Aa
OT how much did your wedding cost?
So I am now going to be officially engaged! I have started looking into certain things having to do with a wedding and have realized...but pretty much already knew, its expensive! I am just asking for a ballpark of how much your wedding costed you/the host! My mom told me that hers only costed about $2000 and thats because she and her mom did pretty much everything themselves. They did the bouquets, the maid of honors dress, the food, the decorations, the gifts. Everything except for her dress, the place rental, the dj, and the cake! And it was also 21 years ago! so I imagine prices have gone up since then...and I don't want to put that much of my own elbow grease into it unless I have to...I googled the average price of a wedding in my area and it came back with 20-35 grand! Thats helpful...
So if you don't mind, just some hints about how much everything costs would be wonderful! Or if you have any suggestions on how to cut back on cost..or recommend any services ...you would be awesome! Thanks ladies!
So if you don't mind, just some hints about how much everything costs would be wonderful! Or if you have any suggestions on how to cut back on cost..or recommend any services ...you would be awesome! Thanks ladies!
Yeah unfortunately I don't think my parents can afford a wedding for me...maybe my grandparents and parents put together...but I don't want to put them out at all so I want to help out as much as I can. I don't have a big enough backyard to have it in so thats out of the question...Well I could have it in my grandparents backyard but thats basically a dirt field...not too big but probably big enough...*shrugs* i don't know...I still have my sights set on one place and hopefully it wont cost an arm and a leg!
I am also engaged and my parents are luckily paying for absolutely everything. They didn't set a limit but my dress was over $1000 and the site is $6000 for 100 people and $14 a person after that. We are having 200-250 people and that doesn't include food. So I'm sure it will be close to $20,000 if not more. You could get married in the back yard and keep it quick and simple that is pretty much the only way to cut costs. lol. The wedding cake is going to be like $500 and we have expensive flowers (can't help it they are my favorite) but my aunt will arange them. It's going to be so expensive. I think it's great that the parents usually pay for the daughters wedding because my brother is getting married before I am (engaged after I was, don't even get me started. lol) and his fiances parents aren't paying for much so looks like my brother has to pay for everything and my parents already told him its not their job to pay for them too. lol
I got married 2 and a half years ago and was on a tight budget. We spent a little under 5 grand for a nice wedding and awsome reception for about 80 guests. For the videographer, we hired a young guy who hadn't gone to video school or whatever, but did it professionally (we first veiwed his work before hiring him). This saved hundreds of dollars! We had one person do the catering and decorating for the reception. Rather than rent some items, we bought them at arts and crafts stores: such as fake rose petals and stuff. The food was finger foods and fruit, but the set up was so beautiful it looked like it cost a bundle. I had a lady do our wedding cake who made cakes as a side job. She simply took the pic of the cake I wanted and duplicated it. This saved us a lot of moola! The photographer is what probably cost us the most. Finally, we had the ceremony at my home church, so there was no rental fee. The reception was held at a neighborhood club house overlooking the lake I grew up on. We also had someone we knew dj (he use to do it professionally). So basically if you know people who have connections, make them! A wonderful wedding doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg! You just have to hunt for the deals.
WE GOT MARRIED 2 YRS AGO...I HAD ABOUT 500 GUESTS PLUS 12 BRIDES MAID AND 12 GROOMS MEN...SO IT WAS KIND OF A LOT....I DONT KNOW IF YOU READY WITH EVERYTHING AND I MEAN EVERYTHING HONEYMOON TO HAWAII FOR 2 WEEKS ALSO....IT CAME TO ABOUT......$90,000.00 LOL WHICH OUR PARENTS PAID FOR EVERYTHING IN HALF! GOOD LUCK!
we are currently planning our wedding!! we had a set date of may 2009 well since we found out we are again pregnant we are going to push it back till sept 09. my dad is paying for most the wedding!! my fiances family is also helping!!! we are not 100% sure of where we are gonna go on a honeymoon but thats going to cost us the most, i'm sure!
as a few of you said do not skimp on the photographer.. thats so true. i have a gf who did and she was def upset about that. he lost photos and she is still upset to this day about that, which who wouldn't be. i got my dress for 1700.00, i couldn't take my eyes off it. first dress i saw walking in and the first one i tried on and the one i got... we have soooo much to do yet and its def a stressful thing. the invitations are not a cheap thing... theres just soooo much left to do for us. when we finalize the wedding i'll give you a complete figure BUT my budget is 25,000!! i hope to not go and spend that much bc i would def like to have some saved for the hmoon!!!
as a few of you said do not skimp on the photographer.. thats so true. i have a gf who did and she was def upset about that. he lost photos and she is still upset to this day about that, which who wouldn't be. i got my dress for 1700.00, i couldn't take my eyes off it. first dress i saw walking in and the first one i tried on and the one i got... we have soooo much to do yet and its def a stressful thing. the invitations are not a cheap thing... theres just soooo much left to do for us. when we finalize the wedding i'll give you a complete figure BUT my budget is 25,000!! i hope to not go and spend that much bc i would def like to have some saved for the hmoon!!!
