How much was your wedding...HELP!?

Question

I'm trying to get a rough idea of how much a wedding will be. My boyfriend & I are close to that point & keep talking about how to pay for things we both want....

how much was everything at your wedding?

drinks

food

dress

hall

church

flowers

decortations

etc...anything else would be great!

I have figured it out to be around 150-200 people.

Answer 1

My wedding is ranging about 50-70 people and mine is probably going to cost a little over $5000 to under 7000. That is the church was $600 in my area (300 for the sancuary, 150 for the officant, 100 for the custodian, and 50 for the organist). I am having my reception at a cute hall by the lake that is $700 (usually $1000, but for some reason he gave us a discount) to rent. They use an exclusive caterer that provides individuals estimates and for the linens, staff, food, china it's about $22.00 a person (somewhere between 1000 and 1500 depending on how many of the 50-70 will end up showing). But I should mention that we are both 20 and our families don't really drink, so we're not having alcohol, only a unlimited soda/water fountain for 2.50 a person. My photographer was $425, and is independently owned which is probably why he was cheaper. I'm using a dj for $450. My dress was about 700 for everything (dress, slip, headpiece, veil, blusher, strapless bra, shoes). I recently bought attendant gifts, personalized unity candle, personalized napkins, the wedding favors (we're having mini apple candles and personalized matchbooks- our colors are black, white and apple red, so it's approriate)... all that for about 300. Previously, we got the bubbles, flower girl basket, hall decorations,, personalized toasting glasses, thank you cards, guest book, and more for a couple hundred more.

Customarily the bridal party pays for their own attire. What I'm doing for mine is they are buying their base attire and if I want something for them (like for my maid of honor I want this special shawl to distinguish her, I'm paying for that).

The only thing I haven't looked into is the flowers, but I'm really only doing my bouquets, mini bouquets for the girls and the boutinnerres. I'm using silk flowers otherwise to help cut costs because I am on a little of a budget.

Weddings are definitely money suckers. XD

Answer 2

had my dream wedding and we spent around 2500. Here are some ideas to help cut corners.  We had about a 100 guest show up, maybe 125, don't know the exact count.   We anticipated around 200.

We cut lots of corners but it was beautiful.

Family member took our pictures.

Family friend baked both cakes for the cost of the ingredients.  (Only the bottom tier of a 3 tier cake was eaten, and all but 1/4 of the grooms cake was left)  

A lady at our church did our center pieces and decorations, she already had the stuff from a previous wedding and they happened to be in our colors.

We didn't serve a sit down meal, instead, we served cake, punch, grapes, cheese, dinner mints, peanuts, chocolate covered strawberries, and ice water for guests who didn't like punch. Ask around and borrow serving dishes/punch bowls.

The church let us borrow the table clothes for the tables.

We used the church greenery as a back drop.

I made the boutineers for the groom, my dad, his dad, best man, and my ring bearer.

I got mine and the maid of honor bouquets at micheals for 12.99 each, they were hand tied flowers.

I got all the party supplies from sam's and oriental trading.

Flower girl basket and pillow, I found them on clearance for 1/.2 price at the craft stores.

We printer our own invitations on my printer, I picked the invites up for 1/2 price at the craft store.

I used the craft store coupons (40%) off the purchase a kit that included the guest book, pen, cake server, and flutes for toasting.

We had the guest blow the bubbles at us and that doubled as our favors, i personalized them and hand tied ribbon in our wedding colors.

I splurged on my dress and veil, but nothing over the top. Just ask about the cost of alterations before you purchase the dress, this is one thing I wish I did. My dress was detailed and the alterations were more expensive than I thought they were going to be.

Get your friends to play the ceremony music for you, or use Cd or Ipod.

Flowers for the centerpieces and the courages if you don't have time to make them, use the grocery store florist. They are cheaper and the flowers are just as pretty as the high priced florists.

Answer 3

You CAN cut your cousins' kids with no hard feelings.  I did.  It cut my parents' side down from 150 to 80.

