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Here are some tricks to help you stick to your budget:

• Make sure you both understand and agree to the budget you’ve worked out. Think of it as good practice for merging your finances after the wedding.
• Post your budget in a place where you’ll see it often, such as on the refrigerator. If you and your fiancé(e) don’t live together, make sure each of you has a copy of the budget you’ve agreed on.
• Discuss any adjustments before you include them in your budget. For example, if you find a cake topper you love, but it costs $50 more than you budgeted for, talk to your intended before you commit to spending the extra money.
• Look for other areas you could trim to compensate for an additional expense. Say you forgot to include your great-aunt and her husband in your guest list, and your mother insists that you invite them. If your reception cost is $40 per guest, you’ll need to shave $80 from somewhere else in the budget — perhaps by deciding on a less expensive bouquet or choosing less expensive centerpieces.
• Write down any changes or adjustments you’ve agreed to. That way, you won’t experience misunderstandings later.

The tighter your budget, the more important it is to build in a cushion for unanticipated expenses. A slush fund of between 10% and 15% of your total budget gives you breathing room when one of your line items costs a bit more than you expect. Plus, by setting this money aside upfront, you don’t have to frantically redo your budget to find the extra funds.

ARTICLE: Tips for Sticking to a Wedding Budget

By Meg Schneider from Budget Weddings For Dummies

1 of 10 in Series: The Essentials of Budget Weddings