The challenge: plan a wedding for >150 guests...and spend as close to $10,000 as possible!
Breakdown of our budget: Ceremony - $305.00 Officiant fee - $200.00 Marriage license - $105.00 Reception - $4800.00 Venue rental - $1200.00 Food and service - $2500.00 Beverages - $800.00 Cake/desserts - $300.00 Attire/Beauty - $1185.00 Gown - $800.00 Alterations - $200.00 Headpiece/veil - $35.00 Shoes - $75.00 Hair - $75.00 Flowers/Decor - $700.00 Bouquets, boutonnieres, and corsages - $250.00 Ceremony/reception decorations and centerpieces - $450.00 Music - $250.00 DJ - $250.00 Photography - $2000.00 Photographer - $2000.00 Stationary - $160.00 STDs - $30.00 Invitations and RSVP cards - $100.00 Thank You cards - $30.00 Lodging - $200.00 Bride/groom hotel room - $200.00 Gifts - $400.00 Attendant gifts - $200.00 Favors - $100.00 Parent gifts - $100.00 TOTAL = $10,000.00 |
We ended up having approximately 95 guests attend out wedding. We did go a bit over the budget, but I think that's pretty good considering there were a few unexpected expenses (such as a DJ). Our wedding was beautiful and I'm so proud of us for doing it on our own!
Breakdown of what we actually spent: (green = under budget, red = over budget) Ceremony - $505.00 ($200.00) Officiant fee - $400.00 Marriage license - $105.00 Reception - $4252.18 ($547.82) Venue rental - $1300.00 Food and service - $2187.80 Beverages - $386.18 Cake/desserts - $278.20 Bartender - $100.00 Attire/Beauty - $1221.00 ($36.00) Gown - $615.00 Alterations - $220.00 Headpiece/veil - $14.10 Sash* - $68.00 Shoes - $23.90 Jewelry* - $30.00 Hair trial* - $60.00 Hair - $60.00 Nails - $65.00 (estimated) Bridesmaids headpieces/jewelry* - $65.00 Flowers/Decor - $965.62 ($265.62) Bouquets - $340.26 Boutonnieres and corsages - $33.96 Ceremony/reception decorations and centerpieces - $591.42 Music - $600.00 ($350.00) DJ - $600.00 Photography - $1885.18 ($114.82) Photographer - $1885.18 Stationary - $493.06 ($333.06) STDs - $10.06 Invitations and RSVP cards - $229.39 Thank You cards - $11.61 Postage* - $45.00 for STDs, $65.00 for invites, $32.00 for RSVP postcards: $142.00 total Programs - $100 (approx.) Lodging - $218.00 ($18.00) Bride/groom hotel room - $218.00 (2 nights) Gifts - $130.00 ($270.00) Attendant gifts - $130.00 Parents gifts - ? (We will be making each set of parents a photo book after we get our professional prints back.) Tips - $120.00 Servers - $80.00 DJ - $40.00 TOTAL = $10,390.04 ($390.04) * These are things I did not initially budget for (or actually forgot to budget for entirely). Whoops! |