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Budget advice please!

kamiawikamiawi
First Comment
in Minnesota-Minneapolis and St. Paul
We're planning our wedding for September next year and really wanted to have it somewhere in Minneapolis or St. Paul. We are going to have around 130 to 150 people and we've been very fornute for our parents to offer to help out with $18,000. Out of all the places in the cities we looked at, we found the smaller Boulevard Room in the Calhoun Beach Club to be the most affordable option for what we want. Still, for a ceremony and reception (including all taxes, service charges, fees ect.) it will probably end up being around $14,000. With only $4,000 left, FI and I are definitely prepared to have to help out alot with the rest of the costs for the wedding. I just don't know how much more we can reasonably expect to have to contribute towards decor, photography, flowers, dj, and everything else in minneapolis? What has everyone else spent for things other than the ceremony/reception costs for weddings here in the city? Sorry, I know this is a very broad question but any advice would be very appreciated :)

Thanks!
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Re: Budget advice please!

  • saintpaulJesssaintpaulJess
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Here's kind of a general idea of what we're doing:
    flowers - 1500
    photography - 3200
    dj - 700
    decor - 1000+
    videography - 450
    invitations and programs - 1500

    All of this can obviously be done for way less or way more, but at least it's a starting place for you.
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  • aligrossaligross member
    500 Comments Third Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    Becuase we took the time and  shopped around this is a basic break down from our points...

    DJ... $500
    Decor @ Reception... $1000
    Flowers (stuff for ceremony & pics) $500
    Transportation $1000
    Photographers $3500
    Videographer $1400
    Paper stuff $500
    Favors... $250
    That puts on an extra $8650 - we have however found things cheaper since some of these but this is just what I wrote down when we first started to look
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  • KateJ10KateJ10
    1000 Comments
    edited December 2011
    DJ... $350- Neon Express
    Flowers (stuff for ceremony & pics) ~$1200- Using Simply Stated Elegance- I would highly recommend her, or someone similar that only charges labor and wholesale flower price- you get so many beautiful flowers for your money this way
    Photographers $3250- Includes photobooth for 2 hours- Sara Montour
    Videographer -hm not doing
    Paper (STDs, Invites, Stamps etc) $4-500 bucks maybe? I used Vistaprint for STDs and we DIYd our pocketfold invites
    Favors- not doing. Thinking of renting popcorn machine for <$100 dollars though.
    Dress- $2,000 but am selling afterwards
    Alterations- $275
    Decor- $200
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  • jentabersonjentaberson
    100 Comments Second Anniversary
    edited December 2011
    DJ $940- includes ceremony
    Uplighting (from our DJ)- $825 not doing drapery/ toole
    Flowers $600
    Photog $1700
    Invites, programs, paper stuff- $850
    Muddy paws- $2,000

    The one thing I will tell you is think about what people remember:
    no one remembers the flowers, chair covers, or programs.
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  • MaggieandJakeMaggieandJake member
    Fifth Anniversary 500 Comments 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    We had a wedding initially budgeted for 150 people, and we ended up only having 100 RSVP, so we were able to increase some of our spending on the reception.  Our budget was $16,000 including wedding bands and honeymoon and we came in about $1000 over budget.  Here's our breakdown, all prices include tip:  My parents paid for $5500, my grandma paid for the church, we paid for the rest out of pocket.

    Reception: $6,000 (included all alcohol -2 kegs, 20 bottles of wine, champagne for the wedding party, plated dinner, appetizers, gratuity)-Radisson University Hotel
    DJ: $275-Neon Express
    Dress: $900 including alterations
    Hair/Make up: $230 including hair trial-Smart and Chic
    Flowers: $500-Deven Nelson
    Photographer: $1250 (included 3 sessions: e-pics, RD, wedding day) with unlimited hours, 2 photogs-Imagen
    Transportation: $200-Urban Express
    Cellist: $170 - Arioso Strings
    Ceremony Location: $1300-Gethsemane Lutheran Church
    Cake: $500 including a grooms cake-Queen of Cakes
    Invitations: $300 including postage-DIY
    Decorations/DIY Projects: ~$300-$400
    Wedding Bands: $1,850
    Honeymoon: $3500


    Rehearsal dinner for 27 people: $850-Buca Di Beppo downtown.
    *This was paid for by my in-laws and was not a part of our budget.  



