How much are you spending on your wedding?

musictchr25 · April 2012

This poll is anonymous, but feel free to leave additional information in the comments if you'd like.

I am asking to try to get a feel for what the demographics are like here. From what I've read, most RI Weddings seem to fall between $20K and $30K.

i2012do · April 2012

I'm going to be honest, I think the 20000 figure is low. We looked at some really affordable options and with all in even those would surpass 20000 I know moni did a wedding around that price point and was really conscious about saving money. To save used whole foods florist, etc but she can tell you more I don't have an issue breaking down our budget. I posted a question like this over a year ago and people did that for me and it was sooooo helpful. Plus anyone can inquire w my vendors and see what they charge so I feel ok to spill the beans Venue- 2700 + 300 security for a sat night rental, we must rent tables and chairs through them another 1000 Caterer- approx 100pp includes open bar cocktail hr then beer and wine and signature cocktail for duration, plus 3 meal choices, chicken, beef, fish (total w taxes estimate-13000.00) Dj- 1800 Florist- 2000 Dress- 1700 Accessories- I am estimating high here I haven't bought anything, 500 Photographer- 2400 Cake- 650 Favors (flip flops for women)- 35$ (thank you old navy $1 sale) Save the dates- 300 ( I went way over budget on this) Thank you notes- $4 ( target always has great sales) Bm gifts- 180.00 Tuxes- 140, Gm gifts- 100 Transportation- 1400 Invites- estimate 500 Oot bags- 50 Etc printed items, menus, door hangers, letter for oot bag- 20 Church 500 Officiants 500 Ceremony musicians 300 I can't think of anything I'm missing but if you want to include hotel for the weekend that's another 500 Fiances parents are paying for rehersal approx 1000 I've never broken it down like this so I was shocked to add it up and a bit scared

Sosteadilygo · April 2012

I will break down my budget also, in hopes that it will help someone!

Venue: $1850 + $500 refundable security deposit
Renting tables/chairs: $500
Set up fees: $200
Caterer: $6835
Day of Coordinator: $850
Alcohol (we can bring in our own- estimate): $1000
Photographer: $1200
DJ: $675
Cupcakes: $649
Trolley: $1080
Flowers: $1069
Tux: $220
Dress: $789
Officiant: $600
Bartenders: $750
Invitations (estimate): $100
OOT bags (estimate): $100- I am actually sewing these, so it was about $40 for the material
STDs- $58
Shoes- $165
Hairpiece (estimate)- $100
Bridal party gifts (estimate - 1 MOH, 1 BM, ring bearer, flower girl, reader): $200
Parents gifts (estimate): $100
Favors: $140
Hotel room for 3 nights: $375
Broochs for the bouquet (estimate): $500- you can set your budget to buy broochs for $3 or $4, but I have went a little overboard so far. ;-)
12 tablecloths: $138
Decorations for ceremony/reception: $250

Soo, that adds up to $20043. There were also some estimates in there, so we could come in below $20000 if we end up spending less somewhere else.

Edit: We have budgeted $1000 for the rehearsal dinner, so that brings us up to $21043.

i2012do- $20,000 and under for a wedding isn't hard to reach in RI, you just have to do your research. My photographer is amazing and we found her at a steal (without negotiating), our flowers are from a local farm, etc. You just have to be willing to look at multiple options. I am getting married at Kinney Bungalow.

hisbabygirl76 · April 2012

EEEEK I read through your budgets and it scares me

We budgeted 15000 and so far we are pretty under budget. BUT our wedding is being held in Massachusetts so I am not sure if that makes much difference.

Eyejewel · April 2012

Yeah reading this is scary. I dont have a full breakdown as im behind updating my budget. I will say the venue and # people set the presendent for much its going to cost. We starting out not wanting to go over $15K. We are having our reception in MA and church in RI but most of my vendors are RI. I think we are inching around $24K right now. We are inviting 200 people we budgeted more for 185 so the closer we move up to 200 the more dollars. I think are food + venue rental 1500 is coming out around 12,500 with 180 people (thats w/o open bar - just mixed beverage jars for cocktail hour). I have been budget conscious throughout the process. Some things lower than budget other things we were completely off for estimating and went above in a category.

i2012do · April 2012

I agree that if you do research you can surely save. I did 6 months of research on all vendors before booking- and the knot is such a good resource.However, I think that the Average at 20,000 is an underestimated value.
Just looking from the results of the boll, the majority of people are spending 25+
Surely,we don't have enough people to have an average- but the average number is probably pretty low.

We are having a "budget" friendly photographer that came in at 2400. I felt most photographers were in the $3500 range. Obvisoulsy some are more, some are less. Average DJ I believe to be around $1000 (this is based on 2010 numbers from when i originalyl researched it etc)

Its always great to have the knot as a reference that is how i found most of my vendors- because i found that it was a wayu to find not only budget friendly vendors but also quality vendors.

One of the things we didn't include and anyone doing a breakdown probably should is teh amount of guests and the season of the wedding! tHat is def. a wayto break or save a budget!!

If OP is looking to save, I would 100% consider a fall or winter wedding. I LOVE winter weddings and in retrospect wish I had one myself.

For my above budget we are planning 125 guests for an August wedding.

hisbabygirl76 · April 2012

We did get very lucky because our venue for ceremony and reception includes our DJ, Cake, Limo , alot of the small items (napkins , toasting glasses, etc) food, cocktail hour, and our bridal suite. It comes in right at 9k for @160 people.

This leaves me with my dress which cost me $450, my flowers have cost me about $30 as I am doing them myself. Photographer is my last big cost I have to enter in.

15k for me is just an insane amount to spend on one day so I am doing everything I can to stay way under.

RoyalOrient · April 2012

Below is my budget breakdown. We spent a little over 24k on our wedding for 200 people (178 lovely guests showed up) in Newport. I was definitely budget conscious. I was still in school and we just bought a new home, a long engagement helped us spread out the payments. My parents paid for our RH Dinner and my in-laws paid for our hotel stay and gave us monetary gifts.

http://moniinthemoment.blogspot.com/2011/10/budget-breakdown.html

Sarah MD · April 2012

The BEST advice I can give you - bid on the Wish Upon a Wedding fall charity auction. It's held on BiddingforGood.com - this year was Sept - Nov. I got my photographer for $200 (they usually charge $3k), a clay bouquet for $104 - which I can keep forever since it really is made out of clay, my wedding planner $50. They also usually have really nice invites.

Also, get full in-depth quotes from at least 2 vendors per category BEFORE you book anything. Vendors are much more flexible when they're still competing for your business.

I'm super anal about recording things for the wedding, so I promise to post something when it's all said and done with.

delpadrek09 · May 2012

Hello!

Sosteadilygo- If you don't mind, could you share who your vendors are for photography, DJ, and flowers? My fiance and I are going a little overboard on the venue and catering, so I'm REALLY interested in finding good quality, but reasonably-priced vendors.

Thank you!

How much are you spending on your wedding?

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