Post # 1
Member
69 posts
Worker bee
I am a southern california bride and this is my parent’s first wedding they are throwing. they are waiting me to plan a wedding for 100 for 7500.00. I am having a hard time planning the wedding for that price and that many people. I want to have a small wedding because of the costs. my fiance is a 6 year college student and has at least another 2 years. he is living off of school loans. I am real estate in a down market. We can not contribite anything to the wedding. I am looking to see how much brides are spending their wedding to give my family a realistic idea what people are spending on a wedding. I think their expectations are too high for the budget they are giving me.
Please include in the comment what type the venue is taking place and the amount of people you are invite.
Post # 3
Member
3569 posts
Sugar bee
I don’t think telling you how much we are paying will help you, because we are paying for the majority of the wedding ourselves. In fact we planned it like we weren’t getting any help from our parents and they both offered. I think you can make it work there are plenty of beess on here who have had weddings for that price and less. Find a unique and creative venue possible consider cutting the guestlist, and work within the budget your parents gave you, it acutally quite realistic and a lot of people have manage to plan nice weddings for far less. Go look in recaps they are weddings for 2000 and 5000 dollar which I remembered were really nice and had far more guest. Good luck!
Post # 4
Member
575 posts
Busy bee
We have 100-110 guests and are 3x over your budget. We could have spent less money on the wedding, but have upgraded things along the way, his ring, my dress, the food, etc. We also picked a Saturday evening event, and those are usually far more expensive when booking a venue.
You may be able to do it with your current budget, but it will be very tough with that guest list. Fortunately, it looks like you have a long time to plan and scope out deals.
Post # 5
Member
69 posts
Worker bee
@prettynewpenny: Thank you very much. I am actually getting married next summer (june 1 2013). I didnt realize that it had said 2015. This is exactly what I need. I think when my family really understands the cost of everything not just the price of the dress and venue, they will change thier mind about the huge party and make it more about what best for me and my new husband.
Post # 6
Member
1975 posts
Buzzing bee
@misssnedeker: im 21and so is FI and paying for the wedding all ourselves. we are inviting 60 guests and its coming to around $24000.
Post # 8
Member
413 posts
Helper bee
I think this question is skewed because you don’t know the size of the poll answerers weddings. I voted 5 – 10k. May be a bit more BUT I am only having 40-50 people at my wedding.
Post # 9
Member
731 posts
Busy bee
Our budget is 20k, but we are inviting over 200 people. All sides of the family and my Fiance and I are contributing. Also keep in mind that if your family wants you to invite 100 people, not all of them will show up. The usual statistic is that 80% reply yes (varies depending on a lot of other things, though). I personally believe you can throw an awesome wedding and reception for 80ish guests for $7500.
Post # 10
Member
1697 posts
Bumble bee
It can be done but you have to get creative. Cutting the guest list would be helpful but there are other ways too! Good luck and count your blessings that your fam is paying:) we paid ourselves and were at 22K for 220 ppl in San Francisco in an amazing venue! We did it with my DH being out of work 9 months out of the 12 we were engaged.
Post # 11
Member
307 posts
Helper bee
A wedding is very doable for that amount of money, is it the wedding of your dreams? I would assume not because your complaining about them giving you that amount. You either need to change your expectations for your wedding, or wait to get married until you can afford your dream wedding. We’re paying for our entire wedding ourselves, and we’ve just had to get creative and make some sacrifices. I would KILL for someone to give me $7500 to go towards a wedding. In this economy, people just can’t afford to contribute as much as they’d like.
Tips to help have a fab. wedding in that budget.
1. Look for unexpected reception sites, they’re likley cheaper. (A park, a garden, sometimes even zoo’s have much more affordable weddings than a hotel or place used just for wedding venues)
2. Have only a dessert reception, you can cut food costs in half by doing this!
3. Do it yourself! Your own centerpieces, your own decor, your own favors. Doing DIY often costs 1/3 verses if a professional did it.
4. Utilize the people you know. People often have hidden talents you don’t even know about. A friend’s sister who is a talented musician, a co-worker whos a talented photographer. Obviously you still have to pay them (or maybe not if they do it as a gift) but when you go from pro to an experienced amatuer, you’d be surprised how much you save!
Good luck in the wedding planning. I hope something works out! 🙂
Post # 12
Member
3092 posts
Sugar bee
50 ppl, weekend wedding in northern CA ~25-30k
Post # 13
Member
1309 posts
Bumble bee
I answered the poll wrong, sorry. I answered 5000-10000 but it should be under 5000. We’re inviting 20 people.
Post # 14
Member
1471 posts
Bumble bee
We are hoping for around $6000 plus any money given by family for our first wedding (we will do a vow renewal a year later in New Zealand, but I am hoping that will be under $1000).
We are an international couple, so will invite probaly about 150, but expect around 50 to show up! (if that – I’m in one continent, Fiance is in another with his family, and my family are in a third – our friends are everywhere)
Post # 15
Member
4652 posts
Honey bee
I am doing my wedding for 10,000 inviting 200 hoping that no more than 175 show up… It is do able! I am having my wedding at an amazing venue getting a full meal catered and having real flowers.
You have to do a lot of research to be able to do this but you can do it! I found a venue that does not advertise (they are a golf club so their profits are not usually from weddings) And they are throwing in a TON of extras.
You can do it!
Post # 16
Member
1094 posts
Bumble bee
We’re nearing the 100K mark for our 300 person city wedding. Our downtown ballroom venue (with alcohol, tables, linens, chairs, etc.) is costing about 30% of the budget; the food is costing about 35%. We also went all out on the photographer and videographer, since I work in the industry, it was one of my priorities. As far as the budget itself, it is pretty standard amongst our group of friends and community.
That being said, I definately think lower budget weddings are do-able! It all depends where you are located (rural or urban) and what style of wedding you have in mind. If I had a smaller budget, I would reduce the number of guests, do my wedding at a venue that’s not as grand (thus less expensive), and do alot more things DYI.