I just got married in June and we spent about $8,000 on a 30 person wedding in Carmel, Ca. It was so beautiful! Don't skimp on the photographer.
We could have done a bigger wedding, but we spent 13,000 on the honeymoon also a great idea! Spend your money on the honeymoon it lasts longer.
We could have done a bigger wedding, but we spent 13,000 on the honeymoon also a great idea! Spend your money on the honeymoon it lasts longer.
oh yeah, we had a cash bar. and we rented the upstairs of a hockey stadium since it was june there was no ice in and it cost us just $200. my maid of honor paid for her own dress. and my mom made the cake---i automatically assumed she would (she has in the past as a hobby) but she was shocked when i asked her. It was just cake mixs (i thinks she adds pudding) and people commmented how good it was (see my profile pic)
Hey Ash its not like I am a photographer. I know NOTHING about cameras, except to aim and click the button...I am no pro at it..
I am so excited to get home and talk to df about all my discoveries today! lol I feel I may be bombarding him though so I better hold off. He hasn't even put the ring on my finger yet I mention the wedding to him every day! lol ...hey I am a girl!
I am so excited to get home and talk to df about all my discoveries today! lol I feel I may be bombarding him though so I better hold off. He hasn't even put the ring on my finger yet I mention the wedding to him every day! lol ...hey I am a girl!
Mine was about $2500. We did everything ourselves. I had invited about 220 people (180 replied yes, 150 showd). Instead of a sit down meal we did finger foods---veggies fruit meat trays, lots of different dips, sandwichwiches and wraps. we got married at 7pm so people weren't expecting a big meal. I got my dress for $100 at a bridal store, which was how i knew our wedding was meant to be. I even grew my own flowers.
DO NOT SKIMP on the pictures though. That was my big regret. We hired his cousin (a professional) who was doing it hor 1/2 price for us...it still cost $500, i was disappointed cause she didn't take the style that i wanted.
To me a wedding is about having friends and family there to celebrate your big day. we only had a couple of speeches and had soooo many compliments on everything about our wedding. In fact, now i hate going to a wedding with a big long sit down meal that's too formal, the wedding I enjoy are more casual and relaxed
DO NOT SKIMP on the pictures though. That was my big regret. We hired his cousin (a professional) who was doing it hor 1/2 price for us...it still cost $500, i was disappointed cause she didn't take the style that i wanted.
To me a wedding is about having friends and family there to celebrate your big day. we only had a couple of speeches and had soooo many compliments on everything about our wedding. In fact, now i hate going to a wedding with a big long sit down meal that's too formal, the wedding I enjoy are more casual and relaxed
Ahaha Hey I don't get fingers in the pictures! Plus with this big camera I have, which is a professional one, it's a little impossible to get finegrs in the way! AHAHAHA!!! I can't even reach the end of the lense with my hand holding the camera lol... SILLY! Ahaha
griggsy. Yeah that place sounds really nice. I think I will have a look at it right now. Its not too far either...You know the place where my cousin got married that I was telling yall about was on Gilbert..I think..it was really close to there. Let me look and I will tell you if its the place I am thinking of..
*laughs* thats the place! You are so smart! Thanks for finding it for me. Now I don't have to call my dumb cousin and ask him! (thats not very nice but it was his second wedding and I don't like the new wife! lol) That excites me so darn much! I owe you one!
Ashiepooh, you're welcome to come and do my photography and long as there's no fingers in the pictures! lol
Laura I will definately be PMing you! I would love to hear any suggestions!
*laughs* thats the place! You are so smart! Thanks for finding it for me. Now I don't have to call my dumb cousin and ask him! (thats not very nice but it was his second wedding and I don't like the new wife! lol) That excites me so darn much! I owe you one!
Ashiepooh, you're welcome to come and do my photography and long as there's no fingers in the pictures! lol
Laura I will definately be PMing you! I would love to hear any suggestions!
