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Total wedding cost?

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MsDenuninani Posts : 3,963 Registered: 3/16/07
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 4:49 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

Well, I hesitate to say, but my wedding in southeastern Michigan for about 135 guests was around $37,000. But there were a few major extravagant expenses -- I spent $9,000 just on my wedding dress and the photographer alone. I think our reception expenses were around 15,000. We also spent around $3,000 on flowers and about $2500 on a wedding planner. Now, come to think of it, I'm not entirely sure where the rest of the money went, but I remember having a spreadsheet and totaling things up and thinking No way is it that much! and then totalling it again and going, Wow, I guess it is.

Like others have said, figure out how much you want to spend, and then plan and save for it. Our wedding budget was originally around $18,000 because that's how much I had in savings. But then my parents unexpectedly gave us money, so our budget went up.

Tanis, I think you win, hands down, for largest expenditure per guest!

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MsDenuninani Posts : 3,963 Registered: 3/16/07
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 4:51 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

Well, I hesitate to say, but my wedding in southeastern Michigan for about 135 guests was around $37,000. But there were a few major extravagant expenses -- I spent $9,000 just on my wedding dress and the photographer alone. I think our reception expenses were around 15,000. We also spent around $3,000 on flowers and about $2500 on a wedding planner. Now, come to think of it, I'm not entirely sure where the rest of the money went, but I remember having a spreadsheet and totaling things up and thinking No way is it that much! and then totalling it again and going, Wow, I guess it is.

Like others have said, figure out how much you want to spend, and then plan and save for it. Our wedding budget was originally around $18,000 because that's how much I had in savings. But then my parents unexpectedly gave us money, so our budget went up.

Tanis, I think you win, hands down, for largest expenditure per guest!

__________________________________________

"I'd hate to advocate drugs, alcohol, or insanity, but they've always worked for me." Hunter S. Thompson

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TanisJ Posts : 2,673 Registered: 4/25/07
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 4:57 PM Go to message in response to: MsDenuninani

Thanks for the award MsD. I guess thats why I get very offended when I hear someone referring to our vow renewal/fake wedding as a gift grabbing. Very poor ROI but worth every penny :)

august_2008 , south_carolina
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cyndi33 Posts : 2,585 Registered: 1/3/07
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 6:05 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

Just wondering if they are paying? Seems kind of an intrusive question if they aren't.

Anyway, we spent 14,000 and that included 4,000 on the honeymoon. We were careful with the budget and had about 40 guests. Some costs were higher as our attendants were our kids so we picked up all the costs of tuxes/dresses/travel, etc for them.

It also depends where you are at regionally, for comparison, we are in the denver, co area. We splurged on our photographer and the honeymoon we chose, or he chose, he planned it all as a surprise. The photographer was mid range price wise but seemed like a splurge to us.

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march_2007 , colorado , washington_state , june_2011
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AJLM Posts : 49 Registered: 11/18/08
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 7:00 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

We're still planning but our budget is around 15K for 120 people in Minnesota but as everyone said it varies drastically by location. Originally we were planning a Maryland wedding for 80 - 100 with expected costs around $30,000 not counting the honeymoon...

Edited by: AJLM on Aug 20, 2009 7:01 PM

june_2011 , washington_state , minnesota , july_2010
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jkbride Posts : 19 Registered: 2/11/09
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 7:17 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