My wedding, for over 200 people, was around $30k.  With all the bells and whistles.  I suggest NOT doing that.  Having been through it already... it's more of a hassle than the joyous occasion you imagine...

Wedding hall, with food and "decorations" : $12,000

Dress : $900

Church : $300, all told

Flowers : $5000

Cake : $700

DJ : $1600

Photo : $2500

Video : $3000

Rings : $2000

Limos : $1000 (we had 3)

...wow, I can't think of what else...

EDIT:  It WAS crazy.  And I suggest that nobody do what I did...  Unfortunately, my husband wanted to "story book" wedding.  So that's what we did.  Not saying it wasn't fun.  But not worth it, to me....

Answer 4

You really need to sit down with FH and decide what aspects are really THE Most important to have.....of course prices are going to vary wherever you are but I've found that shopping online is fantastic! There is a seller on ebay....efavormart.com that I've ordered all my decorations through for half price or less than the stores charge and you get huge quantities!

For your dress check out rack sales, clearance sales etc, and start early.

Flowers....I'm doing my own and keeping them simple. This helps....

It can be done you just have to prioritize

I'm having about 450 guest for about 9,000.

Answer 5

drinks-$150(we didnt have alcohol, just bottled water, punch, koolaid jammers for the kids, & bottled pepsi, mt dew

food-$250-just had finger foods

dress-$200 including longline bra, & shoes(my dress was on sale)

hall-$300-we rented the building for the rehearsal dinner & the reception-

church-free!

we had about 150 people too-our wedding was @ 3:00, so we didnt provide a crapload of food-

i did all my decorating & everything-turned out beautiful! you dont have to spend alot to have a nice wedding-we spent more $ on things i didnt mentio like rehearsal dinner, thank u notes, guestbook, attendant gifts, etc..

flowers-$400

decortation$200-$500 cant remember exactly how much, we also had  a cupcake tree instead of a cake & it was WAY cheaper! & fun!

Answer 6

I had 50 people and spent 3K - 10 years ago...

it's going to be expensive for 150-200 - no doubt about it.  You can do some things to cut costs, but the biggest thing would be to cut that guest list down... good luck

Answer 7

We are getting marriend June 28, 2009.

Here is the low-down so far. We are trying to do things econimically, but do not really have a budget.  We will be inviting about 140 people. Will probably end up with about 100 attending.

We found a  very fancy venue that is vintage French restaurant only catering to private events now, so it needs minimal decor and we have to meet a food $ minimum so there is no rental fee. We choose to have a Sunday champagne brunch, and the food minimum cost veries by time of day. We have to meet a $4000 food/bev minimum.

Here is ours so far:

Music: $1000

Day of Coordinator/decorator: $1200 ( incl. ceremony decor)

Floral $450  bridal party flowers ( girls and guys)

6 Floral Centerpiecs: $500

8 Candellabra centerpieces $300

Floor length table cloths: $250

Ceremony fee (incl chairs and space) $200

Photographer $1000 ( we are only getting a disk and will    

                                       print our own- but got central Florida's

                                        top photographer.)

Pastor to officiate: $330

Per guest:

beer/wine unlimited $18.00

sit down brunch $54.00

Cake : $525

Personalized wine favors bottled at the local winery $7.00

                  guest  a~ $700

Invites: bought for DIY $52 on sale at Joanne's ( but am really rethinking this  and may order some )

Optional draping of ceiling of ceremony site: $500

My parents will take me to the ceremony site- I do not want a limo. I will be dressing there.

Not sure what we will be leaving in yet, probably a vintage  car we rent.  I  am not into limos, so that is a neogotiable expense for me.

Flowers are not something I really care about, but you HAVE to have them. I just went to a wedding that had no flowers but for the bridal party and I immediately noticed that. I will have a lot of ferns and greenery in the ceremony site and have a couple centerpieces double up as altar decoration.  

My priorities are  a nice venue, music and photography. All else is  neogotiable.

I also want to stress that if we cannot pay for it, we are not doing it. We will not finance a wedding.

