How Couples Can Budget For Their Wedding In North Carolina As Wedding Costs Rise

While North Carolina does not lead the tables for the most expensive state to get married, couples are still splashing out a lot of cash on their big day. The average wedding in North Carolina costs $30,000 to $35,000. According to The Knot’s most recent Real Weddings Study, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island took the top spots for the states with the highest wedding cost. On the opposite end of the tables were Utah and Wyoming, with a budget-friendly price tag of $19,800. While the cost of weddings in North Carolina is not quite up there with the $40,000 plus the cost of a wedding in New Jersey, it is still a huge financial worry for brides and grooms to be – even as the pandemic has affected wedding celebrations. For couples looking to stick to a budget while wedding planning, a few simple tips can guide the way.

In most weddings, the venue is one of the most expensive costs. In North Carolina, wedding venue costs range between $2,500 and $25,000, depending on the size, the timing of the wedding, and the number of guests. A great resource is the wedding venue pricing platform Wedding Spot, which showed 348 wedding venues available in North Carolina, priced from $1,750 for 50 guests. If couples want to keep the wedding venue costs down, they should consider affordable wedding venue options, including booking a venue for the reception (and keeping the ceremony intimate), or a wedding venue that allows them to bring their own wedding catering like Appalachian Farm Weddings in Waynesville.

Approximately 74 percent of couples go over their wedding budget, according to a past Wedding Wire study. One of the most common reasons why couples find it difficult to stick to a wedding budget is that they plan without real-time costs or armed with a full list of wedding costs. This, in turn, leaves couples unaware of how much they should put aside for their nuptials. While there will be standard costs like the wedding venue, catering, and wedding party clothing costs, be sure to include miscellaneous costs like bridal dress alterations and wedding party favors too. To get the most accurate pricing, don’t be afraid to contact individual vendors for quotations, or head online to their websites.

Another thing to keep in mind when budgeting for a wedding in North Carolina is the upfront payments needed to secure wedding venues or vendor services. To get a clear estimate of how much you are required to commit upfront when booking, be sure to take a look at the vendor’s website or terms of service. For instance, The Carolina Barn in Spring Lake, North Carolina requires a 50 percent deposit and a signed rental agreement. The remaining 50 percent is due to be paid no later than 30 days before your big day. This helps couples to plan the flow of their finances by understanding the total amount of cash needed early on the booking process and throughout.

Couples should also check the terms of refunds and cancellations. With many couples having to negotiate wedding refunds due to recent events, it is more important than ever that couples are clear on the terms of refund and any percentage costs to be deducted for change in dates, wedding party sizing, or postponement. Look out for rebooking fees, cut off time for no impact cancellations, and additional charges for bringing your vendors before signing the rental agreement/vendor contract.

Don’t forget to include your wedding jewelry in your budget. Many couples neglect to budget for the cost of wedding rings or bridal jewelry, which can leave them out of pocket. The same can be said for legal fees like getting your wedding license. In North Carolina, the cost of a wedding license is $60, while couples that plan their wedding in a North Carolina outdoor park will also need to apply and pay for an event permit.

Whether you are imagining the perfect beach wedding or traditional southern belle of the ball event, the wedding options in North Carolina are sure to not disappoint. However, as wedding costs around the country slowly rise, so to do the costs of having your big day in North Carolina. To keep costs under control and still enjoy your wedding day, take the time to do your research, and draft a comprehensive wedding budget. A few simple extra steps can save you and your partner thousands in costs, and hours of wedding worry.