If i can ask...

jonesma204 · May 2011

I know its bold, but i am curious... what are your REAL wedding budgets and who is paying for what? I would like to get a feel from the other WI ladies...

AND how much are you spending on your DRESS?

(I hope no one takes offense, just wanna know where I fall in the "norm" we read about! )

gundy21 · May 2011

I went a little over budget on my dress - it was $1200 (budget was $1000). Luckily the only alteration I needed was the bustle.

ETA - my parents paid about 1/2, I paid about 1/2, and the ILs took care of the RD.

Jelenny · May 2011

FILs, my parents, and the fi and I are splitting the cost 3 ways...and we have the budget set for $15k

My dress was about $600 if memory serves me

dlthompson22 · May 2011

I havent set a budget but when I look at cost thus far we are under 5k this includes church,hall,flowers,transportation,cake,ice sculpture and my dress so far and I paid about $600 for my dress.
FI parents and mine are both retired and on a limited income so FI and I are paying for it.

beckster5551 · May 2011

When we started to plan the wedding we set the budget at 8k. At one point during the planning I got it down to 6K but then went over budget on the food. FI and I are paying for everything but the RD and my aunt gave us some money to use towards the wedding.

When it comes to my dress, it was $700 but then when you add "plus size" and shipping and tax it was about $1000. That was over budget but I love it!

I couldn't vote....nothing for 5K-10K

msteph82 · May 2011

Our wedding will cost $16,500.00 when all is said and done.

My dress budget was $1,200.00 and I spent $100.00 (found a dress on TK)

We are paying about 40% of our wedding. G's parents have paid the rest, but we planned on paying for everything. They are amazing.

leah2489 · May 2011

Our budget is about $20,000, which we are coming up with mostly on our own. My mom is giving us about $1,000 to put where we want, and his family may help a little but we will see. My budget for my dress was about 1,000 but I found one I love for only $450.

npott044 · May 2011

Well I have just started to book things and my budget keeps getting bigger. I wanted to keep it at $10,000 but I am thinking it will be around $13000. My FI's parents are giving us $5000. My grandpa gave us $1000 and my mom bought my dress for $600. So I am guessing my FI and I will need to come up with at least $6000. But we can make payments towards our reception so it should all work out I hope!

bwisco123 · May 2011

We are trying to keep ours as low as possible... under 10K for sure.

My dress was about 680 - budget was 800 so with alterations I'm hoping to stay right on.

KatieD212 · May 2011

We spent about $12000 total. My parents paid for the reception (dinner/beer) which was a good half of that. My inlaws paid for the RD and most of honeymoon. DH and I paid for everything else on our own. My dress was with alterations and everything about $950.

IndigoRain · May 2011

Mine is looking like it will be around 9,000 or 10,000. My budget was 8,000, so I kind of failed in that area.=/ This is for about 300 guests. His family paid about 40% and I'm doing the rest. My dress cost 300.00, but I did a lot of alterations on it to make it the dress I wanted, and I did those myself so no added expense.

browneyedbride7 · May 2011

Budget for my dress was $1000, set by my parents since they wanted to pay for it. My dress ended up costing $650 before alterations. About $900 with alterations.

Starting wedding planning, we didn't really have a set budget in mind. We looked at what the general prices were for things in the Milwaukee area and kind of set a rough budget based on that. In all, we are spending about $25,000 for 150 guests before the honeymoon costs. My parents are putting about $15,000 towards the wedding. FI's parents are just paying for the rehearsal dinner. We are paying the remainder.

jberg134 · May 2011

My budget started around 11K, but ended up being closer to 14K. This is only the things my parents are paying for. So, not included is photography, mini-moon, rings, gifts to each other, rehearsal dinner, marraige license, priests and church, gifts for the bridal party.

