Weddingbee boards

ETwedding    12/12/2009   Chicago

It is possible to have a very nice wedding for 30G in downtown Chicago. We ended up having 165 guests - invited 217. I would have loved to have seen a budget breakdown of another Chicago bride...so I'm doing it here.

Venue (for both reception and ceremony)

6000

 

Catering (service, food, linens)

10375

 

Alcohol - huge savings b/c we were able to supply our own. And Binny's lets you return unopened bottles! Wow. Our family and friends parties like whoa...so tons of alcohol was consumed.

1800

My dress/accessories/alterations

dress - 820

veil - 150

bolero - was a gift from my best friend

earrings - 90

shoes - 30

shoe clips - 25

garter - 20

 

Husband's outfitting

Bought his tux on sale from nordstroms - 525

Accessories (shirt, shoes, suspenders) - 370

cufflinks - 110

 

Cupcakes

535 (for 210 cupcakes and delivery fee)

 

Hair/Makeup/Nails

250

 

Ceremony Items

Chuppah rental - 280

Bag and ornament for breaking of the glass - 25

Programs (hard to know exactly b/c I bought lots of random stuff from papersource) - 170

 

Flowers etc

Bouts - $110 from etsy for 10 of them

Bouquets - 200 (we purchased the flowers from costco and DIY)

Ribbon etc from Michales - 20

 

Centerpieces

DIY from save on crafts - 480

Then votives for - 60

Table numbers (lumineries from etsy) - 50

Menus - just DIY trifold one per table - 20

But sold for 330 already through craigslist. woo hoo. so all in all, spent 200 on centerpieces

 

Candy Buffet

Glass jars - 120 - some purchased off of WB classified, some from Michaels

Scoopers/tongs - 50

Candy itself - 350

Bags and stickers for the candy - 40

Sold the glass jars and scoopers for 100.

So total cost = 460

 

Invitations and STDs

Invite suite from americanwedding.com - 263

STD magnets - 190

Stamps - 300 (for invites, STDs, thank yous)

 

Photographers

1200

 

DJ

1080

 

Music for ceremony/cocktail hr

250 for harp

 

Limo Bus

490

 

DOC

friend of a friend - 250

 

Presents

for officiant/cousin - 200

for parents - 100

for gmen - 225 (art of shaving kit and cufflinks for 6 guys)

for bmaids - 300 (slipper boots from old navy, earrings (two kinds b/c i changed my mind, and pasminas)

 

OOT bags

cheaptotes.com bags - 57

Items to stuff - 170 (2-3 water or propel bottles, 2-3 chips, 2-3 granola bars, 2-3 clementines)

More papersource $ for the OOT inserts - 35

 

Misc

guest book with engagement photos - 50 from mpix

first dress/veil from David's Bridal (changed mind) - 900...but trying to sell on oncewed/WB classified.

 

Total: 29042 (at least on my spreadsheet)

 

Not Inlcuded

wedding rings - 1400

rehearsal dinner for 26 ppl in Lincoln Park - 1200

honeymoon - 4200

 

ETwedding    12/12/2009   Chicago

Thanks! I think pro photos will be back in a few weeks. I will def post/recap.

ETwedding    12/12/2009   Chicago

The Newberry Library (SO gorgeous) at Dearborn and Walton. I posted lots of vendor reviews  previously. You can probably see them if you look at my profile. I loved, loved most of my vendors. Loved.