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  • ShelbyGT21ShelbyGT21 member
    100 Comments Second Anniversary 5 Love Its
    edited December 2011
    Flowers-Am doing myself, probably will be 400 or 500.
    Transportation-We are driving ourselves. No limo or anything.
    Paper products (programs & Invites)-approx. 150. Am doing myself.
    Dress-under 700

    not sure on photog yet. We arent doing favors. 
    We will probably have 85 to 100 ppl. 
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  • SuperRNluvsChefSuperRNluvsChef
    2500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Here's my breakdown: 

    Reception:  $5000
    Photography:  $2300
    Videography:  $3500 (I know I know, it's a lot!)
    Flowers:  $650
    Cake:  $750ish (depends on final numbers)
    DOC:  $500
    DJ:  $575
    Hitched! 09.30.11
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  • newlyseliskinewlyseliski member
    1000 Comments Fourth Anniversary Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011

    We had 200 guests...

    Reception venue:  $1,000
    Ceremony at Cathedral:  $1,000  (member fee... incl programs, music, coordinator)
    Food: $6,000
    Alcohol: $1,500 (in-laws)
    Linens, Rentals & Decor: $1,500
    Photography:  $2,300
    Florist for bouquets, etc: $650
    DIY reception flowers: $350
    Cake:  $350
    Candy bar stuff: $200
    DJ:  free (uncle in law)
    STDs and Invitations:  $350
    Dress: $650 (incl alterations)

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  • EmilyCMNEmilyCMN
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We had 110 people:

    Reception with food, alcohol, and hall rental: $5400
    Officiant: $175
    Photographer: $1800
    Videographer: $1800
    Decorations: $220 for ceiling lights and $300 for glassware and candles (Selling lights and glassware)
    Flowers: $150 from Sam's Club DIY
    Cake: $440 from Muddypaws
    Dress: $1000 plus $113 for alterations
    Rings: $1500
    Snacks: $200
    Paper for Invites and STD's: $300 with stamps
    Hair and Make-up: $165

    I think that's it... So under $14,000 for everything!
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  • tegdirb2001tegdirb2001
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We are anticipating 250 people.

    Reception $8000
    Ceremony rental fee $900
    Photographer $3100
    Videographer $450
    DJ $450
    Paper & Invites $700
    Flowers $500
    Cupcakes $150
    Dress, accessories (shoes, jewerly, veil) including alterations $500
    DOC $300
    Transportation $500
    Muisician @ ceremony $300
    Bridal Party gifts $550
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  • maybe984maybe984 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Here's my breakdown (excluding 'ceremony/reception costs' as you asked) for our 125-guest wedding:

    Photographer (w/ significant family discount): $600
    Videographer: Chose not to have one
    DJ: $350, including ceremony music (Neon Express!)
    Invitations (including postage): $250
    Flowers: $750
    Linens and Decor: $800
    Cupcakes: $550
    Dress (including alterations and accesories): $1,000
    Bridal Hair and Makeup: $200
    DOC: $450
    Wedding Party Gifts: $200
     
    So, even without the actual venue and catering costs, I paid $5,150... and that's with considerable constraint, really good deals/discounts (I pulled in a lot of favors from family and friends that have wedding-related businesses) and tight budgeting. The venue I chose had an open catering policy, so my venue costs were separate from my food, drink, etc... so with that I spent:

    Venue Rental (Ceremony and Reception): $1,000
    Food/Servers/Dinnerware and Servingware Rentals: $3,600
    Event Insurance and Security: $300
    Beer/Wine/Pop: Not totally sure, because ILs footed the bill, but I think about $1500 or $2000.

    So, if we would have gone with a full-service venue that managed all of that, it would have equated to paying $6,500 or $7,000 for 'the venue'.
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  • kamiawikamiawi
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Thanks ladies! It is so helpful to see the range of prices for everything which makes me feel like we will definitely be able to afford everything we need if we just take the time to shop around. I think the one thing I'm surprised about is the cost of photography! It's probably the second most important thing to me (besides venue) so I'll probably have to splurge on that.
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  • maybe984maybe984 member
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    This may be a slightly unsolicited opinion on the matter... but if your budget is a STRICT $18,000... $14,000 for just the venue might be a little too much... especially if you're looking to "splurge" on a photog. Decent photographers around here start at an absolute minimum of about 1k, and can be as much as 6-7k... with the average being around $2500 or $3000. That means, if you were to go with an 'average priced' photog... you only have $1000 left for evvvvverything else... dress, flowers, decor, officiant, dj... everything.