I currently have two dresses. The first one was purchased in 2007 for $500 and no longer fits. I need to sell it. The second one was purchased off the rack on clearanced for $600.

jonesma204 · May 2011

thanks ladies for all of your responses!

right now we its looking like somewhere arounf the 15/20K mark for us. My parents and FI are helping with about 10K and the rest we are taking care of.

I found two dressed I LOVE, both for 900, before alterations.

jonesma204 · May 2011

and PS sorry i did forget to put a 5-10K! I wasnt able to edit it either : /

Elidam · May 2011

FI and I are paying $7,000. My parents are paying $4,000. FIL are paying $1,000. Our total budge is $12,000.

My dress was $300 at a blowout sale.

KRHagen · May 2011

I was too afraid to do the actual calculations but my best estimate was that the wedding was a little over 25k (honeymoon included). My IL paid for about 5k, my move gave us 5k and my dad gave us 5k. We coved the rest. My dress was way over my budget of $1000 but my grandfather paid for it.

indiemusicluv · May 2011

Well so far we're trying to keep it under 5,000! I just did a lot of research when it came to wedding venues & where the ceremony is being held. I found it to be much cheaper to have my wedding inside a church than outside, like $600 cheaper! I don't plan on spending much more than $500 for my wedding dress. I haven't started looking yet though! My mom offered to help with any costs, more than likely she will cover the down payment on the reception venue. My partners mom will be covering the reception dinner & the bar tab. I plan on making all of the table arrangements, which will be wine bottles with home-made labels & an arrangment of flowers. Also it helps if you have friends with creative skills. Two of our friends are photographers so we're hiring them to do our wedding. Also our other friend is a DJ and is willing to do our wedding for very reasonable price! I think anyone can have a money savy wedding, it just depends on if you're willing to do a little extra work! Hope this helps!!

[Deleted User] · May 2011

My dress and veil are just under 1,000 My mother is paying for it and that was the budget she set for me. I got lucky and was able to buy the sample that fit me perfectly and the shop I got it from offers free alterations with every dress purchase. My budget is broken up quite a bit. My parents are contributing 2,000 towards dinner and location. My photographer is around 1200 but well worth it (Rae of Light in Cmeron, WI) I'm a DIY bride so I'm allowing 300 for Decorations. and 500 for dj ( I got my dj for cheep because of being off season and military) 200 for favore (Candy Bar) and then my father is contributing 500 for misc expenses. and since I live in Cali 1,000 plane tickets.

Budget: $4000 from parents $2700 out of pocket

Hope this helps.

thatguyhasmyname · May 2011

Before I set a budget I talked to recently married friends and family and did searches online. After getting "average" costs for what is spent where, my budget is $14,355.

However, I plan to spend around 11K. I have an off season date and will search for the best deals!

Costs are currently being split three ways (Dad and Stepmom,my Mom, fiance and I)

The dress cost $917.66 with tax

cjspencer35 · May 2011

Significantly lower than a lot of other answers...

I went about $650 on my dress before alterations.

Our splurge item was the food, catered buffet from our venue. It will be $3500-4000, but we think it's appropriate that our guests receive a filling meal when they are traveling from out of town in many cases.

We are having an outdoor ceremony, indoor reception on a rustic state park property. It's simple but beautiful. Honestly, If I could spend less I would. I don't feel that I would want to spend more on any certain area if I had it. My parents are paying for most of the wedding costs, but my FIs dad is paying for all the alcohol for the reception and his mom is taking care of the rehearsal. We payed for some of the stationary, accessories for wedding party, etc. Our overall budget is around $5500.

CarlesnEm · June 2011

Hey all!

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you for responding!!! I am also just starting to plan and this was REALLY helpful! I was having a hard time knowing what is reasonable. I have 2 older sisters who are already married but my situation is very different especially with the finances. So anyway, Thanks!

Oh and my sisters both told me their dresses were about 10% of their budget (a little less and a little more depending on if they wanted more money to go to another area). That's about the best budget info I got from them :P

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