June 20, 2023
Planning a wedding is no small feat often taking hours and hours and thousands and thousands of dollars to pull off. According to theknot.com, the average cost of a wedding in 2023 is $28,000. That’s $280 per guest, on average for 100 guests. Statistically, more than half of couples spend more than what they originally planned for their big day. With inflation on the rise, it’s more important than ever for couples to be on the same page about how much they are willing to spend on what most consider to be one of the happiest days of their life. It just so happens that two of our First United STARS are in the midst of planning their own weddings, so we thought we’d reach out to them for some tips on how they’ve managed to plan the wedding of their dreams without blowing their budget. Rylee Cummings and Sonny Bohannon
Rylee was rounding out the last few weeks of the Dental Hygiene program at Amarillo College when she met Sonny in May of 2021 while having drinks with a friend. After tracking down her number, Sonny couldn’t even wait 24 hours before reaching out to Rylee. They had their first date later that week at Rain Sushi Bar in downtown Amarillo, TX and the rest is history!
Tell us about your engagement.
We’ve been engaged since November 5th, 2022. I was able to sneakily set up a secret party on the roof at Crush in downtown Amarillo. Surrounded by family and friends, I proposed to Rylee. The engagement has honestly flown by pretty fast but has given us enough time to plan everything without being rushed.
What kind of wedding are you having?
We are having a bigger traditional wedding with approximately 225 people.
What were your wedding planning goals from the beginning?
Primarily our goals were to talk through every decision together and to keep the mindset that this is the happiest day of our lives, and it only happens once.
Did you start with a set budget?
We started with a set budget but based on location, guest count and catering. There were a couple months of adjusting that budget based on what was the best fit for us financially.
What steps did you take to start determining how you would allocate your budget for various things?
The budgeting spreadsheet we used had %’s allocated for every expense. We also leaned on family and friends and their past experiences to estimate what we could expect for a Lubbock wedding.
Did you start by prioritizing what is most important? If so, what was at the top of your priority list?
We 100% prioritized our expenses based on what was most important and necessary to the wedding. The venue was at the top of our priority list followed by the other major vendors: catering, photographer, wedding dress, DJ, bartenders, etc.
Did you have to sacrifice anywhere to ensure you were able to keep the things that are most important?
There were constantly discussions throughout the planning process where we had to weigh the pros and cons of each expense. For instance, we both really, really wanted a videographer with our photographer but the expense didn’t fit into our budget. We had to sacrifice that to keep some of the other vendors and décor that we felt were more important.
How did you keep track of your budget?
Theknot.com has a great excel spreadsheet that details average costs for expenses and includes additional tabs for a checklist/timeline, wedding guest list, vendor contact information, wedding day schedule, and photography shot list.
What was the most challenging part of budgeting and planning for a wedding?
The most challenging part has been sticking to our budget outside of the wedding. With summer upon us, it’s so easy to go and go and spend money with all the fun things going on. We’ve had to continue to be disciplined in where our money is going relative to what we need to be saving for the wedding.
Is there anything you would do differently?
Hah, I would’ve started saving money when I was 5!! Just kidding, there’s definitely some stressful times that come with wedding planning, but it also gives you the opportunity to work with your fiancé and figure out real life compromises. At the end of the day, you just tell yourself that it’s all worth it. I know that when it comes to our wedding day and I look at all our family and friends gathered around to celebrate us, and I look at Rylee walking down that aisle, there won’t be a doubt in my mind that everything over the past year I would do over a million times.
What advice do you have for other couples who are just starting out with their wedding planning & budgeting?
Work through your budget at the beginning and see how different expenses/vendors fit into what you have visioned for your wedding. There are a ton of free resources online for sample budget templates that will make sticking to your budget and prioritizing your needs easier. I would also say not get caught up in the stigma of a perfect wedding. There’s going to be things that go wrong or maybe something doesn’t turn out like you had hoped. Don’t let that take away from the real reason for the occasion.
Sonny is a Loan Officer at our Lubbock-Northwest Banking Center. Rylee is a dental hygienist with the Dental Group of Lubbock. They will be married on October 13, 2023, in Lubbock, TX.
Libby Schroeder and Adam Corbett
After meeting through an online dating app, (Yes, they really do work!) Libby and Adam decided to meet in-person at local favorite, Chimy’s Cerveceria in Lubbock, TX. A few margaritas and an order of cheese fries later, and Adam was hooked. The rest is history!
Tell us about your engagement.
We have been engaged since late January, so the total engagement will be a little under 9 months. I proposed at Ransom Canyon by the water reading her a letter that I had written to her when I first knew I wanted to marry her!
What kind of wedding are you having?
We are having a traditional wedding here in Lubbock. It will be on the bigger end, anticipating around 200 guests.
What were your wedding planning goals from the beginning?
We made a list of all the things we needed to plan for and listed them in order of importance. This allowed us to remain on budget and cut when necessary.
Did you start with a set budget?
Yes, we did. Our parents are both very generous getting us off the ground, and we will be able to pay cash for the rest!
What steps did you take to start determining how you would allocate your budget for various things?
We did lots of research online to determine how much should be allocated to each item based on rough percentages. We also priced various quotes around town to find what would best fit our budget!
Did you start by prioritizing what is most important? If so, what was at the top of your priority list?
Yes definitely. The very top of the list was any item that would make the day more memorable for her and I. So, we wanted a GREAT photographer (two actually), and a fun venue that would give us the best day. Next, we want our guests to have a great time, as many are traveling from all over the country to be with us – so we made sure that the reception was a priority. Open bar, DJ, and really good food options were important.
Did you have to sacrifice anywhere to ensure you were able to keep the things that are most important?
Yes! Libby had to settle for a variety of different centerpiece arrangements on the table to fit the budget (instead of all large arrangements). We found that doing some larger arrangements and mixing in candle-scapes really helped lower pricing! We also cut out the videographer. After talking to other people who had one, it didn’t sound like something we would go back and watch enough to make it worth it.
How did you keep track of your budget?
We kept track on an excel spreadsheet for the most part. Having a general idea of how many people will be there is going to really impact the planning/budgeting. Libby also found a few planner books that helped set a foundation for where money should be allocated.
What was the most challenging part of budgeting and planning for a wedding?
Most challenging was figuring out what was best to prioritize, and what could be removed from the budget, without giving up on what the “dream” was.
Is there anything you would do differently?
So far, no. I’m sure as we get closer to the day, and everything is in motion, that will change!
What advice do you have for other couples who are just starting out with their wedding planning & budgeting?
Do what your fiancé wants, LOL.
Adam is in the Credit Analyst program at our Lubbock-Northwest Banking Center. Libbey is Senior Communications Specialist at Covenant Health. They will be married on September 9, 2023, in Lubbock, TX.
5 Key Wedding Planning Take-Aways from Rylee & Sonny and Libby & Adam:
- As a couple, prioritize what’s most important to both of you on your big day.
- Set a budget. Be sure to set aside at least five percent of your overall budget for unexpected expenses.
- If possible, hire a wedding planner to help coordinate and keep track of spending.
- If a wedding planner is not an option, look for free online templates and tools to help you track your expenses. Theknot.com is a great resource!
- Have fun and enjoy this time! Your wedding day will be here before you know it!