Post # 1
Member
52 posts
Worker bee
In the beginning I met with my parents and we discussed a wedding budget. The number we came up with was 12K. My parents really weren’t in the financial position to foot the entire bill so I offered to put up 6k. After the wedding was over I figured out that we spent around 14.5K. I don’t think that was too shabby. My parents put forth 6k and I put up the remainder.
We did not stress out financially and the day was beautiful. What help us stay around our budget was cutting the wedding guest list. We invited about 165 people, 125 RSVP (which is how much we paid for) and about 100 people showed up. Our wedding was perfect, everyone who mattered was there.
My splurge item was my video. We’d only budgeted for 800 but I really wanted a certain vendor and their price was $2200. In return I cut the decorations budget and used the bridesmaids flowers and candles as centerpieces for the reception, transportation was free with the tux rentals, and my sister in law took care of the party favors (she has a cupcake business).
We haven’t went on our honeymoon yet because we’re using the money from the wedding to build a fence around our new home. But we’re going to the US Virgin Island (bought a Groupon!. The plane ticket will probably boost the wedding budget up another $1000 but we are still within our means financially.
How was your weding? and What was/is your wedding budget?
Post # 3
Member
87 posts
Worker bee
@2sdaymeshell: Our original budget was 12k.. Although, this budget was set before I really understood what things cost in my area and received any quotes back, so it just wasn’t realistic no matter what we did.
Our wedding is this Saturday and we are looking at around 20k. Luckily, we were fine paying this amount and will still have plenty savings left over. I wouldn’t have felt comfortable spending too much more then that.
A huge part of our being over budget was choosing a different photographer later on in our planning. We were originally going to have a photographer for only 3 hrs at $400. We ended up realizing how important photography is and are now spending just over 5k on a new photographer who better suites our style — Fiance may not agree, but I have zero regrets on that decision and splurging there!
Edited to add: 20k includes honeymoon, rings, postage, EVERYTHING wedding related.
Post # 4
Member
2116 posts
Buzzing bee
Our budget was about $20,000 and we spent around $18,000 for everything.
Post # 5
Member
1074 posts
Bumble bee
I’m a budget bride because I just graduated and am still looking for a job, and my Fiance has to work 2-3 jobs to pay for most of the wedding.
At first we set a budget of $10k, but quickly found it to be unrealistic for the area we live in. With every single expense factored in, down to the very last dollar, it ended up ballooning to $21k. We knew we couldn’t afford that, so we decided to forgo the honeymoon, cut certain corners, etc. and now we’re at $16k.
A big help was seeking out friendors, including our cake baker who will do our cake for $600 less than the cheapest bakery we found. Our videographer and photographer are both professionals, but are family, so we’re saving at least $6k combined off of their basic packages because they’re charging us next to nothing.
Post # 6
Member
670 posts
Busy bee
$23,000 that includes our honeymoon. Our parents aren’t helping and it makes me crazy how much we are spending.
Post # 7
Member
2346 posts
Buzzing bee
Our budget WAS 10k but that number whizzed by months ago. I’d bet we will approach 18k by the time its over if not more.
Post # 8
Member
2957 posts
Sugar bee
5 K, which includes everything associated with the wedding, as well as the day-after pig roast. FH is paying for the honeymoon, so that’s not included.
Post # 9
Member
1408 posts
Bumble bee
My parents are giving us 15K. We are spending about 8K ourselves (which includes 2k for our condo since its a destination wedding). We are honeymooning to Europe in October so that is not included in our budget.
Post # 10
Member
52 posts
Worker bee
@Treid25: I think that was the same with us. We set a budget but we had no clue how much a wedding really cost.
Post # 11
Member
52 posts
Worker bee
@fzesguer: California!! I bet. I live in Louisiana where the cost of living isn’t that high. But I’m sure it will all be well worth it and your day will be beautiful!
Post # 12
Member
133 posts
Blushing bee
I started with 15K when we first got engaged and it has crept up to 16,300 (including rings and honeymoon). I’ll be happy if we stay under 17K. We’ve paid about half of that already, and we bought a house in December, so things have been a little tight. We are hoping to come out of the wedding wedding-debt free, or at the very least to have it paid off by the end of the summer.
Post # 13
Member
348 posts
Helper bee
We live in Upstate New York
Wedding: $9,000. This is for a “wedding weekend” consisting of only 30 guests at a lodge. Hosting all meals from Friday night through Sunday morning with full open bar. Only thing not included is rings.
Honeymoon: $3,200. 7 nights in adults-only all-inclusive in Yucatan, Mexico, airfare, transportation to and from airports, taxes and trip insurance.
Post # 14
Member
751 posts
Busy bee
- Wedding: November 2013 - old cheese factory
our wedding budget is 5-6k for everything (not including honeymoon). we are in oregon and are having around 200 guests. im doing my own decorations which is saving us a lot of money, and our venue is an old cheese factory that is by donation only which is another big money saver as most venues in my area are 2k. the venue includes tables but no chairs so we are using hay out of our barn for free. my dress so far is 1200 without knowing what alterations are going to be needed once it arrives. my parents are giving us 3k towards the wedding and his parents are putting down 1.5-2k. so my fiance and i only have to come up with the small amount left.
Post # 15
Member
881 posts
Busy bee
Ours was 5k for a 40/p wedding but we spent 20k….whoops
Post # 16
Member
51 posts
Worker bee
We started with a budget of 15k. Then his parents offered to help with $5k and also paid for the cake and wedding favors(which totaled about another $1300). My parents also offered to help with another $5k, so that brought it to a revised budget of about 23k. I got some bonuses at work that I was totally unaware of(it helped that we were engaged for a year and a half, so 2 bonuses for the calendar each calendar year), so that helped me raise the budget to 35k, and ended up only needing 33k. I could have skimped on certain things and spent less, but we are getting exactly what we want and we are lucky enough to be able to afford it between our income and our parents’ help. Also, the 33k includes the honeymoon, which came to 5k, so technically the wedding itself is only 28k.