What's your number?

M1ssJ

If you feel comfortable. What is your  budget and guest count? Where are you cutting corners and where are you spending the big bucks?

A&M_Abyss

Budget....we don't have total number budget but we've kind of had a budget for each vendor we're hiring in a sense.

Guest count could be anywhere from 200-230 people

I hate to sound "like this" but the big bucks to me are being spent in every aspect of the wedding. I kind of always knew this would happen b/c of my fairy tale dreams and connections within the industry. although I am getting some pretty amazing rates I still feel like it's a lot of money being shelled out regardless of what it's going towards because it's MONEY

In an estimate the total wedding is between $45,000-$50,000

YasJas2011

Our Budget is about $20,000-$25,000 and our I guest count is 100-110 people. We are spending the big bucks with the reception (full-open bar) and I cut corners on just about everything else at this point.

tcage001

Our budget is btwn 10k-15k as we're in the processing of getting a house as well. The most expensive was the reception hall which includes a open bar but for wine and beer only. Our guest list is between 150-160 right now and 150 was our majic #. We really didn't cut back on much as I just tried to get things that were in our budget and talking vendors down and by going with vendors that knew friends of mine so we got good deals. FI's mom is paying for the limos and hotels so no cost there. My grandma is paying for my dress so no cost there either. I think whatever a person feels is most important is what they'll shove out money for. Like cake is not a big deal to me so we decided to do just a small 2 tier elegant cake with flowers on top and sheet cake in the back for serving which saved us like $400 bucks instead of doing 3 or 4 tiers.

KnaijaQueen

We're spending the majority of our budget on food/drink and the venue. That by itself is about 42% of our budget.

When I consider budget, I consider every single iota of money that is being spent for that day which includes FI's parents flights to the wedding, honeymoon, rings, and other misc stuff.

Altogether, we're looking at about 22,500 for ~235 guests.

sadou02

We're having about 100-110 guests and my budget is at 10,000.  A very tight budget but so far everything has falling into place and I am still on budget.  With major purchases booked (ceremony site, reception, photographer, and videographer) I am in line with having a wonderful day.

JloveB

our budget is probably gonna come in at about $8k to $10k (I wish is was less...I can't take spending a lot of money on a wedding, rather spend it all on the honeymoon or a house or something)  most of it is going toward the reception of course.  We would like to have around 100 - 120 guest (the reason for us having it out of town) but FI keeps inviting people and I am hoping that they won't show so that we can have a meduim wedding..I perfer small, he wants large so this is our middle point.

tyboyd

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/cultural-wedding-boards_african-american-weddings_whats-number?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Cultural Wedding BoardsForum:400Discussion:014d7ea0-3eee-40cf-b442-85e9f0b74375Post:640935bf-eb16-4a69-8dc9-3d0f10e1d630">Re: What's your number?</a>:
[QUOTE]We're having about 100-110 guests and my budget is at 10,000.  A very tight budget but so far everything has falling into place and I am still on budget.  With major purchases booked (ceremony site, reception, photographer, and videographer) I am in line with having a wonderful day.
Posted by sadou02[/QUOTE]

THIS! Girl, I was scared to throw my budget out here with all these balla budgets! lol. I originally said $10k, but now that we're married I don't really care anymore.... I found a place where I know we can do everything for under $5k, and that's good with me! We have bigger things to take care of financially. We're at the point where we need to focus on our MARRIAGE instead of a WEDDING. {Oww, I sound like I real 21 year old grown up! lol}

MsJuneBride2012

I have no idea about either one yet. *Sigh* I guess that's the first thing that needs to be tackled.

sweetjess2011

Our wedding will be on the lower side, Im hoping to be in the range of 5 to 6 grand. Since were having a Vegas in suite wedding/reception it will be more intimate and much smaller than a wedding here at home. About (40 to 50 people) FI cousin will be marrying us so that will save out on a big buck officiant coming to our suite to marry us, food and drinks will be catered as well. Let's just hope my $$ plan stays the way we want it. Only time will tell as we get closer.

A&M_Abyss

I WISH i could have some of these budgets. It's so hard in NJ.....geez louise

rodeo417

Our budget is $15 max and we are on target. Most of the budget is food and alcohol. Our guest count is 103 and this is more than enough for me..

meeko84

We have set our budget between $10-15K. We are thinking from 100-115 guest. The majority will be spend on the reception because we want an open bar and plenty of food. I have found a state park on the beach to serve as our ceremony site and I'm still looking at reception sites as well. A lot of the vendors in VA Beach also give military discounts so that is a big help as well.

cincy2011

Our budget is approx. $15K, and we are inviting 150 people.  We focused more money on the photographer, videographer, venue and food.  Less money on alcohol (not doing open bar), cake (found an affordable bakery that is making a simple cake) and transportation (doing everything downtown so no need for renting limos, etc.). 

