Issue date: 6/19/09 Section: NEWS

While in the process of planning her own wedding, Bethanie Johnson knows that oOn average a wedding can cost anywhere from $20,000 to $30,000, but for students looking to have the wedding of their dreams, a large price tag may not be within reach.

For those in need of some guidance Bethanie Johnson, a sStudent-to-sStudent pProject cCoordinator for the Student Money Management Center, covers the basics of planning a wedding that will not break the piggy bank.

Johnson, a recent NT graduate, is in the process of planning her own wedding. By combining personal experience as a college student and tools from the Student Money Management Center, Johnson provideds a comprehensive guide to planning a wedding.

Before the planning process the couple should get organized and consider setting a budget, she said.

"Setting a budget can get difficult because you have to figure out who pays for what," said Johnson. "Whatever the case is you have to set a total number of how much you can spend on the wedding. A common mistake students make is not setting a budget."

When considering the budget the couple should look at the prices of everything from flowers to the venue and figure out how much can be saved, Johnson said.

The budget should always allow for some cushion room for any unexpected costs that may occur. By setting a range of money that you are willing to spend, for example $5,000 to $7,000, you can aim for the lower amount but still have some flexibility.

The next item to consider is the wedding dress.

"Look for discounts where available, it's about doing your research," Johnson said. "A lot of times $10,000 dresses are the same quality or you can get the appeal for a dress you may pay only $500 to $1000."

For the price conscious student, Bridal Co. located in Denton offers dresses ranging in prices from $198 to $2,500 and up.

"A large majority of our customers are students," said Susan, a sales associate for Bridal Co.

Susan recommends starting the process of finding a dress at least 6-7six to seven months in advance to allow some time for alterations and shipping.

The reception has a lot of components such as the food and drinks which can add a lot to the overall price of the wedding.

Some venues offer all inclusive packages where they arrange everything from the flowers to the food, but couples should show some caution with all inclusive places, Johnson said.

"A lot of times when you break down the cost, it's not the same price you would have paid for everything individually," said Johnson. "All inclusive is nice because you don't have to worry, but you may by paying a little more."

The cake is another cost to take into consideration. The wedding cupcakes trend has become popular because it appears to be a cost efficient alternative.

"Some people think they're saving when doing a cupcake," said Johnson. "In all actuality, they're paying the same price as a slice of cake."

On average with a wedding cake, you may pay $3 to $4 a slice. Check the prices of both options to see where you can save the most.

The dDo- it- yYourself trend helps couple save lots of money in the long run, Johnson said., howeverHowever, the amount of time used is a key factor when considering going the DIY routedo-it-yourself route.

If you have the time, baking and assembling the cake yourself can also cut some costs.

"One thing that I do stress to students is no matter which category we are in, whenever you throw in the word 'wedding' the cost will always be more expensive," she said.

Couples planning a wedding during a recession experience more pressure when thinking about how the wedding will be paid, Johnson said.

"Money is tight everywhere," she said, "and when planning a wedding you will definitely feel the effect."

The couple must also decide how finances are going to be after they're married. Issues concerning spending habits, saving habits and debt need to be addressed in the beginning, Johnson said.



Planning a wedding? Johnson will be discussing more at the workshop "Wedding on a Budget" hosted by the Student Money Management Center at 5 p.m. June 17, in room 166 of the Business Building.

"The basis of the workshop is to help students figure out how to plan a wedding that is still elegant, beautiful and wonderful without paying $20,000 to $30,000," said Johnson.

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