My best friend is getting married, has not had a job in 4 years because shewent back to school and just got engaged and is planning a wedding with a $25,000 budget all of which will be on credit cards. I am happy she found a great guy, but dumbfounded that she would put all this on credit!  That is not a smart idea.

I am not including my dress and rings and stuff. My mom presenting  my dress to me. Fiance and I are doing everything ourselves, working hard and saving every penny we can.

Not sure if this helps you. I am definitely a bargain hunter and seeking the most economic way to still have a luxurious day.  There are ways to do it. I spend endless hours online and making calls and finding ways.

Good luck.

Answer 8

My fiance' and I are planning a English Garden wedding fpr $5,000:

Drinks--We're having a dry wedding as a couple of our guests are recovering alcoholics, and neither of us prefer such drinks.

Food--We're spending no more than $300-$400 for 185-200 people. We accomplished this by planning a 2 o'clock ceremony--a time when the guests would have already had lunch, and won't be expecting a huge meal--and will serve food trays, two dishes prepared by a chef friend, desert, wedding cupcake tower, and candy buffet.

Dress--I splurged here and purchased my dream gown by Camille La Vie for $350.

Hall--$600, including tables and chairs. Alternatively we may use his church gym that is rented out for such functions.

Ceremony Site (Not a church)--$1,000.

Flowers--Around $200 to make our own bouquets and 19 centerpieces with flowers from The Flower Exchange.

Decorations--Not certain yet, but it will be very little as we need yards of tulle, lights, vases, and flowers to complete the overall look.

Message me, if you would like me to add my list of budget tricks.

Answer 9

It's suppose to be the other way around, set a budget then proceed. Plus it depends on the state you live in. Like I live in NJ right outside of NY, so things are VERY expensive here, like $10,000 just for a catering hall (food service etc). However a girl I know from a message board was able to fin some place in Michigan for like half that. Not to mention, the price also depends on your personal taste and style, ie decadence vs eclectic. Anyhow...If you are having trouble, they do have spreadsheets that you can plug in your budget and it breaks everything down for you by percentages.

Answer 10

The biggest factors are going to be the wedding location (prices vary greatly from one area to another) and the type of wedding you want to have.

I am in central PA, inviting 190 guests and expecting 150 to 175 to actually show up.  We found a very reasonably priced venue (for our area) that is doing dinner, cocktail hour, and full open bar for only $45 per person + tax + 20% gratuity.  There are some areas where $45 would mean lobster tails and filet mignon dinners were being served, I assure you my menu is far more modest than that.

Roll all the other expenses together and my budget is $20,000  (I'm doing ALOT DIY or cutting things completely in order to come in below $20k).

My dress was only $219

Flowers $500 - we are going very simplistic with the flowers

No limos, No church decorations.

We are paying for the 4 bridesmaids & 3 flowergirl dresses (BMs $120 ea/ Flowergirls $40 ea) and for the tux rentals for groom, 4 groomsmen, 2 ringbearers.

Answer 11

Let get real. I'm have been married 2ed time . Very HAPPY.

All girls want the perfect wedding.  But  after the wedding the real world starts . Rent , UTITIES, FOOD .INSTURANCE, AND SO ON.  Donn't  go over your head.

first wedding ,the court house,

2ed SMALL IN THE LITTLE BACK YARD, HAD A GREAT TIME. That is what is about.

Dress 300.00 suite for him 200.00  Kids in party 250.00

Cake at local store 85.00. GET A PARTY CAKE NOT A WEDDI NG WEDDING CAKE. DESIGN AS YOU WANT!!!!!!!!!!!

ROUND , 1/2 ,FULL, STACK THEM . THEY WILL DECORATE them as u want. The word wedding  the price jack up 5 times.

