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It seems like many of our engaged friends are spending about the same as us, but I'm not sure if we're all just crazy or what??
We're spending about $25k for 120 guests. This does not include our honeymoon costs (which are currently TBD). Our biggest goal is to be debt free after our wedding since we're paying for everything ourselves and so far, we're on track.
Weddings in our area (SF bay area) are generally much more expensive than what we're paying, which is crazy enough, but we do also live in an expensive area. However, I keep hearing things about weddings under $10k and I'm practically in shock.
So I know this is kinda personal, but now I'm curious -- what is everyone's wedding budget? How many guests do you have? What type of reception are you doing? Are you paying for everything yourselves? Will you be putting anything on credit cards/getting loans?
P.S.
Excel has been my best friend since I've started wedding planning. Love that program :)
$10,000 for around 200 people. I'm in West Texas, so things are cheaper, but also, I'm def a DIY bride so I'm not paying a caterer or a florist.
Our budget is $10,000 (but we're closer to $11k now). This is for 75 people in upstate,NY. This figure is also not including my e-ring or our honeymoon. If we take that into consideration, we're closer to $15,000.
10-12K for a backyard wedding in MA for 70 people. Not counting honeymoon or (non-existent) engagement ring. I think there was a thread recently where a lot of people broke down what they were spending on everything - that might be helpful to you.
Edit: We are not paying for almost any of it. Our parents are (extremely generously) splitting the cost. I feel a little guilty about spending so much, since FI is unemployed and I'm a grad student. But they offered and want us to have a nice (if not extravagent) wedding. In fact, I've been MUCH more ruthless about cost-cutting than, say, my mother, who is hosting it at her house! lol
To give you a clearer sense of how we're managing to spend that amount, here's what I'm NOT paying for: venue, band/dj, wedding party, invitations, (friend is doing it for cost of supplies), full bar (just beer/wine/champagne), coordinator, favors, escort cards, programs, my wedding ring (heirloom), transportation. Probably other stuff I'm not thinking of at the moment too.
Stuff I am spending money on: catering, limited bar, dress, flowers, save the dates (cheap off zazzle), cost of supplies for invitations, FI's suit, shoes, and ring, my hair (and possibly makeup), rentals (through the catering company) of tables, chairs, linens, china, flatware, drinkware, etc., gifts for parents, cheap photography (semi-pro family friend).
I initially budgeted $13k for 150 people in Pittsburgh. Looks like we will be closer to $17k. Venue/Caterer & Photographer were just more than I was originally anticipating. Everything else, we really kept minimal. This does not include honeymoon because we probably won't take one right away.
We are planning for about 8k for 100 guests in New Orleans. I might go up to 9k but no higher at all. We have managed to find some great deals on photography and my FBIL is a pro DJ so he is doing that for us.
We're spending $20,000 for an April wedding in Washington state for around 85 to 100 guests. Things are actually really affordable in our area and we could have spent waaaaaay less but we've been saving up for over a year for a vow renewal (got married in Montego Bay Jamaica for less then $1000 at a Sandals). I splurged on things like buying a $1000 pair of Manolo's Blahniks and my SO has bought a fancy military sword. But the biggest ticket item is by far our photography!! It turned out so horrible from Jamaica that we wanted to make sure we got the best photographer with the most options in our package. We're spending $4000 on it. But I know it will be worthit.
We are also paying for everything ourselves and have no debt and still won't next year so we're in a good place. This cost doesn't include a honeymoon because we can't go on one right away due scheduling stuff.
We spent about $5,000 for 100 guests in southwest Virginia. It was a self-catered, heavy appetizer, outdoor ceremony and reception with lots of DIY elements.
Estimated $22,000 for an April wedding in northern New Jersey fir 115 people.
Several of my colleagues have spent about $50,000 in my corner of the world.
wow - these are such low budgets I am amazed! We have about 175 guests on the list (maybe only 150 will rsvp?) and although we don't really have a set budget, I think we will end up spending around $25,000 that does not include honeymoon or engagement ring! We are getting married in Stowe, VT - which I guess is kind of pricey. But we are paying for everything ourselves and really wanted a nice rehearsal dinner and day-after brunch. It adds up for sure!
Ours is about $50,000 for 250 people. That's not including our honeymoon which is a gift from my fiancées parents. However, we are also have a huge rehearsal dinner and a departure bunch. And traditionally in our culture we pay for all the bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen tuxes (We have 16 attendants all together).
Oh and we are in the philadelphia area :)
32k for 100 people in Clearwater not including my Engagement Ring/Honeymoon/Rehearsal Dinner. We could've gone much cheaper but we majorly splurged on the venue.
