Wedding Cost Avg for Austin

reddie36 · July 2009

So, I was just on my club board and someone posted this little ditty for a poll: www.costofwedding.comSo I put in my zip code and this is what I got: On average, couples that live in Austin, TX 78752 spend between $20,041 and $33,402 for their wedding. This does not include cost for a honeymoon or engagement ring. What do you all think of that $$ based on what you are spending/budgeted? I can say I originally wanted to be far FAR below the low end, but I caved to the FI wishes of a larger wedding so we will probably end up somewhere midway I'd say.

Leigha12 · July 2009

Well, I was definitely at the low end and came in slightly under budget, but I think the site is flawed because it doesn't't take into consideration the size of the event and tons of factors. I once did a detailed questionnaire and it said a wedding of my size with the stuff included should cost almost 40K. Ha! If we had that kind of money, we'd have eloped and just bought a house!

dapo2004 · July 2009

My fiance and I are budgeting for a little bit more than half of the low figure- $11,000. HOWEVER, we were originally closer to the $20,000 mark when we were planning on having a larger wedding (around 100 guests). We cut back to 60 guests to make the cost manageable, as we are paying for the wedding ourselves.$20,000-$33,000 sounds reasonable to me now that I've been involved in planning for my wedding for the past year, but if someone would have asked me the same question two years ago... I probably would've been shocked! Thanks for posting that, it's really interesting!Have a wonderful day!

dapo2004 · July 2009

I'm in grad school at Cornell, so I looked up the cost of weddings here, and interestingly enough, and "On average, couples that live in Ithaca, NY 14850 spend between $12,698 and $21,163 for their wedding." It's crazy how much it varies... but then again, I guess it makes sense considering that there's not a whole lot in Ithaca besides Cornell.

Leigha12 · July 2009

I just put in my hometown in South Texas and got between $8,567 and $14,279 for a wedding. No wonder my parents begged me to get married there! Ha!

kelseymw · July 2009

Wow, I can believe it. The more in to this planning I get, the more things add up financially. Before I got heavily involved in planning, I thought that number was outrageous... but now like other people said, I totally see it being the norm. I would love to spend that much on the wedding, but I'd rather put the money toward our future. I agree that a wedding is the beginning of the rest of your life and you want the celebration to be absolutely perfect. However, FI is getting out of the military a few months after the wedding and we are likely moving to California for his job. With so many changes happening, we need to have a good financial cushion. That being said... We are determined to have our dream wedding for $10,000 (not including ring costs) ...for about 180 guests. What an undertaking, I know! The biggest expense was our venue, but it was the one thing we absolutely had to have. I must say, through the Knot I have found tons of money saving resources and we are going to make this happen! We definitely got lucky to save money on two huge expenses... FI's aunt is a professional cake baker and my BIL is a photographer. They're both giving their services as wedding gifts.

kelseymw · July 2009

Leigha, where in South Texas are you from? I'm from a small town outside Corpus Christi!

Leigha12 · July 2009

About an hour north of Corpus, Beeville. Yuck. Which town are you from? We probably played each other in sports! lol

sweetscarlet · July 2009

We're probably coming in around 15k or less (trying!). But I put in my zip code from where I'm from on Long Island and got: Oyster Bay town: Nassau County, NY 11735 spend between $38,246 and $63,744. That is why we're getting married in TX and NOT NY. CRAZY. (sorry, can't un-bold. gah)

kelseymw · July 2009

I'm from Kingsville. Yuck, too!

texangator · July 2009

In my hometown in Florida, people spend between $14,228 and $23,713. whoops!

Austin's worth it, right?!

