Budget...Lump sum or pay-as-you-go?

Little of both, we have paid for deposits and booked everthing as we go and will pay off whats left with tax money as well

We've been doing pay-as-you-go and it's worked very well for us. We have purchased things over time from our paychecks. When we nailed down the venue, catering, etc., we knew how much we had to save. We didn't know what FH's bonus checks were going to look like, so we guesstimated and went with what we thought was reasonable. I think we've been pretty reasonable. I think if we had come up with some sort of budget it would have stressed me out too much making sure we stayed within in.

Fh and I are splitting everything right down the middle, so every contract that we get I pay exactly half of the total amount, and closer to the big day he will pay the remaining balance.

We have a lump sum we're using to pay for things, but I also pay for things out of my paycheck which has lead me to spend more than our original budget. Oops!

We have all the monies in our savings so I guess Iwe can pay all up front if we wanted to. We've just paid our vendors according to how they want to be paid. Right now we've just paid deposits. Most of them want to be paid the remainder close to or at the wedding. So our money stays were it is until we have to pay something. I hope to earn enough to replace what we've spent by the time the wedding is. I'm in Financial Services so it's somewhat difficult to spend this much money on one day. But I know it will be worth it at the end.

It depends. There are a few things that we have paid off already and some that we paid off the day we reserved them. We are kind of gauging it on the item.

For example: Our officiant we paid off immediately. For our photographer and DJ, we paid the deposit and then waited to see if we wanted to add anything to our contracts before we paid them off. We are waiting to pay off our florist and cake as we are still making a few changes to them as we go and our quotes are changing. Catering will be the last thing that we pay for when we have a final headcount with their meal choices.

I set a budget and then started banking my money in a separate account. I will not pay off anything early that I can't take home with me. Ie..venue, DJ, Photographer, etc. if any of these people would happen to go out of business fat chance of getting your money back, or it may be tied up in bankruptcy court for months.

I'm paying what I need to now and paying the remainder once it is due. Why pay early when I'm making interest while the money sits in my bank?

We paid any of the deposits that needed to be made in advance, added all the totals that we owed and figured how much money need to be put away with each of our paychecks then had that money directly deposited into a separate account we used only for the wedding. I have a spreadsheet when all the money is due and for what vendor. This has helped a lot!

We have the money to pay it off now, but like Emily, it's just collecting interest for the time being. The WW Budget notifies me when a payment is due.

I paid for my dress in full. Everything else, the venue and photographer, we are paying installments. FH and I are splitting the payments in half so it makes it more manageable. Invites, favors, decor and the little things are pay as we go.

Little by little as I find things that work with my concept. Deposits have been paid, most vendors just want the rest two weeks before the event, so that money will be put aside. It was a bad time of year to be making these purchases, what with Xmas and then all of my insurance renewals, but I had to book things ASAP.

I am probably going to spend more than if I had put a set budget down, but what can be done? I didn't have a plan at all of my "dream wedding", it's just sort of grown organically.

My parents each gave us some money so we're chipping away at that. We haven't had to dip in to our own funds yet, but soon I'm sure.

I paid all deposits and then one at a time, checking things off my list. Paid so far in full photographer and videographer, dress, cake. Venue and catering is next.

The girls ahead of me are making me nervous. Should I be doing like them and just leaving it in the bank?!?

Nah Niecy, I think you're doing fine. Although I would caution paying for services like photography up front. I paid mine a deposit, then she gets half on the wedding day and the rest upon delivery of the photos. I would think same for catering, wait to pay in full until after the service is provided. You can hand the check off to someone else before the wedding so you don't have to worry about it though.

It just depends on what we're paying for. I put my dress on layaway, instead of paying the $1100 out of pocket at once. There was no extra fees or anything doing it this way. I have 60 days to pay of the remaining balance, after the 25% I put down.

Certain things, smaller things, I'll just buy all at once. But, if there's no extra penalty for paying things over time, I'll do it that way. I think it's easier on our daily living budget.

We paid all of our deposits early on and have bought a lot of the smaller items also, with our taxes we will be paying the renaming balance

We put down deposits now doing pay as you go with the rest for monthly budgets.

We have about 60% of the money up now. When we start paying for things, we will do so with a CC that gives points which we will use towards the honeymoon.

We have been paying as we go. Tax time really helps! My FH may put just a little more in than me but otherwise it's mainly split down the middle