12K for 80 people in Ottawa. We are very lucky to have our parents splitting the bill (for the most part). We'll end up spending about 3K ourselves.
I spent a little less than $12k for 35 guests, not counting e-ring and still nonexistent honeymoon (but counting our wedding rings). Paid for it ourselves.
Ours will end up at right about $35K for 250 guests. That includes wedding bands, and honeymoon. If I exclude both of those, we'd be down to about $27K.
We are paying for it ourselves and We never really worked out a budget. Right from the beginning I tried to get one but my fiance jsut kept saying if qwe need and you like it then get it. We aren't doing anything extravagant though because that is just not us. And I don't want to spend a fortune on just one day when we have other things we need. We are having a good ole southern lunch reception with fried chicken, BBQ, cole slaw, yummy bread, sweet tea, wine, and beer. I haven't even been given a total of how much we have spent, maybe after the wedding we will sit down and go over but I doubt it cause when I ask he just says it's your day, plan it how you want don't worry about the money.
a wedding in Rhode Island for 140 people we are up to about 30k, not including wedding bands and honeymoon. We had a budget in mind but are now about 10k over because we kind of looked over the little things!
Including everything except rings (yes to honeymoon, dress, several extra flights since we are planning across country, presents to people and even a contingecy fund) it will be about $33K. This is for a guest list of 185ish in CT on the shore.
We got some great deals on many things. my FSIL's wedding this past summer will have many similar elements (and actually a few more and better ones) and ours will be 50% of what hers cost. That makes me feel great.
The great deals came from negotiating and being able to bring in our own vendors.
We are spending $25,000 (Canadian) for 125 people in Toronto, not including engagement ring, honeymoon, or rehearsal dinner. I think its pretty much right on average. We could probably have found some better deals, but its not worth the added stress for me!
We've budgeted $15,000 but I think we're going to come in closer to $10,000. That's for about 80 people in Savannah. I'm not including our honeymoon. FI travels SO much for work that he has hundreds of thousands of frequent flier miles and Marriott points saved up and we're going to be able to use those to cover almost the entire cost of the honeymoon, only having to pay for food and activities.
Believe it or not, I wanted to run off to Vegas or the Caribbean to get married (just the two of us) and throw a backyard barbecue upon our return; it was my FI who insisted on a big wedding...and a BIG wedding is what we got! We have 200 guests in Boylston, MA (small town about 40 minutes outside of Boston) at a golf country club. The grounds are exquisite and we're paying about $30 per plate, which is unheard of in MA! The average cost per plate at other venues I looked at ranged from $50-$75, which I just couldn't justify...although, I seem to be splurging everywhere else! Our total so far is about $16,000 including dj, photography, videography, dress, florist. I still want uplighting so that will be an additional $700-800. Our honeymoon is $4300 so we'll be around $21k.
@vtbride2010: My date twin! :) My FI and I just went to our friends' wedding in Grafton, VT. I LOVERMONT! :) Rather than the day-after-brunch, they went with the night-before-party with an Irish band. It was so much fun, but SO many people were "hanging" for wedding day, so I like your idea of the day-after-brunch better! Our friends had approximately 125 guests and they spent $20-$25k. The views and landscapes in Vermont are SO BEAUTIFUL...your memories and pics will be well worth it!
Our budget is $10,000 for 150 people which seems to be going well with DIY, plus where we live the cost of things are cheaper than say a big city.
$5000 is the maximum we are willing to spend on one day.
In Ontario it costs close to $1000 just for the marriage license & officiant fees (plus tax). So in reality, the amount we have to 'play' with is about $4000.
We were originally planning on about 50-80 guests, buffet style self-catered food, no plated meal, and a reception time that fell between meals (so lighter foods & sweets), and minimal alcohol for toasts/refreshment.
However, lately we have been reconsidering and are thinking about having a super tiny gathering of immediate family only & a supper to follow (or something like a cheapola back yard bbq--depends can't you tell we haven't made up our minds?), that will hopefully come in under budget.
We live in a suburb of Chicago. Our budget is $15k...but I see it ending up more than that. That is not including the engagement ring or honeymoon costs. Our reception will be a plated dinner with full bar at a well known country club. The date is 11.11.11, which is considered "off season" and it's a friday, so we get to take advantage of free chair covers and a discounted rate. Of course I would love to have the wedding of my dreams, but we are paying for and trying not to incur any debt. We have a plan for saving the bulk of the money and any extras (including the honeymoon) will likely go on a credit card, that we hope to pay off with any gift money we receive. I'm making the centerpieces, invitations, and ceremony decororations myself to save some money. Maybe using Dominicks for the flowers, getting a smaller "display" cake and having a sheet cake in the back. I basicly sat down and picked a couple of things that were most important to me and will try to cut back where I can on the rest. My splurge items will be my dress (way over the budget, but it was love at first sight...I plan on selling it after to justify the over spending) the dj and photographer. I love the venue and we just got lucky that we can afford it in the off season, the bar package they included is top shelf so we didn't have to make any sacrifices there. Depending on how much past our budget we go, we might choose the chicken plate instead of steak. I've found that some things just cost what they cost, but if you are willing to do some work on your own or cut corners, it's not impossible to save some money.
