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Realistic wedding budget

erynhopekberynhopekb
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in Hawaii
I don't know about the rest of you but I hate thinking about the budget for my wedding. I hated it even more when I read that the place I wanted was $2,000 for a pavillion for 4 hours.  So what is a realistic budget for a wedding in Hawaii? For those of you getting married on Oahu, are you using the site's package or just building your own?
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Re: Realistic wedding budget

  • cryssvcryssv member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    It really depends on what you want included in your wedding and how many guests you have.

    We're not having a formal reception in HI and my guest list is only about 20 people including ourselves. After the ceremony we are having a casual get together at our condo with a champagne toast and food (TBD - but will all be prepped the day before with the help of our family). We opted for a basic beach wedding package (2hrs photography + extra prints and disc, officiant, bouquet, lei's, (we've added some extra florals) permit, license, and coordinator). All together without travel costs or attire/rings our total cost will come in around $1,500.
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  • MrsNicole&Brian808MrsNicole&Brian808
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    There are so many factors to consider.  If you are local and having a 300-guest wedding, you're budget will differ from someone having a 30-guest destination wedding.  Wedding packages through venues and planning companies are convenient, but there is often less room for price negotiation and customization.

    Our ceremony venue offered packages and a la carte options, but I decided I could save some money by just renting the venue and finding my own vendors.  Our ceremony venue was a bit pricey and one of my "must-haves", but that just meant I needed to save money and DIY in other areas.

    What place are you looking into?  Is it a ceremony and reception venue?  Or just a ceremony venue?
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  • AKWinterBrideAKWinterBride member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    NIkki - I am getting married in Maui with about 60 people and our budget is hitting right around 15K.  It can definitely be done, but resorts tend to seem really expensive to me.  We are getting married at a private estate and bringing everyone in, which is still expensive, but I have much more flexibility than I would have if I had gone with a resort.  The resorts are gorgeous and great for pictures, but pricey!  PM if you want any budgetary info. 
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  • destiny1108destiny1108 member
    Sixth Anniversary 100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    We ended up with about 80 guests and spent a litte over $30K including the cost of full service WC, tent, tables, chairs, flowers, etc. etc.   If we had done it on our own I think we would have hit closer to $36K.
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  • twie3230twie3230
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hey Nikki,

    We're looking at ~50ppl in Maui 2012 and hoping to keep it sub20K. We originally looked at resorts, but I found it to be very pricey and I wasn't keen on having hotel guests in the background (or us in their background, I guess!). We ended up deciding on a private estate and are getting in vendors. It does make me stop and catch my breath when I think about what we are outlaying for one celebration. I guess that since it's a destination wedding the party will be over 3 days instead of one this makes it a little better. Yay, Hawaii!

    Ps, AKWinterBride - we have chosen Cherise as our coordinator and I'm so excited. Your bio was such a help, thanks!
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  • sparklegirl84sparklegirl84
    500 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I too couldn't see spending $2k for 4 hours on a venue, so we found a house on vrbo for about $2k for 4 nights, where we can get married and have a reception. We're thinking we'll have about 30 people. Our rentals and food aren't bad at all (about $1k) and our total budget is somewhere around 8k probably. (Not including rings).
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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    Hi!
    Hope this helps. We're having our wedding at the Moana Surfrider, 60 guests at 26k. We originally thought it would be 80 and I had estimates at Moana for $28k, Lanikuhonua $28k, and Halekulani $23k. It was about the same cost for a private estate and the beach wedding because of all the rentals we would have to bring in. At a hotel they have everything. But we're also having a wedding planner which is an additional 3k.

    For us the cost per person was actually higher than what we'd pay in Los Angeles but since we're doing it as adestination we think we're going to have half the guests. It also helps that we can invite everyone we're "supposed to" and then not feel bad when that can't come.

    Good luck
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  • AKWinterBrideAKWinterBride member
    Knottie Warrior 1000 Comments Combo Breaker
    edited December 2011
    Oh yay Twie!!  You will really like working with Cherise, I can't wait for next month when we will have our final numbers and can really finalize everything!!  Let me know if you'd like information on anything at all!
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  • WinstonsGirlWinstonsGirl member
    Knottie Warrior 2500 Comments 500 Love Its 5 Answers
    edited December 2011
    Hey Tin2ca, 
       What exactly are you having the Moana do??  Which rooms, venues and food etc??  Did you use their packages, or are you bringing in outside people??  We're looking at the Moana for next March, and having a number in our heads would be fantastic to help us make some decisions and get started.  Thanks

    Kendra

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  • erynhopekberynhopekb
    First Comment
    edited December 2011
    Between our two families we're looking to send about 150 invites. I figure about 80% of them will actually make it.  My FI and I are local and so is 1 bridesmaid. I think we'll look into the estate idea, that way we can have the wedding and reception all in the same place.  I was really hopeing to do this for about 10K but maybe 15K is more realistic. Thanks everyone for your input and suggestions!
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  • aliciacharliealiciacharlie member
    10 Comments
    edited December 2011
    I'm late to the game, but here's my two cents... I have about 80 guests, half from HI the other half from all over.  Fiance and I live in Cali, though, so it's difficult to do all the planning myself.  My family has been helping out a lot as have my friends back home.  We're looking at spending $26k, but we are having our wedding at a private estate on the North Shore.  It seems everything costs more if you have it there since everyone charges a travel fee.  I'm also factoring in our own accommodations and rental cars and all that.  We'll see what the final budget comes out to, but we're pretty close right now.
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  • motoLynmotoLyn member
    2500 Comments Fourth Anniversary 100 Love Its Name Dropper
    edited December 2011
    AKwinterbride YGPM

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  • [Deleted User][Deleted User] member
    100 Comments
    edited December 2011
    kje_ - Kendra, Sorry I didn't look back at this post again and missed your message. Just sent you a private message!
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