Another nosey question

[TooPatient]

There is a thread in LIW that has left me really thinking. (I''m a LIW)

Someone asked if any LIWs had started saving for their weddings.


How much is everything costing? (excluding honeymoon) If you''re comfortable sharing ballpark numbers.


I''m just curious to see what some real numbers are.

 

[Gleam]

"The average cost of a wedding drops another 14% from $19,212 in Q1/2009 to $16,546 in Q2/2009." - Source

I don''t know if that helps?

 

[MagsyMay]

I think there are some recent threads with people quoting approximate wedding prices, but I can''t figure out how to link to them

I''d say the norm in my area (including my own in about 10 months) for a Chicago or nice Chicago suburb wedding with between 100-175 guests is between $25-45K. Obviously it can be done for less and depends largely on your geographic area, tastes, size of guest list, etc. Having researched a jillion venues in the area before picking ours, that''s about what the numbers added up to.

 

[elrohwen]

My whole wedding was around $23k in the NY/NJ/CT region. This includes rehearsal dinner, dress, and absolutely everything wedding related except the honeymoon.

We didn't start saving anything until after we were engaged (one reason I wanted at least a year from engagement to wedding). My parents gave us a little less than half that amount and we saved the rest through the year.

ETA: We had about 75 guests.

 

[FrekeChild]

Good question. I''m trying to keep it below $14k for a DW to Las Vegas in January for around 35 (invited) peeps. For my choices for food, it is probably costing about $120 per person.

Breakdown of budget:
Ceremony package: $3,500
Dinner/Reception: $3,500
Travel/accommodations: $1,500
Photographer: $1,100
Dress/hair/undergarments/MOH stuff: $2,000

And the rest is miscellaneous stuff...

 

[sunnyd]

We''re just under $25K all in - rings, HM (both mini and long). Aye carumba! Seattle, 107 guests.

 

[february2003bride]

Ours was $11K in 2003, Washington, DC area., 70 guests.

 

[that_someone_special]

I'm shooting for $10k or less. Not including rings. About 40 guests.

Vegas 2010.

 

[Octavia]

My wedding, earlier this month, was in the Philly suburbs and there were ~100 guests. Total was in the $25K range, including rings but not honeymoon (since we''re delaying the HM and still aren''t sure where we''re going, and when).

 

[Clairitek]

I''ve detailed this before, so forgive me if I don''t recall the figures correctly.

35 guests, Newport, Rhode Island

Bride attire (silk Marissa gown bought in discount at Pearl''s Place, freaking expensive alterations, Nicole Miller post reception dress): $1900
Photographer (high res files on DVD, unlimited time, ~350-400 proof prints): $2300
Reception (dinner reception with open bar and 4 course meal): $5500
Church: $450
Favors, flowers, stationary suite (entirely DIY, bought flowers from wholesale and assembled bouquets on our own, gave away homegrown honey for favors, did invites DIY): $600
Rehearsal dinner (at parents house, basically did take out seafood): $300
Cake: $275 (tiny 3 tiered cake for 40 people)

My friend had a wedding for ~150 guests in the Twin Cities in Oct of 2007 and her tally was around $25K I believe. Another friend got married a few weeks ago in Western CT and I am almost afraid to ask about the cost... I''m guessing around $40-45K for ~130 people. They did have a live band and a fairly costly photographer.

 

[ladypirate]

We''re looking at around 15K for everything except honeymoon (haven''t budgeted that yet). 100 guests. We were hoping to keep it under 10, but then we started seeing what everything cost. If it helps, our 2 biggest expenses are the food & drink (approximately $75 per person) and photography (around $2500). And there is our $10K budget right there. Other big costs include my dress (around $1100), FI''s suit (around $700), flowers (around $700 without centerpieces, which my mom is doing) and cake ($550 plus $75 delivery fee). The rest is just little stuff that adds up.

Budget stuff is just depressing. My mom got on my case the other day about spending that much on 1 day ("think about all the things you could do with that money!") and I broke down in tears because we are seriously being very budget conscious (getting married somewhere that doesn''t charge a site rental fee, iPod reception, etc.). Weddings are just really expensive.

 

[kama_s]

We spent around 35K for a 70 person wedding at a winery in Niagara-on-the-lake (Canada), not including honeymoon.

 

[redfaerythinker]

My budget is 30 thousand.
32 guests
Four Seasons Hotel - Atlanta

Here''s hoping that we''ll come in under budget!

 

[DivaDiamond007]

I got married in 2005 and our wedding cost ~$10K - ~$12K for 300 people.

We had a Catholic Mass for the ceremony and a huge party at a local American Legion Post for the reception. Plenty of food, booze and dancing for all. We did all roses for the ceremony and used carnations at the reception. My mom and some of her friends/relatives decorated the hall and our church is pretty on it''s own. We got 50% off of our invitations since my BIL''s family owns a printing company and we went easy on everthing else to keep it affordable.

 

[KimberlyH]

Under $10,000 for 28 guests at a small resort in San Diego County in 2006, not incuding rings and honemoon.

 

[Kim N]

$14.5K for 91 people including ourselves, not including rings or honeymoon. SF Bay Area.

 

[Iowa Lizzy]

Our budget is between 25K-30K. Rings and HM not included.

ETA: Guest list around 200; taking place in Iowa.

 

[sba771]

60-80k for 200 in Philadelphia. Things aren''t 100% final so I am trying to get to the lower end of that range as we finalize stuff.

 

[laughwithme]

200 people in KC. Wedding will be around $25-30k, not including honeymoon.

