Budget!?

bethlovesjim

Ummm.... My budget is SHOT! 
Especially after the cake tasting/ordering.

How's your budget managing going?

FebDallasBride

I've managed to do pretty well. Ordering my invites, etc. from Vistaprint, and choosing not to do floral (besides bouts and corsages) cut down a lot for me...

So much that I decided this week after seeing the videographer discussion that I wanted one. I've been keeping track in my Bio and I'm about $5000 under what I initially planned.

bethlovesjim

WOW!  Good job!
I think I wasn't prepared when I started.  I had no idea what a wedding cost.  So my budget, as compared to what we "need"  was unrealistic.

I'm currently starring at my budget trying to decide what to cut.
Wedding bands can be less expensive
We are going to have to cut back on our cake ($200 for fake football on the grooms cake, really?)

FebDallasBride

Seriously, without these boards I'd probably still be in panic mode like I was when I started planning. I had this outrageous idea in my mind that so many things would be double to triple what I contracted for.

$200 for a fake football? That better be SOME football!

meghanttu08

Wendi that is amazing! We didn't know how expensive things were til we started looking around at everything. Honestly, we didn't have a budget at first...but now I'm watching spending. I want to spend no more than 300 for invites (pref cheaper)...favors....no more than 225...FI has a budget for honeymoon...I spent a little over 100 for STD's.....cakes we got a great deal on!..stuff like that. My mom didn't care on my dress as long as it wasn't a couple thousand...lol I splurged on photography/videography cus those are the things that last a life time.

bethlovesjim

FI's grooms man is a photog, and has great connections at the university.  I think I'm going to hire a few students for that.  That will save me  a few bucks. I figure every photographer started out as a student, so why not give them a chance?

FebDallasBride

Very true. My photog is just starting out (or did at the beginning of this year.) I was thoroughly impressed with her work, and we both clicked personality-wise when we met. I think she doubled her prices at the start of the year, but I locked in 2010 pricing for 2012. We have e-pics next month, so I'll see if I made a good choice or not.

bethlovesjim

Ohhh! good luck on the e-pics! we had so much fun doing ours

bobbileighb

My original budget when I lived in Omaha was about 5,000 less but when we moved I realized I either needed to drastically change my idea of the wedding or up the budget.  Once we moved we re-evaluated cut some things and upped the budget and right now we are within 1,000 of it.  We are having to consider cutting things like rehersal dinner, OOT bags, and settle for really nice plastic dinnerware over china.  Really look at your budget and decide what is important and you will not compromise (for us that was photog and venue) and where can you cut back without missing it too much.

carmen9311

we are WAY over. mostly because my parents keep adding things, but they will be paying for them. i feel really guilty about it, but they are insisting so i guess i'll let them have their fun. i think since i'm the last daughter they want to go out with a bang.

Future MrsAcklin

I'm under mine. I'm DIYing lots of stuff, after seeing how much people want for wedding stuff, I've just decided to do a lot of stuff myself.

llc2011

Although it was a lot of time, I will say that my DIY projects have really saved some money in the budget.  We aren't doing too bad, but are waiting for that final head count.  If it comes in lower then we're projecting, that will save a decent amount.

bethlovesjim

I've found that my DIY's are costing me s lot of money.  I dont think its more than what it would cost to have someone do what i want, but it sill cash out the door.

FI is the one not following the budget ($200 sculpted football on the grooms cake) and his ring. we had a $150 budget, and he MUST have this $350 ring. LOL.  Our wedding night hotel budget was like $60, I booked it for $165  .  Its all adding up. grrrr.

I'm not doing OOT guest bags.  They can bring their own stuff and figure it out. LOL.  I'm throwing a big party feeding them and getting them "drunk".  They can live without a bag. haha

sarathirza

Hotel bags were going to be the first thing I cut, but then FSIL offered to do them for me, so I'm taking her up on it.  Other than that, I'm doing my best to spend as little as possible, but my parents (or my FI) haven't set a true 'budget'.  Does anyone have experience with reporting numbers to your venue? My FMIL and FSIL have said to cute a few people off the RSVP count - but how many should I cut off, if any? Also, my venue gives a reduced price for people under 21 (since they won't be drinking), so I'm thinking I would include my grandmothers and few of the preggo girls I'll have at the wedding since they won't be drinking...hopefully this will help keep costs down!

carmen9311

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_budget-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:102Discussion:5c2d016f-2067-42a1-9bc6-74590742bc6fPost:0d22f75d-befb-4dca-9805-b39003e152ea">Re: Budget!?</a>:
[QUOTE]Hotel bags were going to be the first thing I cut, but then FSIL offered to do them for me, so I'm taking her up on it.  Other than that, I'm doing my best to spend as little as possible, but my parents (or my FI) haven't set a true 'budget'.  <strong>Does anyone have experience with reporting numbers to your venue?</strong> My FMIL and FSIL have said to cute a few people off the RSVP count - but how many should I cut off, if any? Also, my venue gives a reduced price for people under 21 (since they won't be drinking), so I'm thinking I would include my grandmothers and few of the preggo girls I'll have at the wedding since they won't be drinking...hopefully this will help keep costs down!
Posted by sarathirza[/QUOTE]

<div>i used to work for a country club that did weddings and they way they calculated minimums was take your estimated # and multiply it by the amount they wanted you to spend per head. i.e., 100 guests at $50 = 5,000 minimum. it is important to ask how many people the room will hold though!</div>

stupid&lucky

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_texas-dallas-ft-worth_budget-1?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:102Discussion:5c2d016f-2067-42a1-9bc6-74590742bc6fPost:035da88a-fb5d-4273-8183-3b6a17ba0f27">Re: Budget!?</a>:
[QUOTE]I've managed to do pretty well. Ordering my invites, etc. from Vistaprint, and choosing not to do floral (besides bouts and corsages) cut down a lot for me... So much that I decided this week after seeing the videographer discussion that I wanted one. I've been keeping track in my Bio and I'm about $5000 under what I initially planned.
Posted by FebDallasBride[/QUOTE]

Way to go!