    Oh, wait... you did say that you and FI can pitch in on top of the $18,000. In that case, it's doable... but just be prepared to pitch in around $2-3k even if you bargain hunt. So, I guess my warning still stands :-)
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  • kamiawikamiawi
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_minnesota-minneapolis-st-paul_budget-advice-please?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:81Discussion:dece7ae7-7260-4c27-b8d8-2739baef6a28Post:eced2dd2-046b-464e-8755-452df40b003a">Re: Budget advice please!</a>:
    [QUOTE]This may be a slightly unsolicited opinion on the matter... but if your budget is a STRICT $18,000... $14,000 for just the venue might be a little too much... especially if you're looking to "splurge" on a photog. Decent photographers around here start at an absolute minimum of about 1k, and can be as much as 6-7k... with the average being around $2500 or $3000. That means, if you were to go with an 'average priced' photog... you only have $1000 left for evvvvverything else... dress, flowers, decor, officiant, dj... everything. Oh, wait... you did say that you and FI can pitch in on top of the $18,000. In that case, it's doable... but just be prepared to pitch in around $2-3k even if you bargain hunt. So, I guess my warning still stands :-)
    Posted by maybe984[/QUOTE]

    Yes -  we are prepared to put in up to 5k if we <em><strong>have</strong></em> to, so have a max total of 12k left to spend, just wanted to know what to expect around here. Trust me, i feel like $14,000 is a lot to spend on a venue too. And i'm still debating if its worth it, even though it was the first place we found in the cities with what we wanted (indoor ceremony and reception/not a hotel/pretty scenery nearby/a reasonable f/b minimum for our party size) that we fell in love with when we toured.
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  • AshP12AshP12
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    What it comes down to for me is prioritizing what's important for you to go big on, and what you don't care about as much and are willing to comromise. We're inviting 350 people and will probably total $15,000 (as a high estimate). As you can tell, photos and the dress were most important to me, so that's what I spent the most money on. We're also saving by driving to our honeymoon and waited to book at the resort until we saw some deals on their website.

    Dress: $1100

    Alterations: Not sure how much mine will cost yet, but I recommend Marta's in Coon Rapids. Wonderful ladies there, never long wait for an appt, and marvellously cheap!

    Hair/Make up: $75  - I'm giving my bridesmaid's the option of doing their own hair or paying for themselves at a salon

    Flowers: $150 - This includes all butionneires, bouquets, church decorations, and centerpieces. Michaels has some INCREDIBLE fake flowers that are easily arranged the way you want with some hot glue

    Photographer: $3600

    Transportation: $800 + tax & gratuity

    DJ: $500 - all night, including cocktail hour, dinner, and dance

    Ceremony Location: $650 (after refundable 250 damage deposit)

    Cake: about $650

    Invitations: $100 for 200 invitations and envelopes

    Honeymoon: $1500
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  • kamiawikamiawi
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    oops, sorry typo above (I hope I know how to add). We'll have $9,000 left :)
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  • PaddyBPaddyB
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    DJ/plus jazz trio for ceremony- $1200
    Flowers (ceremony, reception etc) $1300
    dress $1050 plus $140 for alterations -accessories: $125
    cake: approx. $650
    photagrapher: $1000
    hair/make up: $120
    invites and save the dates (including postage) $900

    HTH
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  • graysquirrelgraysquirrel member
    2500 Comments 5 Love Its Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    If you want to know if your budget is doable, I'd say a big old H*LL YEAH! We spent something like $8000 for our wedding and nobody was able to tell, not even DH's fancy pants rich relatives.

    Photography-- $500
    Videography-- free done by BIL and our camera
    Flowers: $400-- DIY from Sams Club
    Favors-- less than $1 each-- sandalwood fans, DIY tile coasters
    Invitations-- $0.80 each-- DIY Michaels kits
    DJ-- $300 Neon Express
    Cake-- $250ish-- Grandma's Bakery
    Hair: less than $70 at Fantastic Sams
    Makeup: DIY +cost of product
    Dress: $800 at Unique Bridal
    Food: $17 per plate, J&K catering (awesome buffet)
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