Caters are great but super expensive! I don't know where you live, but in Gilbert on Ray and Gilbert Rd, just south of the police station there is the Shenandoa Mill. It is the original mill that was located in Virgina and during the civil war it was the only mill that wasn't destroyed by the North because of it's beauty. It was purchased and brought here board by board and reconstructed. It is so beautiful! They have a great place to dance and get married. The link is shenandoa mill *******. All one word of course.
As for flowers I have tons of ideas. . . . We went to Costco and talked to the lady in charge of ordering the flowers. We told her what we wanted. They can't take pre-orders, and they can't hold them for you, but she ordered a lot of what we wanted, and we were there right when they opened. I had Red roses, and Orange Tulips. They were 2 dozen for $12.99.
We went to Greenbacks, or the dollar store and bought 25 huge vases and used those. We got fresh red apples and oranges from the farmers market and used those to fill the vases along with red marble looking rocks from Joanns or Michaels. You cut them up and just fill the vase with them, and then add water and you have a beautiful center piece.
We made our invitations. Ours were a lot of work but pretty cheap. We took 2 brown lunch bags and made a book out of them. SOOOOOO CUTE! My SIL does wedding invitations. I will ask her to email some of her work, and you can look at her work.
We went to the Batanical garden just east of Superior to get our engagment pics taken and it was beautiful!
We also had 6 months to our wedding so each week we would buy 3-4 sunday papers and get the 50% off coupon to Michaels and get the bigger decorations that were normally outrageous. You can go to different michaels so they don't get mad, or just keep going back. Joanns also has 40% off coupons. Get on their mailing list and they will send you awesome coupons!
As for flowers I have tons of ideas. . . . We went to Costco and talked to the lady in charge of ordering the flowers. We told her what we wanted. They can't take pre-orders, and they can't hold them for you, but she ordered a lot of what we wanted, and we were there right when they opened. I had Red roses, and Orange Tulips. They were 2 dozen for $12.99.
We went to Greenbacks, or the dollar store and bought 25 huge vases and used those. We got fresh red apples and oranges from the farmers market and used those to fill the vases along with red marble looking rocks from Joanns or Michaels. You cut them up and just fill the vase with them, and then add water and you have a beautiful center piece.
We made our invitations. Ours were a lot of work but pretty cheap. We took 2 brown lunch bags and made a book out of them. SOOOOOO CUTE! My SIL does wedding invitations. I will ask her to email some of her work, and you can look at her work.
We went to the Batanical garden just east of Superior to get our engagment pics taken and it was beautiful!
We also had 6 months to our wedding so each week we would buy 3-4 sunday papers and get the 50% off coupon to Michaels and get the bigger decorations that were normally outrageous. You can go to different michaels so they don't get mad, or just keep going back. Joanns also has 40% off coupons. Get on their mailing list and they will send you awesome coupons!
I was engaged 2 years ago and I think the cost depends on entirely what you do..I kept mine as inexpensive as I could for what I really wanted, and if it had taken place, the total cost would have been around 30K. I lost about half that in non refundable deposits.. My ex fiancee was sleeping w. our secretary.. I found our 2 months before our wedding on the night we were due to have our tasting (for teh menu items we had picked) at the yacht club.. Good times! UGGH> Oh well, ancient history! I have TONS of ideas for cutting costs but on depends on what YOU want.. PM me if you want to,,, =) And CONGRATS!! Despite of my HORRIBLE experience, I still love weddings!
I just want to say congrats!!!
Weddings can be expensive and inexpensive, it all depends on what you want. My best friend wedding was about 20,000. Besides the food buffet she had an open bar.(you no folks like free drinks).
My cousin got married at courthouse this june, went to vegas for her honeymoon and june 2009 will be having a reception which she said is only going to cost her no more than 2500 dollars.
Im also engaged and have been doing prices for the wedding i want. I want a cruise wedding and plan on buying the bridesmaides dresses and we are paying for our immediate family plane and boat fair. We will be able to get a group rate on airfair and the boat. Prices are ranging from 5000 dollars and up depending on the package you want, and thats not including if you want to get married off the boat on an island, which we were thinking to do it in St. Thomas being DF has family there. We will have been engaged 2 years bout time this wedding happens, were hoping 2010 feb march since its cheaper to cruise during that time frame, so yes, as one of the ladies said, The time of the year depends on the cost.
Ive been checking prices for photos, and they are expensive, thats if we dont do a cruise wedding. Wishing you much luck and Congrats
Weddings can be expensive and inexpensive, it all depends on what you want. My best friend wedding was about 20,000. Besides the food buffet she had an open bar.(you no folks like free drinks).