Big expenses:

Church - 1,200
Country club - full buffet, open bar, etc - 12,000
Dress - 1,000
Photog - 3,500
DJ - 1,500
Florist - 1,000
Cake - 500
Rings - 600
Invites - 400
BP Gifts - 400
Plus a whole ton of small stuff.

Also, not sure what rehearsal will cost, but I''d imagine FI''s parents will drop a thousand bucks + on it.

 

[purselover]

We haven''t finalized everything but so far we must''ve spent almost $30k and it will probably come out closer to $35k for 100 people in the Hudson Valley region. Some expenses so far include:

reception food/drink: ~ $12,000
photographer: ~$7,000
rings: $2,825
string quartet: $2250
invitations: $1,000
favors ~ $800
shoes: just under $800
wrap, headbands, necklace: $475
dress: $425
dj: $425
hair/makeup: ~$400
JOP fee: $200
reception dress: $200
chapel: free!

gosh weddings are pricey

 

[NewEnglandLady]

We had a small 35-person wedding and the total was $14,159. I don't have the honeymoon spreadsheet in front of me, but it was around $10K, so the total was around $25K.

We knew the expenses were coming up and definitely budgeted for them--with the ring, wedding and honeymoon all within the year, we didn't want to feel spread too thin financially or take any money away from our house downpayment account, so we planned for it.

 

[PilsnPinkysMom]

We''re somewhere between 25 and 33k (I don''t want to know specifics anymore!!) including rings (roughly 4k) and a 5 night honeymoon in Kauai. Our wedding is for roughly 150-155 guests.

That cost includes: all paper products and postage, rings, h-moon, photog, DJ, all food, open bar, ceremony fees, officiant gift (an uncle), hair for all bridesmaids and bride, bridal party gifts, favors, WAY too many plane tickets (8!!), flowers, shuttle service for guests, hotel rooms, etc, etc.

It would have been easy to save a TON of money, but we fell for too many high-end vendors and services. If we could do it again, we''d probably pass on most of them, BUT I think they''ll only add to the fun and enjoyment of our day (so long as I don''t think about their invoices!!!)

 

[stephbolt]

Our goal budget is 20K.

Right now we are sticking close to it, but that really depends on (a) how many people end up coming - with just around half that budget food/drink/service it could make a big difference and (b) how much flowers end up costing - I''ve been putting this decision off and if I''m way underestimating the cost it could push us over budget

The 20K total doesn''t include rings, grooms attire, or honeymoon.

We are inviting 154 in maryland about 45 min from baltimore/DC.

 

[charbie]

~$13k on 170 guests. That''s everything- rings, honeymoon, etc.

this is in columbus, ohio. i''m sure i could have found ways to make it more expensive, but i got everything i wanted.

 

[Cupcake*Muffin]

$19k for a beach wedding on Edisto Island, SC, with a week''s worth of food and a rental house for us and the bridal party and their guests. Includes honeymooon, wedding rings were free---long story. About 75 guests.

 

[Italiahaircolor]

I think this is really hard question...

People can throw a great wedding for a couple grand and others spend well over 100k. It totally depends on the couple and what their means are.

 

[vc10um]

Date: 10/23/2009 8:17:40 AM
Author: laughwithme
200 people in KC. Wedding will be around $25-30k, not including honeymoon.


Big expenses:


Church - 1,200

Country club - full buffet, open bar, etc - 12,000

Dress - 1,000

Photog - 3,500

DJ - 1,500

Florist - 1,000

Cake - 500

Rings - 600

Invites - 400

BP Gifts - 400

Plus a whole ton of small stuff.


Also, not sure what rehearsal will cost, but I''d imagine FI''s parents will drop a thousand bucks + on it.

((being threadjack))...laughwithme...do you mean Kansas City??? If so, I might have some questions for you. My BF has officially asked my mom for permission, so an engagement will hopefully be coming soon, but we''ve already talked about getting married in Kansas City, which is his hometown. I''ve been there once, and we never really went into the city at all. So I have a lot of looking around to do, and especially for things like cakes and florists, recommendations would be awesome.

((end threadjack))

 

[violet3]

Well, mine is REALLY inexpensive compared to most. We have a very small budget to work with, so it is what it is. FI happens to be in the food and beverage industry, so we are getting the food/alcohol at cost, which is huge.

I suspect total, it will be around $7k for about 150 people....i think the breakdown is like this:
church: $1,000
dress: $179
cake: free - my bridesmaid is also a pastry chef!
DJ - $500
Photgrapher: $1,000
Food/Alcohol - $3800
flowers: $500

 

[cindygenit]

My wedding cost has balooned to 15k AUD not including honeymoon for 65 guests. WTH?

Dress: 500
Tiara: 250
Rings: 3000
Photog: 1200
Food (including pre-dinner canapes)+Alco+DJ+Set up of Venue: 7800
Flowers: 1280
BM Dresses: 500 (custom made in Indo)
Cake: 800
Invites: 100 (ditto)
Favours: 150-250
Celebrant: 200

AAAAAAGHHHHHH!!!

Ok i'm sure i left out some details, but lets not think about those right now... Calm Cindy... Calm....

 

[joelly]

My budget is not final final yet but here is the big picture:
Wedding ceremony (immediate family only): $1,000
Wedding reception dinner for 200 ppl: $4,000
Dress/alterations/tiara/veil/shoes/bra/crinolines: $1,200
wedding ring: $1,000 or less

All others not mention here is being taken care of by the member of his family.