Wedding Budgets

jennalynn90 · October 2011

what is everyones budget and what is your budget for photography? dj? cake? dress? Venues?

akirken · October 2011

We are shooting for $5000 but its going to be more like $6000. We could have probably done it for $5000 but there were certain things that were really important to me like the photography. Here is our breakdown so far:
photo- 1750
catering-1457
dress-425 ( i probably should have gotten a cheaper dress but I fell in love with a more expensive one)
cake- we are doing cupcakes which is going to cost about $100
venues- ceremony: grooms parents house= free. reception: strawberry acres lodge-$410 (or something like that)
We still need a dj and are trying not to go over $500

cschuma2 · October 2011

Including small things like the ribbon to tie around the favors, about $9k was the cost when it was all said and done. My dress was about $1k including alterations. Our DJ was a family friend and didn't charge us. We just "paid" her with a $50 thank you giftcard to Olive Garden. Our cake was about $250. Our photographer was just starting his own business and charged us $625. Our venue charged us $500 (I think) for the Saturday night rental. We had to pay a $75 clean up fee and we had to pay $60 per bartender and chose to have two. (We could have gotten by with one, but with two they were willing to send one to pick up more of anything if we ran out. We did run out of rum so I'm glad that they went and got more.) We also used them for the catering and it was $14.95pp and that included a choice of 2 main entrees. The bar package, which included pop, juice, napkins, cups and that kind of stuff, was $2.25pp and we supplied the alcohol. We had about 90 people so our catering bill was $1500ish. My MIL did the alcohol and I can no longer remember exactly what was spent, but it was a decent chunk of our budget. We had all sorts of choices and top shelf at that. MIL and DH's stepdad took that over because it was important to them. If that part was coming from our wallets, we would have not spent so much.

We rented the park for our ceremony and that was $150. We rented chairs and an arch and had it all delivered. That was probably another $400ish.

rak123 · October 2011

We ended spending about $18,000

Photog- $950, she was just starting out when we booked her, but her prices have about tripled now.

DJ $600, and gave a $50 tip

Cake $425 (we were supposed to get $25 back because that was our security deposit on the cake stand we used, but we broke it, so we didn't get the $25 back)

Dress- $2000 with alterations and shoes

Venue- $10,000 for 160 people to have plated dinner, full open bar, hor douerves, late night pizza snack, and chair covers

Have fun planning!

msbdumas · October 2011

my budget is set @ 10k

venue was 750 @ wildwood

photo 800

dj 150 (family friend)

cake about 100 with set up

dress 1200 with altrations and shoes

favors 400 (incl candy buffet)

rentals(chiars for ceremony, chair covers, arch, dinner place setting for bridal and parents table, warming chaifers, etc) 900

and still got more stuff to do ! good luck !

Castillo2B · October 2011

Venue-$775 for 8 hour reception
Food and Drink-$10,175 for 375 people including full bar for 8 hours
Band The Websters-$3700
Photog-$1250 (i think) Sarah J rocked
Videographer-$1195
Cake-$350
Limo-$675
DJ- $550
Dress-$700
Decorations-$1500
Invites- $275
Church $150
Misc. $750

We spent around $22,000

skashley75 · October 2011

I am getting married at Olander Park - outside on the deck
Rental is $600 - $100 deposit is returned after wedding
I went with this venue because they have folding chairs and if I had gotten married at the Botanical Gardens or one of the metroparks I would have had to rent chairs...
I was able to buy satin chair covers and sashes online for basically $2.50 a chair for 100 people...($250.00) To rent chairs, covers, sashes, (would have been $500+)

My reception is at SouthBriar reception hall in Sylvania - Main street...
It is a restaurant that does catering and has a decent hall attached.
They don't charge for the hall because you use them for the catering etc...
Tom Henkel is the person I have been dealing with and he is really nice.
Their food is great and prices are very reasonable - They cater a lot of events at the Botanica Gardens.... for Prime Rib & Champagne Chicken sit down dinner with appetizers during cocktail hour... beer, wine, sangria, and margaritas for about $40 a person (approx $5600)

I spent probably $500-$600 buying tablecloths and overlays, chair cover and sashes online beause I wanted to make sure it was exactly to my liking and I am using 2 different colors (Malibu & Plum) - will resale on Craigslist after wedding - buying was cheaper than renting!

I am getting my cake from Thrush's Bakery (275 servings) $745 delivered

Ultimate Nights DJ for reception - $745 may also use them for ceremony (addt'l $150 because it is a separate location)

I found my dress at David Bridal - Got shoes, veil, head-piece, slip & bra for just over $800 - Got the credit card zero percent 12mths

I probably spent $200 at the Libbey Outlet on cylinder vases for the reception
I spent another $500-600 at Hobby Lobby on other Glass vases, candles and wedding items (hint - they do a 50% off wedding for a week - once a month) Get your items then....

We got our wedding bands at Jareds - $1800 - I did the credit card there too - zero % for 12 mths with 20% down....

I am using BrittaniPhotography as my photographer her lesser package was $1275 +tax = 2 photographers for all day coverage and free engagement session
all edited photos on a CD with release ...

Using Hafner as my Florist - Flowers will be about $1200 I think
(I have 6 Bridesmaids / Groomsmen / 3 flower girls and ringbearer)
I would be cheaper with less people...

Have not booked a Limo service as of yet....

There is so much envolved in wedding planning it can be overwhelming...lol

I may be missing something.... but Hope this helps!

Simply_Caitlin · November 2011

We're trying to keep it at 18,000 but it's probably going to be closer to 20. Food, alcohol and reception make up the majority of the budget at 13,800.

jennalynn90 · November 2011

We are trying to plan ours for around $10,000 - $15,000 I was hoping to plan for way less but it seems like everything is just so expensive but I did find photography specials as long as the date is open when we decide a forsure date and depending on venues availablity I really want to plan everything for 9-15 but I feel like its coming way to fast and am scared we may need more time to have all the money.

polo26 · November 2011

So far I think this is what we have (for approx. 300 guests):
Church-$425
Reception Venue-$475 for 5 hours
Food-$6500
Alcohol-$3000
DJ-$795
Limo-$600
Cupcakes-$600
Photographer-$2000
Photobooth-$450
Flowers-$800
My dress-$595
Centerpieces-$150

So far we've spent more than we wanted to, but that seems to be the way it goes with weddings!

Wedding Budgets

Re: Wedding Budgets

Choose Another Board

Search Boards