My cousin got married at courthouse this june, went to vegas for her honeymoon and june 2009 will be having a reception which she said is only going to cost her no more than 2500 dollars.
Im also engaged and have been doing prices for the wedding i want. I want a cruise wedding and plan on buying the bridesmaides dresses and we are paying for our immediate family plane and boat fair. We will be able to get a group rate on airfair and the boat. Prices are ranging from 5000 dollars and up depending on the package you want, and thats not including if you want to get married off the boat on an island, which we were thinking to do it in St. Thomas being DF has family there. We will have been engaged 2 years bout time this wedding happens, were hoping 2010 feb march since its cheaper to cruise during that time frame, so yes, as one of the ladies said, The time of the year depends on the cost.
Ive been checking prices for photos, and they are expensive, thats if we dont do a cruise wedding. Wishing you much luck and Congrats
Hehe I took a photography class with my dad, and have a big fancy camera, I'd be your photographer cause it gives me an excuse to have a "vacation" lol! =) Plus I have family in Arizona, lol..
Griggsy! You are so lucky! lol I will definately take your friends link so I can check her out. The rice crispy treats is an awesome idea! I was planning on going to David's Bridal for all the clothes and stuff. And as far as your food...I don't really have a cow to butcher...lol so I guess I will settle for catering!
I just wish I had the hookups....wait...I do know a dj! lol haha why didn't I think of that! Photographer...I don't think I know one..So I just need the place, the cake, the food, adn the flowers...everything else seems pretty doable. I will probably make my own invites and party favors..or order them like jenntanis did...I will definately be checking out everyones suggestion and all the photos you guys have from your days! thanks so muc for all the help!
I just wish I had the hookups....wait...I do know a dj! lol haha why didn't I think of that! Photographer...I don't think I know one..So I just need the place, the cake, the food, adn the flowers...everything else seems pretty doable. I will probably make my own invites and party favors..or order them like jenntanis did...I will definately be checking out everyones suggestion and all the photos you guys have from your days! thanks so muc for all the help!
oh we provided disposable cameras for each table and got some of the best candid pictures ever, also we made the centerpeices ourselves and the invitations as well. We felt bad about the invites as they were sealed with red wax and were in rustic style envelopes and our oldest nephew though he had been accepted into Hogwarts and that he was a wizard...(Harry Potter) poor kid....
We spent roughly $600 on our wedding, nope not a typo...$600.
We had a free hall rental, the wedding cake was a gift from friends that couldn't make the wedding, our rings were bought as a gift from another friend, we paid $25 for a Justice of the Peace, we bought all the food and my in-laws prepared it (we did a 3pm wedding time so we served finger foods and whatnot), DH wore a nice suit that he already had and I wore a gorgeous ball gown skirt with a separate piece top. We had about 30 people in total there and it was the best wedding I had been to ^_^
We had the ceremony and then hung out with our dearest friends and family. We made favors of candles with personalized poems to each guest and the kids got small containers of playdough that kept them busy while the "boring" stuff was happening.
Even our honeymoon was a wedding gift, a nice simple weekend away at a bed and breakfast only a couple hours away from home. We are quite simple in our tastes though and loved just being together away from it all.
We had a free hall rental, the wedding cake was a gift from friends that couldn't make the wedding, our rings were bought as a gift from another friend, we paid $25 for a Justice of the Peace, we bought all the food and my in-laws prepared it (we did a 3pm wedding time so we served finger foods and whatnot), DH wore a nice suit that he already had and I wore a gorgeous ball gown skirt with a separate piece top. We had about 30 people in total there and it was the best wedding I had been to ^_^
We had the ceremony and then hung out with our dearest friends and family. We made favors of candles with personalized poems to each guest and the kids got small containers of playdough that kept them busy while the "boring" stuff was happening.
Even our honeymoon was a wedding gift, a nice simple weekend away at a bed and breakfast only a couple hours away from home. We are quite simple in our tastes though and loved just being together away from it all.
Mine cost me $4700... AHaha
We went to Michaels and bought fake flowers for the boquets! 4 brides maids, and 2 for me, 1 to throw and 1 to keep! I made the bridesmaid dresses! I bought my wedding dress, at David's Bridal for $699.00 + tax. My husband made the cake for me and him, since he had gone to cooking school, and was still able to use their kicthens to do everything! We made all the food, and bought decorations and everything through Michaels. actually turned out fantastic! Had all the guys wear black slacks, and we bought the, their shirts and ties... I have friends who are djs, so they decided to dj for free as a gift! And we paid $200 to a friend, to rent out this skating rink, which was big enough for everyone! And asked the guests to bring a food item! So like potluck sort of thing.