jmp0930

Well FI got a real reality check when he met with vendors and actually saw how much it cost to have a wedding. His original budget was $10...that quickly grew to about $25..right now its at $28,000. We cut the videographer which is something I really wanted, but im happy that im getting everything else that I want. We have a great photographer so I know he will capture all the important moments we want to remember. We lost a few thousand switching vendors, but I think it was worth it. We have about 100 guests and the venue is the most expensive thing. We have a $9k minimum for food and drink and its $109 per person. That does include a full open bar and a four course dinner. I also splurged a little on my photographer, but I think its important to spend your money in those areas because that is what you'll remember forever. The photographer I really wanted was $7k which FI definitely vetoed, but we are pretty happy with the one we picked and he is half that!

msapril0730

I would like my budget to stay at 10k but I can't stop adding stuff! Right now we are at about $8500 and we haven't decided on the rehearsal dinner or transportation.

bcbsbride

Our budget is 10K and we are inviting about 100-110 guest.  Most of our budget is going towards food, alcohol, photographer and music.

lyar915

Our budget is still in the works I am trying to get it to or under 13k for 125 people. I still have photos and honeymoon to worry about (sigh).

sweets18

Our budget is between$10,000 and $15,000 right now we are looking at $13, 000.... right now we have about 200 guests, but we are hoping for around170-180. We focused a lot of the money on the videographers, photographers, and DJ ( I had to have uplighting). We are not having any alcohol though and my aunt purchased my wedding dress.

hatroopes

Our budget originally started out at 10K, but we quickly saw that wasn't going to happen especially when half of that went to the venue! The most important things for us are photographer, videographer, food and drinks. Our venue allows outside alcohol, so that will save us big bucks. We don't have a caterer yet, but I have tastings  scheduled with a couple and have gotten quotes from them. I think I know which one we will go with. After adding in flowers, linens, outfits, accessories and other misc stuff, we will probably end up spend about 18-20K for ~200 guests. And this amount is not including the honeymoon  **sigh**

wallacje

Our budget is $8K for 75-130 guests.  Wish we had more to spend but there is life after the wedding and we plan on buying a house this year too.  Our biggest checks went to the venue, reception and photgrapher.  I am DIY'ing alot of things and we are doing a meet/greet instead of RD (we will pay for our wedding party though)

missheaven1999

Our budget WAS planned for $10,000 for 100 ppl. But we're WAY over that..right now we're at $19,000...

The most expensive part is the venue which is $10,000 & photography $2500..

admallard

For 100 people we budgeted $5K but we only spent about $3K! DIY, ebay, etsy, and networking really helped us out alot!!! Everyone I've talked to keeps saying that we must have spent alot of money because of how good everything looked!

shesheduke

Our budget is 15K. We were looking good with this budget before the reception hall we book back in June went out of business and now we are back at square one. Still hoping to find something available and in our price range. WE are getting help from the parents praise the LORD or else our budget would be more like $2.00. WE are spending majority on the reception site with open bar that is what is killing us but FI and his family plus our friends are drinkers and he only requested an open bar out of this whole wedding so I am trying to make sure to give him that but boy oh boy is it costly.

A few months ago I felt like we were going to be on point with the budget but with recent developments I am not so sure. We also splurged a little on the photographer. I would like some uplighting and videographer but I doubt if I will be able to pull those off.

M1ssJ

Our budget is 24,000 for 300 guests and it is a struggle for me! I'm hoping more like 200-220 come. My family is pretty large so cutting the guest list was not happening. I am definetley not even having a real cake, Im have a baker decorate some styrofoam with a corner for us to cut and we're serving publix cake from the back. I think my splurges will be my dress , the videographer, and a jazz band (if I win that battle)

M1ssJ

And admallard I'm jealous

mahoganieyes

200 people is running in between 20-25k. Our reception site requires a minimum of 10k for a Saturday, then add on sales and city tax and you have.........

msktn95

Our budget is around 10k for 135 guest. I am working very hard trying to stay within our budget.  We got our venue for a great price.  Our biggest cost is the dj, open bar (beer and wine) and I had to have a photobooth. Our wedding is in November so we still have time to keep saving. I am trying to cut cost everywhere I can. 

lil01

No more than $15,000, but I'm hoping for less than that once everything is done. Most of the $$ is going to food/ drinks. Hopefully with us deciding to have no kids (except wedding party kids), our food costs should drop dramatically. We've been good with cutting costs by purchasing stuff during the holidays. We racked up big time during Christmas. As a pp said, networking is a must! Majority of our vendors are people my mom knows and friends of the family. We've also gotten $$ from unexpected people (lots of thanks for that).

asabb

WOW BIG TIME SPENDERS lol I'm with admallard 5K <<OR LESS>> and we're having about 100-120 guests. Our biggest costs are food/ drinks. I cut MAJOR cornors on my dress and by doing DIY projects.

LSAS

Budget is $5,000 that includes flights, hotel and dinner for 6 guests Loving Vegas, small and intimate like I want it