We spent 24K for a 200 people wedding in Los Angeles. I think this is an avg range in the area.
I'm glad that we didn't over-budget during the wedding planning (our original budget was 30K). I setup a budget planning list after engagement. And I set a price range on each category and make sure to stick with the plan all the time. I originally want to have a band at reception, after getting some unbelivable quote from several vendors, I talked to some girlfriends and asked for their opinion. I asked them like "do you think all my guests will appreciate more if I have a pro-band at the reception than a DJ?" All my girlfriends answered me "I don't really care if you have a pro-band or just a DJ...as long as you have music at the reception". So, I saved 2K and only hired a DJ for the reception for like $650. I think one thing we brides really need to learn in the wedding planning is "negotiation" If something is really matter to you, then do some search and find the vendor within your price range and also proivde good service.
I really wanted to have special lighting at the reception, and most of the vendors quote me over $3K for custom gobo design, some uplights and spotlight on cake table, etc. I was so disappointed at the moment, because my FI (now husband) won't be agreed to spent another $3K for special lighting. So, one night I talked to my FI and said "what if I can get a discount and push the price down to 1.5K?" and he was like "Sure, if you can get it done for like 1.5K" The next day I sent a couple of emails to those lighting vendors and told them the quote was out of my price range and I asked them "what they can do for me for the price of 1.5K" Luckily, one of the vendor called me right away and schedule for an interview. Remember you have your right to negotiate, and it never hurt to ask for a discount. What is the worst scenario it could happen, right? If the vendor willing to work with you, that's great...if not, you can always find someone else. Don't be stress. Good Luck on your planning :)

jkbride

www.myweddingconcept.com

june_2011 , washington_state
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cldeross Posts : 113 Registered: 6/24/09
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 20, 2009 8:23 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

We are spending 25K for our wedding and having maybe 60-70 guests.

june_2011 , april_2011 , washington_state , las_vegas_3368
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Aurora1974 Posts : 43 Registered: 3/3/08
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 6:06 AM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

We budgeted $9000 but in the end we will have spent around 10. This is with my mother buying my dress and pew bows (which is all they could help with). This would have added another thousand to our total spend. I also made our invitations which saved us a LOT. We don't have all the responses yet but we're planning on having 70-80 people. We are right next to the University of Michigan so it was very difficult to find what we wanted for our budget. We are not having a limo, just having a town car pick us up at the church and drop us at the reception. The only flowers we are having are three bouquets, four boutonniers (sp?), and two corsages. We had a lot of extras with our reception site so that helped out a lot. It's a lot of compromise and research to find what will make things cost effective for you. I suggest really looking at the different parts of the wedding and figure out what is the most important to you and what you don't care as much about. Skimp or altogether skip the things you don't care as much about (like our limo).
Good luck!!!

june_2011 , michigan , october_2009 , washington_state
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Aurora1974 Posts : 43 Registered: 3/3/08
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 6:06 AM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

We budgeted $9000 but in the end we will have spent around 10. This is with my mother buying my dress and pew bows (which is all they could help with). This would have added another thousand to our total spend. I also made our invitations which saved us a LOT. We don't have all the responses yet but we're planning on having 70-80 people. We are right next to the University of Michigan so it was very difficult to find what we wanted for our budget. We are not having a limo, just having a town car pick us up at the church and drop us at the reception. The only flowers we are having are three bouquets, four boutonniers (sp?), and two corsages. We had a lot of extras with our reception site so that helped out a lot. It's a lot of compromise and research to find what will make things cost effective for you. I suggest really looking at the different parts of the wedding and figure out what is the most important to you and what you don't care as much about. Skimp or altogether skip the things you don't care as much about (like our limo).
Good luck!!!

june_2011 , michigan , october_2009 , washington_state
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CoutureBride27 Posts : 130 Registered: 5/5/09
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 6:49 AM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

Hi, well our wedding so far is costing us ZAR 135 000.00, it's approx. ZAR 8.00 for 1 dollar, so would be 16 875.00 US dollars. I'm estimating by the time it's our wedding which is 30 January 2010, we would have spent about ZAR 250 000.00 which is 31 250.00 US dollars.

Our wedding is quite extravagant, no expenses spared, I thank God for my wonderful family everyday and know how extremely Blessed I am to be able to have the wedding of my dreams.
:)

Cherish all your happy moments:  they make a fine cushion for old age.