We went to Michaels and bought fake flowers for the boquets! 4 brides maids, and 2 for me, 1 to throw and 1 to keep! I made the bridesmaid dresses! I bought my wedding dress, at David's Bridal for $699.00 + tax. My husband made the cake for me and him, since he had gone to cooking school, and was still able to use their kicthens to do everything! We made all the food, and bought decorations and everything through Michaels. actually turned out fantastic! Had all the guys wear black slacks, and we bought the, their shirts and ties... I have friends who are djs, so they decided to dj for free as a gift! And we paid $200 to a friend, to rent out this skating rink, which was big enough for everyone! And asked the guests to bring a food item! So like potluck sort of thing.
My advice is to wait on the planning until you are definitely getting to the year or so before your actual wedding date. My husband and I were high school sweethearts, we got engaged after 3 years of dating at the age of 19...I immediately bought every HUGE wedding magazine/catalogue and created my dream wedding...or at least the dream wedding of the person I was when I was 19. We had a long engagement because I was in college and my mother didn't care if we moved in together etc. she didn't want me to get married before I finished college SO I headed her advice and I think my fiance/dh now enjoyed it lol We got married in 2005 at the age of 23...and the person I was when I was 19 was not the person I was when I was 23. I scaled way back on my initial plans and I even wore a green dress! Just keep some perspective on things and try not to overplan/overspend. Think about what is really important to you when you make your choices.
I got married May of 07 and our wedding was $2200. My mom did the flowers and most of decorations. We borrowed white Christmas lights from anyone who would lone them to us. We had the reception in my parents huge, gorgeous back yard in Queen Creek. Our photographer was a family friends who offered to do them for free, but she will charge for others. She lives in Heber, but comes to the Valley often. I will send you her link so you can check her out.
My new SIL is a cake decorator and she did my cake. To save money on her part (wedding present form her to us) she asked if she could do half the cake in Rice Crispy Treats, and cover it in fondent. It was AWESOME. Those disappeared faster than the cake.
My dress I got on Elliot and Priest, by the Home Store. It was origonally $3000.00, but through a weird turn of events I paid $513.98 for my dress. Great place to go, great selection that the Wedding Emporium doesn't have, or Aztec Bridal. You go there and the chances of having the same dress as your friend 3 years ago is really high. Plus unless you want a sleeveless-backless, cream to egg white dress I would go somewhere else.
Bridesmaid are in charge of buying their own dresses. Same with groomsmen. Don't let them not pay for it. Tuxs are $100-$150 a pop. If you go to the Wedding Emporium for the Tux, you pay for 4 and get the 5th free. DH got his tux for free.
As for food we butchered one of our cows and had great BBQ. Costco was great for the odds and ends. Cream puffs are $8.00 for a box of 88, and so on.
Just shop and shop wisely. Make a buget and stick to it and things will always work out!
My new SIL is a cake decorator and she did my cake. To save money on her part (wedding present form her to us) she asked if she could do half the cake in Rice Crispy Treats, and cover it in fondent. It was AWESOME. Those disappeared faster than the cake.
My dress I got on Elliot and Priest, by the Home Store. It was origonally $3000.00, but through a weird turn of events I paid $513.98 for my dress. Great place to go, great selection that the Wedding Emporium doesn't have, or Aztec Bridal. You go there and the chances of having the same dress as your friend 3 years ago is really high. Plus unless you want a sleeveless-backless, cream to egg white dress I would go somewhere else.
Bridesmaid are in charge of buying their own dresses. Same with groomsmen. Don't let them not pay for it. Tuxs are $100-$150 a pop. If you go to the Wedding Emporium for the Tux, you pay for 4 and get the 5th free. DH got his tux for free.
As for food we butchered one of our cows and had great BBQ. Costco was great for the odds and ends. Cream puffs are $8.00 for a box of 88, and so on.
Just shop and shop wisely. Make a buget and stick to it and things will always work out!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Pregnancy Community
Get information and tips on how to help you choose the right place to deliver your baby.
Get the facts on how twins and multiples are formed and your chance of carrying more than one baby at a time.
Learn about the risks and benefits of circumcision.
What to expect during the first hours after delivery.
Learn about early screening and test options for your pregnancy.
Learn about testing and treatment for GBS bacterium.
