Help with Budget info?

fulloflove

Hi all!  Can anyone help me with doing a budget for a parent?  We assumed we'd plan the wedding around the budget but said parent will not contribute at all until s/he has the entire wedding budget.  We have proposals for catering/reception/ceremony.  But I need a really good estimate on photography, cake, music, flowers, decorations and officiant fee.  TIA!!  We are trying to plan for Sept '10 so we need to move fast, yikes!  We really would like the Darby House, but of course can't book until we know our total budget. 

reevetobe

I would be happy to! Also, I have an Excel sheet that I got somewhere online that lets you really get a good idea about what things cost. What's your email addy? I'd be happy to send that and some cost info over to you.

fulloflove

ruilanyu - gmailThanks so much!  Parent won't accept the general spreadsheet of info.  Has to be specific to our wedding and Columbus venues (can be an estimate of various Columbus photographers, but can't just be avg wedding photographer is X price). 

green795

My advice, if your parents are being that specific, is to request information from your top 2-3 vendors in each category (that are available on your day, of course) and give your parents that information, because there is no point giving them information of a vendor you wouldn't want to use anyway. That way you give them an idea of how much things are likely going to cost while also giving them an idea of vendors you want for your wedding.

fulloflove

Our problem is we have to book reception location ASAP if we want a date in Sept (we are both in school and this is our only time off).  So general info is a must now and we can research other vendors after we book  

bingham101

I would say how much money are you giving so I know what price ranges to look in. Here is my info: Photographer Christy Gibson - Packages start at $1000 the package we chose is $1590. She is awesome but a lot of other photographers charge a LOT more DJ Buckeye Entertainment - $450 for 5 hours. Again he is on the cheaper side some Columbus DJ’s charge 750 or more Cake- No idea a friend Reception hall - $400 Cardinal Center Campground Caterer – Nicole’s Café – she has a lot of different options we chose one in the middle that was 17.95 pp. With appetizers and linens and a bunch of other stuff our total with her is a little more than $3,000 Dress and accessories the sky is a limit they need to set a budget for that. The best way is to set a budget and find allocate so much money to certain things. Like the food and photography will probably cost the most. Our whole wedding is around $12,000. I could have went with a cheaper caterer but I really like who I chose. We are also not having any alcohol.

fulloflove

Thank you thank you thank you!We have already tried the how much are you willing to give so we can budget accordingly and parent will NOT say until sees a budget of every expense.    So - any ideas on how much flowers and decorations will cost?  Oh and officiant?Again, thanks for all the help!

green795

I agree with pp- it's best to set up an amount everyone's willing to contribute, budget/allot each area out (theknot.com has a great budgeting resource that definitely helped us out), then find vendors that fit within the allotted amount. Typically, that's what a budget is- a set amount you work within. But if you still need a breakdown of individual vendors, here is what we have at this point: Ceremony (St. Charles- only open to alumni)= $200 Priest= $150 ("not necessary, but suggested donation") Reception/caterer (Creekside)= about $18000 (food, drink, colored linens, all detailed setup included, tax, service charge) Photography (Kimberly Potterf)= packages start at around $3000 but we're doing the $4600 package Cake (Anita Kline)= starts at $2 per serving, our cake and filling are $3 a person, and we're having about 190-200 expected guests DJ (Night Music)= starts at about $700 for 3 hours, plus $80 an hour after that, our reception is about 6 hours Flowers (Flowers on Orchard Lane)= about $2300 for bridal party, VIPs, ceremony, and reception flowers, our price was higher than we expected because our wedding is Mother's Day weekend next year, and the cost for dealers and customers throughout the flower industry is 10-15% more expensive than normal We hope you think those of us responding are helpful!

kerr

This might be helpful.... If you know how much you are spending on catering/reception/ceremony, you can figure out how much it should cost to pay for the rest. Here is a good percentage budget: Wedding and Engagement Rings (15%) Wedding Dress and Veil (5%) Reception (Site and Catering) (35%) Photographer/Videographer (10%) DJ/Band/Entertainment (4%) Invitations/Stationery (4%) Flowers (10%) Cake (3%) Wedding Party Gifts (2%) Rehearsal Dinner (2%) Officiant/Ceremony Fees (1%) Decorations (3%) Limo/Bus/Car (2%) Tuexedos (1%) Pre-Wedding Parties (3%) Obviously you will adapt your own budget depending on what is most important to you (i.e. take some from stationary and add it to flowers, etc.). Also, take into account things like whether or not FI's parents are paying for the RD, then you can add that 2% to another area. There are a couple more percentage budgets I found, I will post them below.

kerr

Here is another great article about percentage budgets:http://www.onewed.com/article/story/1061986Good luck!

fulloflove

Thanks again gals!  Again, I must state that the parent will not contribute ANYTHING without a breakdown of ALL expenses.  They will not "offer" anything, but may (or may not!) help with projected expenses. I sent a proposal to the parent, but I may have underestimated some areas like photography and flowers.  Thanks for the websites of % breakdown - also the local prices really helped too as I wasn't sure if projected percentages applied universally in all of the US.I never knew planning a wedding would be so very stressful!

mags218

If you are looking at Darby House you will have a minimum. I think in September on Saturdays the minimum is $15,000. That should at least give you a starting point.