Rough estimate of vendor prices

mags0722

Hi all,
Sorry if this has been posted before, but I'm trying to plan my budget and was wondering what kind of estimates I should be giving to certain categories (venue in Lake County--not sure if that makes a difference). If it's not too much of a pain, could any of you tell me what kind of estimates seem realistic for the following categories? (Note: I'm looking for what the lower/middle end could be... not the highest!) I have just started looking at this stuff, so I really have no sense of these prices yet.

Photographer
Hair/makeup
DJ
Florist
Dres/alterations

Thanks in advance!
Heather

aperitisa

I figured I would just post what my personal budget was because I have no clue the local average.  I was able to get alot of deals because my wedding in is January

Photographer - $1000
Hair/makeup - $50
DJ - $2000
Florist - $1000
Dres/alterations - $650

Love is Bald

my wedding is in september of next year in Will County:


Photographer:  $1200
Hair/makeup: together, $90
DJ: not done yet, but budgeted $1100
Florist: budgeted $1200
Dres/alterations: budgeted $275

MobKaz

Our Lake County wedding:

Photographer...$3000.......There are many "corporate" places (George Streeet, Timothy Whaley....) where you could probably get something for under $1500....

Hair/make-up....I would say the average for each is around $75....but make-up I have seen for upwards of $150.......depends on whether done at salon/ at home.....

DJ.....we booked what I believe to be an amazing DJ and company with an outstanding reputation....$1300.....I have seen a few for slightly less.....

Florist......bridal party of 15, bride, several grandparents, parents, Godparents....12 low table centerpieces, 4 tall centerpieces......$1500....flowers was not a high priority for us........

Dress.....$850 plus veil at $150 and alterations to be determined yet.....can be found less expensive at "chain" stores or if you purchase samples.....

I would say an average for venues in Lake County is $60 per plate......depending on choices of open bar, upgraded linens, whether you opt for Friday, Saturday, or Sunday night...whether you offer menu choices, appetizers.......ours is currently at $70 a plate.....

Hope that helps!

mirandarocks

i'll give you my budget for newberry wedding in october for about 180 guests

photographer - 3700

dj - 1275

cater - 15, 576

florist - 1000

makeup - (for me and bridesmaids) 950

hair - not sure yet, guesstimating about $300 for myself and bridesmaids...

cake - $900

MrsMLRB

DuPage Wedding on the Sunday of Labor Day weekend
Photographer- $1000 with another $1000 for pictures and album
DJ- $750
Florist $1000 (not floral centerpieces)
Makeup/Hair $100 total
Ceremony Site $2000
Reception Location $100 per person (includes upper end open bar, bread, salad, appetizers, fish and vegetarian dinner course, cake, champagne toast, linens, etc)

MrsV2B2011

I am getting married in DuPage County in June of 2011.  This is what I am spending:

Photographer:  $2200 which includes full rights to all of our photos in both black and white and color
Hair/makeup: $130 for both (without tip)
DJ: $800, but the DJ is an old friend of FI's so he gave us a super deal as a wedding gift.  I think our package would be normally $1500 or $1600
Florist: $1500 which includes 4 BMs, my bouquet, 5 corsages, 8 boutteneires (sp?), floral centerpieces for 16 tables, ceremony flowers for unity candle, and escort card table centerpiece
Dres/alterations: My dress was $850; I got it at a trunk show for 15% off.  I am not sure how much my alterations will be, but I have booked Mary Catomy and I know she is a genius and reasonably priced all at the same time

Per person cost for food and open bar (including tax and tip);: $67 a person

HTH!

mags0722

Thanks everyone! Really appreciate the info!

jessNlane52804

Here's about what we paid for our 8/7/10 wedding in Lake County:

Photographer: $1300, now she's around $3000
Hair/makeup: Somewhere around $70 each at a salon
DJ: $1425 for ceremony and reception
Florist: $650 for bouquets only and I feel like I got ripped off
Dres/alterations: Dress $1000 Alterations $80 for minor adjustments in the bust and a bustle

omgitsrojo

I was married 7/17/10 in Lake County:

Photographer: $3000 (I went with a big name company- but it was definitely worth it to get rights to all the pictures & a gorgeous album).
Hair/makeup: $150 for both at Mario's
DJ: $800
Florist: $900 for bouquets/boutineres & a few altar pieces
Dress/alterations: $800 for the dress and $300 for alterations
Videography: $1350 for all day coverage & highlight reel

Banquet Hall: $18,000 for a mid-range package

I decided early on that I wanted to spring for photo and video because when the day is over, that is what you will have to remember everything. It was the best decision I made...

HTH!

cjohnsen2010

Photographer:  Wasabi Photography $1400 (Travis was WONDERFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

Flowers: Costco orange roses $200 (7 bridesmaids, bride, groom, 7 groomsmen, 2 ushers. 2 readers, 2 mothers, 1 grandmother, and 24 centerpieces

Greenery for centerpieces: FernTrust $100 (including overnight shipping)

Band: SPOKEN FOUR $3275 OVER THE TOP WONDERFUL.  Dance floor was full until the very end

Venue:  Hyatt Regency Chicago $104 pp.  The reception was incredible.