in this case add "Wedding" or "Bridal", the price hikes to obscene levels. But it's great to see the creativity on here. So many amazingideas for helping people to still get what they want but also not spend what they don't need to.

My big blast has been my dress. I really wasn't expecting to pay what I had, mainly because I thought I'd be in something much less "Bridal" lol. The costs for some things has really shocked me, but then I guess it's because until you need the items/services, you don't know what they cost. When I last got married, one didn't have make-up artists, videographers, venue decorations, favours etc etc. But I love that we do now

I did a spreadsheet of our budget because I don't like surprises lol. I like to know how much things will be then I can save and if something is not affordable then think again. I wanted our wedding to come in at about £5k not including the honeymoon, and its come in at just under £4k. We have around £450 left to pay now...time flies and if you pay off bits as you go, you will soon see it come down. That's what I liked to see and when everything reads zero then I will feel like I have accomplished something lol....sad really aren't I!!

We definitely under estimated the cost of a lot of things! My parents have paid the venue for us after saying they'll pay half, which is great! We then set ourselves the same budget for everything else and are coming in about £1k over!! It's definitely all the little bits which have sent us over...we didn't envisage certain things to cost what they did and we've added things that weren't in the initial budget too. I'm so pleased we've managed to do it without any credit, although savings have taken a bit of a battering!!