Out of control budget.

goatlady12 · July 2012

Ok, so maybe I'm alone on this, but my wedding budget is starting to make me feel a bit selfish and/or silly. I just looked at my budgeter tool on TK and couldn't believe how out of control my budget has gotten. We've had a lot of help I am extremely thankful. But does anyone else think of all the other things you could do with that money?

I just recently got the totals back from the flourist, and I thought, "For flowers that are going to die in a week?! You can't be serious! I could get a new couch, start finishing the downstairs bathroom, or feed a starving kid in Africa for a couple years at a 30 cents a day, for what my flippin' flowers are costing!"

I know it's a big day, and it celebrates the start of the rest of our lives together, but it still is just one day!

Anyone else? I'm also curious what the most shocking wedding expense was to everyone?

achiduck · July 2012

Yes, every now and then I have moments like that too. We have more than doubled what we originally planned to spend. But we also increased the guest list by about 30% people and went with a much nicer venue then we were originally planning to, hired a decorator, got a bit outlandish with the flowers, went with a REALLY good makeup artist and decided to take a more expensive honeymoon then we originally planned to. Lol.. so thats' where all our money went.

Sometimes I have thoughts like "WTF am I doing? We should have just eloped" but ultimately I'm happy with the decisions we've made for the wedding and will still pay off 100% of it by the wedding day.

semay23 · July 2012

The most shocking expense to me was the food costs and venue rental fees. We are actually on a very tight budget, but we have figured out what is most important to us and have focused on that. The only flowers we are having are mine and my maid's bouquets. No tuxes/suits for the grooms. Used Vistaprints for the invites. I'm making the centerpieces and most of the other decorations myself.

But the food. Oh the food! I nearly shat myself when I saw how much some caterers charged per plate. I also couldn't believe how much cake costs per slice. (We ended up going with cupcakes. FI and I hate cake anyway!) And even though Kentucky is a pretty inexpensive state to get married in, I couldn't believe what venues were charging.

At any rate, marrying FI would have been my dream day whether we spent $5 or $500,000.

LDubHawksFan · July 2012

Our budget is just barely creeping over what we planned, but I'm still grasping at the fact that we are spending that much for one day! I've tried to cut corners, but ultimately we picked a really nice venue and will have fantastic food.....and that is around 50% of the costs! Luckily FI has finally picked up on how much the costs are....and that we will be cutting checks soon for several thousands of dollars....on top of normal living and his b-party trips, etc. Needless to say, he's commited to eating out a lot less!

Ultimately we have enough in savings to cover this completely, but yes, I wonder if I've gone a little overboard as a bride!

mrshall1027 · July 2012

I think I was most shocked by the flower costs too. And that's pretty crazy for me to say because I do wedding flowers on the side. I charge like 50% less then what normal florist charge. So, I'm saving the money and doing the work myself with the help of a couple bridesmaids and my mom.

As for the budget, we were heading towards going over, but we have cut back on some things. We saved by not having the rehearsal at a restaurant and are instead hosting a lasagna dinner at our home. We decided against a videographer, we are doing a string duo instead of a quartet, doing our own flowers, and DIYing all the decor and paper items.

And the "It's one day!" thing crosses my mind just about every other day. I really wish we would have just eloped or had a destination wedding to save the money, but in the end, I know we would have both regretted not having the big wedding. Plus, it's too late to go back now!!

[Deleted User] · July 2012

I feel that way lately too! However I know it'll be worth it in the end, and we have enough to have everything paid off by the wedding day except for maybe 500 we can put on the credit card. I splurged on my dress and shoes so that is a nice sized chunk of the budget. We are putting money towards our BM dresses and all the tuxes plus paying for hair and nails for the BM's. That alone is over 1000! Food costs are definitely the major expense and our venue doesn't even charge a terrible amount per plate. It still amazes me how easily everything adds up. I know its one day, but we've saved so that we could have the wedding we want, and I'm excited to see it all come together!

Kristen627 · July 2012

I definitely have trouble when I look at the bottom line. My fiance and I are paying for it ourselves and we're really, really fortunate that he has a great job, my job is steady and we're in our early 30s and we can completely afford it. But I sometimes feel really ridiculous for spending so much cash!

Alisha9544 · July 2012

I've been having my panics about the budget. I just don't understand why adding the word wedding makes everything quadruple in price!! Flowers are my biggest thing right now. I just can't bring myself to even give them a deposit at that price. But I'm nervous on doing them myself.

LDubHawksFan · July 2012

All you girls are making me worry about flower costs! We are having FMIL's neighbor do them because she offered and has done several of her family member's. They go up to the LA flower market to get them at a fraction of the cost. I'm not meeting with her until early August to go over our ideas, but I tentatively have about $800-$1000 to cover the costs of flowers and her efforts, but now I'm worrying! Eeek!

lehc723 · July 2012

Yeah, I'm with you ladies! Especially because we're not looking to buy or own a home any time soon, but when I think about how if we were in a position where we had the money that is going towards our wedding for a down payment, we probably could (although maybe not in NYC, where we are now), and then I'm like, "Sheesh, for one flipping day?"

fishinflagrl · July 2012

Absolutely!!! I can't believe we are spending this much for a darn party! I think the thing that shocked me the most was my dress and makeup. I wasn't planning on spending 1300 for a dress for one day nor 180 for makeup w/ trial. It's just crazy. I agree with the flowers. I am going as cheap as possible bc I feel it is really stupid to spend so much on something that is going to die. I am also thinking of doing pineapple plants for centerpieces so ppl can plant them an it will be used. I just can't believe how much a darn wedding is. But it is once in my life. I feel happy about how I am spending some of the money.

ivedonethisb4 · July 2012

Well I guess I just don't really feel like I've gone overboard. We're having a pretty large guest list of like 250. Our budget is coming to about 5,000. For everything. We've tried our best to find the best deals and only do what is needed while still having an awesome day...we're doing A LOT as in everything ourselves. Food, drinks, decorating! I do have a florist though. My aunt is making our cake. I ordered STD's and invites through VP.I honestly can't name anything I could cut back on because 175 of our guest list is family!

ericaandtom2012 · July 2012

I cannot believe how much we are spending for one day. We have a lot of checks to cut in the next couple of months and for the first time we are taking money out of savings (not emergency fund, savings for wedding and house and other things) and not just using money from our paychecks. The biggest cost for us is going to be food, but it will be delicious!! We really splurged on our honeymoon, but I'm ok with that because it will be an awesome vacation just for us!

Out of control budget.

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