Leigha12 · July 2009

Kelsey, that's too funny.

jervin1996 · July 2009

Thanks for sharing this is really interesting. I swore before I started to plan we wouldn't spend that much but sadly when it is all said and done we could have bought two brand new cars. Or gone to see all of our guest in person in their hometown. Thankfully, we had alot of help for the event. Just makes me laugh as you put in different cities. Guess we are all blessed that we are in Austin but man it can be expensive.

sugrad2007 · July 2009

Yeah, we're budgeted on the low end of that range. i'm hoping to stay under budget, but we'll see. Things are adding up quickly.Side note: I lived in Corpus Christi for 10 years while I was growing up.

txgirl7 · July 2009

Leigha... My FI parents first met in Beeville

Their no longer married but that's where they met!

sozay23 · July 2009

interesting! I was wondering what the average costs were. We are about 1/2 of the low end. right around 10-11,000 for 125 people. We really lucked out though with some vendors and especially the location.

jillers1219 · July 2009

well now i'm uber proud. we were a few thousand below the low end.and it looks like we spent the average of my iowa hometown. no wonder my parents thought they were giving us too much...

somethingsweeting · July 2009

Wow. My jaw totally dropped when i read that. How do people have that much money?? We're looking to come in right under $7k. Granted we're getting a lot of help from very talented friends, but STILL - I'm pretty proud of us right now!

jgilberg · July 2009

It is pretty amazing how much it varies. I looked up where I grew up...New Castle/Westchester county was $81,689-$136,157. That is insane!My parents wanted me to have the wedding where they are living now, in Naples Florida. Its around 56K-92K to do it there. I am glad that they ended up agreeing to have the wedding in San Antonio.~Julie

SMickler425 · July 2009

Wow this is really interesting. I totally thought at first that we would be more than okay with our budget of 20k but it really is starting to add up...For about 100 guests we are looking at somewhere in the middle range too. Every single thing really does start to add up! I wish I had the time and skill to do more DIY

erin&andy · July 2009

It's crazy how much things add up, ladies, but I can completely believe a wedding would cost that much in Austin. We're doing a Hindu Christian Ceremony and simply because we have two venues and two officiants and basically two of everything, we're coming in about halfway between that estimate.

lotusbrenda · July 2009

The range for my zip code is $29,067 - $48,445. We can probably do it all, wedding for 100 guests with buffet, wine/beer bar,rings and honeymoon for $13k.I had originally wanted to do it for $11k, but I am counting the cost of everything leading up to the event and it will be a bit more.

mattjenniwedding · July 2009

WOW. We had budgeted for a $20,000 wedding but our total costs are actually only just under $15,000 including our 8 day honeymoon and we are planning for 200 guests.. If you shop around.. there are so many great ways to save money! And don't be afraid to turn a vendor down from the original proposal. I've bargained with vendors and saved over $4,000 for the same product.

thethomps · July 2009

We did ours for a lot less than that amount, with about 150 attending the wedding (invited around 180, I think). Granted, we got married in January so we got some excellent deals because it was the off-season.

annabellfarrar · July 2009

Actually, this is precisely why I am doing my wedding in Austin next year. In Washington, D.C., where we live, it shows the average cost as between $27,384 and $45,641. I just went to scout sites with another engaged friend this weekend who is getting married in downtown D.C., and the average rental rate for a decent venue (for a nice museum/historical house/private club) started around $10,000 - that was not including food, linens, flowers, etc. It made my hyperventilating about $4000 for the Allan House (my dream site) seem silly! I guess it is all about context.

bryansbridebri · July 2009

Great fun webisite - My budget is 10,000 and so far coming in under that - for Austin - I think I might have the lowest budget around.

joy&tony · July 2009

I agree with pp that I would have scoffed at that a year or two ago, but now, I'm definitely at the high end of that range. I fully intended to be right at 20K, but due to events beyond my control, ended up at closer to 30K. I blame it on an overzealous mother, but what can you do?One tip is to remember that EVERYTHING is negotiable. I rented our venue for about 1K less than they originally asked. I negotiated for 2 add'l hours and an upgraded metallic album at no add'l cost. Definitely worthwhile!!Good luck on your budgeting! It can be tough work!

mesmer242 · August 2009

My budget for the wedding was $6000, and we came in around $8000. Not because I wanted to spend all that extra money... but my mom did... sheesh. Lol.This was in Austin for 125 guests.

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