**Christopher Morley**

june_2011 , january_2010 , washington_state
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Lilmisssouthern... Posts : 658 Registered: 8/12/08
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 9:14 AM Go to message in response to: MsDenuninani

Our has cost about $20,000 for $140.

Our reception venue and ceremony are all in the same place. The cost per head was $73 for adults and $26 for the children. It included the open bar. That ran us about $13,000. Our cake is about $600. The Dj. is $600. The photographer is my aunt and we are paying her $500. Our honeymoon is about $1400. The rings were about $300. favors $300 for the packaging, candy, and containers for the buffet. Gifts ran us about $200. My dress cost me about $700 with alterations. My shoes $24. The tux for my brother and my son $210. And there were other costs but I have completely drawn a blank... I have a spread sheet but I am not going to that right now...

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virginia , october_2009
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AmandaJ0 Posts : 34 Registered: 3/1/09
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 10:24 AM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

My wedding cost is definately not for everyone, but I am a very hands on bride. I spend 2 hours everyday on the Internet looking for deals and ideas. I am a major DIY bride so my total cost will be under $3,000. 73 people have been invited. Here is a partial break down.
Wedding dress-$600 (Moonlight Bridal)
Rings-$1,000
Tuxedo for groom and my son-$375 (Men's Wearhouse)
Maid of Honor dress-$50 (we bought last seasons dress right off the rack!)
Cupcakes-$20 ( my sister and I are making them ourselves)
Photography-$100 ( my brother is taking the pictures for us)
Officiant-$100
Wedding site for ceremony and reception-$50 because I am using my church
Hair and make-up-$50
Shoes-$3 flipflops!
Flowers-$100 (flowerbuds.com)
bouinneriers-$7 for 3. I am making them myself.
Inivitations- $20 DIY kit from Micheals. (It took my fiance 3 days to complete them but they look great. People actually called us and asked where we bought them. How proud to say we did them ourselves!)
Food-GFS around $300
Sound-free ( i pod reception which my other brother will be in charge of)
Honeymoon hotel- $200 (Detriot)
The wedding itself is not very important to me. Plus, I am paying for the wedding all on my own and refuse to start my married life deep in debt! I have paid cash for everything and am proud of what I have accomplished. It is what comes after the wedding that means the most! My happily ever after!

june_2011 , michigan , washington_state , september_2009
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RachelRamirez1259 Posts : 12 Registered: 5/13/09
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 21, 2009 9:57 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

Hey!!! Like a lot of other people said... it depends on where you are getting married. I went to the website www.costofwedding.com. If you just enter your zip code it tells you the average people spend in your area! Pretty cool! Hope that helps! Good luck with your wedding plans! :)

june_2011 , nebraska , december_2009 , washington_state
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NKGiordano Posts : 57 Registered: 5/9/09
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 22, 2009 1:06 AM Go to message in response to: RachelRamirez1259

We dont technically have a budget as it is no expenses spared. Dream wedding kind of thing.

But, we are hoping to keep it under atleast 400K.

Venue alone is a significant amount of money. Guest list of 500-600 people. We are working it out right now!

But, I am having a central NY wedding. At the Plaza.


Natassia and Kris

July 16, 2011

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june_2011 , nebraska , july_2011 , december_2009 , new_york , washington_state
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headoverheels8 Posts : 80 Registered: 11/17/07
Re: Total wedding cost?
Posted: Aug 22, 2009 12:14 PM Go to message in response to: MrsNB2B

$4000 for 150 people. Outdoor ceremony and reception venue that is owned by FH family. But I have a lot of help. My parents paid for my wedding dress as a wedding present. My parent's best friend from when I was little is a caterer so she'll make my cake and food for just the price of her flight to the location and the cost of supplies, I'm ordering my flowers wholesale and make my arrangements myself . I saved about $500 making my own invites and programs (if i were to buy ones that look similiar to the ones I made). I'm studying interior design and so I'm good at making things myself or finding ways to cut corners and cost.

june_2011 , washington_state
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