Answer 12

The average cost of a wedding in the USA is $28,000 (read that on yahoo! news).

drinks: IF your going to have alcohol, make it a cash bar. You cut alot of expenses without having an open bar. ( We didn't offer alcohol,b ut my ugly room mates got drunk at the bbq)

food: IF you got married in the morning or say early afternoon, you could serve a brunch or light lunch. This cuts down on the cost of feeding everyone, because it's cheaper. (Had a lunch bbq. Cost less then $300.00 to feed 15 people)



dress:Hit up dress shops that are going out of business, davids bridal with their $99 sale or possibly find a nice prom dress that you can embelish a bit. (I bought a dress for $35.00, and had it tailored a bit for $25.00)

hall: IF you have a family member who is a member of the VFW, Elks, or Moose lodes, you can often get a room to rent for a good price. (We had a bbq reception in the backyard)

church: Ask your pastor if you can have your wedding in the churh. ( I wasan't married in a church).

flowers: Use flowers that are in season, and inexpensive. ( I used a few fake flowers that cost less then $10.00)

decortations: I didn't decorate.

Answer 13

It really depends on what you want and where you live.  My wedding will probably cost near $20,000 for 120 people (I think it's ridiculous, but our parents/family are paying for a lot of it and they want a big fancy wedding - they can have what they want!).

You should set your budget first, and then you can call different places (vendors, caterers, halls, etc) and see if they fit in your budget.  You need to sit down with your fiance and decide when the wedding will be (one year, two years?) and how much you can both afford to save in that time.  Then you will have an approximate budget to work with.  

If your budget is on the lower end and your tastes are more formal than you might not be able to invite 200 people, or if you really want 200 guests, then you might have to have a less "fancy" wedding.

Hope that helps - but you have to set your budget first!

Answer 14

My wedding costed $7,000. I originally only wanted to spend five thousand. But it is really hard to follow a budget, everything wedding related is oh so pretty. And you only get married once so it might as well be exactly what you want.

I got married at the age of eight-teen so I really didn't spend that much money on alcohol. Just a few bottles of champagne for the toasts. That was about $150

For the food we spent about $2000. We had a great caterer. My best friends mom worked for the company, so that was a great gift from them. For three hundred people a full sit down multiple course meal I think it was a really good deal.They also provided tables , chairs, and the linens.  

I spent a grand on my dress. It was way to much money, but so worth it. I felt like a princess, and I looked it. I absolutely loved my wedding dress. It was originally a six thousand dollar dress, but I got it on a great sale. I love sales. You can also buy slightly damaged dresses. You know where like the beads on the sleeve are falling of, or the seam has fallen, you can buy those at a great discount. And then fix them up on your own. It can save you thousands. My vale was a vintage find, and I just used the shoes I had for my prom. (I actually bought my prom shoes, with my wedding in mind, and by I bought, I mean my mama )

We didn't get married in a church, since neither of us had any strong religious preference. We got married in a beautiful park.

Parks are a great deal. Not the kind with the kiddy equitment, but the nature preserve type. You can rent the entier park for around $500 dollars a day. it is beautiful, and there are places to have the outdoor ceramony, and a reception at another location in the park. It was stunning.

I spent another $500 on flowers. They were lovely, and really added to the nature element of my wedding.

Another grand was spent on table decorations, and other stuff like that.

Gifts for my bridesmaids , were three hunderd dollars.

I can't remember where I spent the rest of the money, but I sure did spend it.

Oh it was on the cake...

I had a wedding cake, and a grooms cake. Each was around $700. The were wonderful cakes. All fancy and yummy.

Other things to like fireworks at the end of the evening, oh and the DJ.

We spent I think $600 on the DJ, he provided some lights, and the dance floor. I did already have the DJ's contact because I planned my schools alternative g*y prom .

And the photographer, he was paid the rest of the money.

I had a wonderful wedding. It was a little more money than I wanted to spend, but it was worth it.

Congrats on yo pending nuptials. I hope you have a long and happy life.

Answer 15

The food and beverage was $65 per person for 125 people. The reception location was a $2,000 rental. The church was a $200 donation. Dress $700 and $150 for alterations. Flowers were $1,000, Band $4,000, Photographer $1,500, Cake $500. I think most of that is pretty standard.