We got married on the cheap. Total, it cost my parents $1,000-$1,500. DH and I paid for the license ($44) and our rings (about $180 for both). My folks paid for the rest.
We got married at the probate court (I know, not everyone's dream venue lol) by a judge. The reception was at my stepbrother's new house.The cake was made by a local lady for $75. My dresses and shoes were bought at one of the nicer department stores, on sale, for about $200. My stepmom, stepsister in law, and cousin made all the food and the only alcohol we had was champagne, but food and drink still cost the most--my parents went a little overboard there.
I personally know people who went into debt just for an e-ring, and more debt for the wedding. DH and I were horrified and impatient--we wanted to get married right now.
we have a budget of $8,000 for 150 people. this doesn't include honeymoon or rings.
@indyJEEP: Including everything $25,000 for 125 people. It is getting spilt up between my fiance and I and our parents.
The biggest chunk is Food and Service - $14000
Then rentals - $5000
suit - $700
dress - $1500
and so on...
We wanted to spend less, but every time we just keep opting for what we want instead of what was affordable. I wish we stuck to our first budget better...
Thanks for sharing everyone!
It sounds like there are about 3 budget ranges on here, so its kinda reassuring for me to know that a lot of people are thinking alike (budget-wise) on here.
We're not sure if we'll be going on a honeymoon right away either - my FI has racked up several free flights via frequent flier miles and hotel points, so we have those portions covered depending on where we go (stupid airline restrictions!!). Our wedding could have cost us much less, but my FI's parents got divorced when he was younger, so he has multiple sets of parents/grandparents to invite (even though nobody really talks to the ex-H's family anymore). If we didn't feel obligated to invite his father's side, we'd be saving mucho dinero.
Now, I'm curious -- did you guys set your budget ahead of time or come up with it as you planned? My initial budget estimate was $15k, but I quickly found out that I was wayyy off once I started doing research.
I think we'll manage it for under $5K. $900 for both venues, roughly $1K for food and cake (80-90 people, $11 a plate), $150 decorations... My dress and flowers are an unknown (though we're only doing bouquets and bouts), and we'll go for a student photographer (the campus, my alma mater, has a good photography program, and at least a dozen aspiring wedding photographers a year.) My mom is paying for everything except transportation, rings, and our honeymoon, so I'm trying to keep costs down.
Granted we haven't paid for everything yet, so my guestimated budget is $20K (I hope it is less!)
300 guests - Indiana
Rehearsal Dinner - $1k (his parents)
Bar Tab - $2k (his parents)
Food/Venue - $9k (my parents)
Cake - less than $1k (a very lovely gift from my Godparents)
Attire - $2k (us)
Decor - $2k (us)
Flowers - $1k (us)
Gifts/Transportation/Entertainment - $2k (us)
Photography/Videography - Free (his uncle does this for a living and offered it as our wedding gift... Huge Savings!)
Invitations - Free (my Father does printing as his career) :)
We spent about 6k for 10 ppl or so. The reason we spent that much was bc it was so last minute. (we decided on Sunday that we were going to get married that following Saturday while we were in Vegas) We ended up flying our my MOH and my dad, his parents drove up to meet us and we pd for MOH, best man and my dad's rooms at the Aria in Vegas (which was a little pricey). We also bought DH, BIL, and my dad suits for the affair and I pf for my MOH's dress. Like I said it was super last min and we didnt feel right throwing that expense on our family and friends like that. We also pd for dinner at a nice steakhouse for 10 ppl afterwards.
We are probably at about $65K. Our food/booze/venue alone is $35K. We are expecting about 220 in New York City. And this is on the cheap end because we are getting married in January
Our budget is $18,000 for around 120-130 people in East Tennessee. This does not include engagement ring or honeymoon. My parents are paying for the venue and photographer and FH and I are paying for a catered bbq dinner reception, wine and champange, DJ, flowers, cake, ceremony music, linens and flatware & stemware, wedding dress, tux, and wedding bands.
Okay, so I'm not sure why I didn't think of it earlier, but I added a poll for those people who don't feel like explaining :)
Thanks for sharing, everyone!
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