You’re excited to put your wedding plans into motion. You’ve got ideas about the venue, the outfits, the cake design and the song for your first dance — you just need to make all of these ideas come to life!

But before you do that, you need to put together a budget so that you can pay for those ideas. Here are four tips that can help you budget for your big day:

1. Don’t Upend Your Finances

It’s tempting to muddle your normal monthly budget so that you can direct more funds toward your wedding. This is not always a good idea. You’ll want to leave your budget relatively untouched so that you can easily pay for your bills, groceries and other essentials without worrying. Instead, focus on finding creative ways to save money on wedding expenses without jeopardizing your financial stability. Consider cutting back on non-essential wedding costs, such as extravagant décor or pricey favors, and prioritize what truly matters to you and your partner. By making thoughtful choices, you can celebrate your special day without sacrificing your everyday needs.

You’ll also want to leave some savings in your account in case of emergencies. If your car needs an urgent repair or you need to rush your dog to the vet, you don’t want to realize that you have no savings to help you.

If your savings are low and you’re dealing with an emergency, you have two alternatives: you could put the charge onto your credit card, or you could apply for an emergency loan online to help you resolve the problem quickly. It’s important that you only apply for online loans to handle actual emergencies. You shouldn’t turn to this solution when you want to purchase something for your wedding.

2. Prepare for Hidden Costs

There are plenty of extra, hidden costs that come with planning a wedding. These costs can add up and quickly push you to the limits of your budget.

Here are some examples of hidden costs you should prepare for:

• Set up fees
• Breakdown fees
• Overtime fees
• Delivery fees
• Photography extras (special effects, digital access to photos)
• Gratuities and tips
• Wedding insurance

3. Be Realistic

It’s easy to succumb to the pressure to overspend on your wedding. You always see extravagant celebrity weddings on your TV screen and perfect photos of influencer weddings on your Instagram feed. And while their ceremonies and receptions are undoubtedly amazing, you also have to remember that they cost a fortune — a fortune that you likely don’t have sitting in your savings account.

So, you should try your best to fight that pressure to make your event as glamorous as some of the country’s richest couples and keep your expectations realistic. You can still have a lovely experience when you stay within your means.

4. Find Practical Ways to Save

There are plenty of ways that you can cut your wedding costs so that you don’t start your honeymoon in a whole heap of debt. Small changes like picking a date far away from peak wedding season or choosing a Friday or Sunday reception instead of a Saturday evening one will yield big savings.

Here are some more practical ways that you can save:

• Whittle down your guestlist. The more people you invite, the higher the price will be.
• Hire a DJ instead of a live band.
• Skip the paper invitations and send digital invitations instead.
• For bouquets and centerpieces, pick flowers that are in season.

Budgeting won’t be the most exciting part of your wedding planning, but you shouldn’t skip it! You can save yourself from financial woes that will stick around long after you say, “I do.”