How much will a wedding cost me?

Question

My finace and I have been enganged for 2 years and now that we're more finacially stable, we're ready to take the plunge. We're looking to buy a home and we're putting 40% down for that and we don't want to dip into our home savings. We don't want anything flamboyant ( no geese or imported dutch flowers) but something nice to look back and know that it was well worth the $$. We're looking at 70-120 people. We're both 28 and don't want anything old school or traditional. Anything will help. This is her day and I want her to have the best. I have no idea what weddings cost and I'm looking at spending anywhere from 5-20K. Since I'm paying for most of it, I'll take the lesser of the range... but unfortunatly it's up to the Mrs.

Music is important to us so Q2, should we hire a DJ with preselected music or hire a band? Thanks for looking.

Answer 1

your in the right range probably in the 10-15k after everything is done, hire a DJ, that way you get exactly the music you want, and requests are almost always taken. you can save alot of money by having buffet catered, instead of a sit-down meal , and use some fake flowers instead of real, for the reception, and wedding decor.The only real flowers at our wedding were the 8 boutonnieres and my bouquet.you can also save on cake, go to your local grocery stores, our cake was wonderful 3-tiered heart shaped white on white and we saved around 150.00 by getting it ordered at publix.

just inform the future mrs. that she can save money like this and put the extra money saved into the new home, and she can make the decisions.

Answer 2

Congratulations very doable.

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Guide To Planning A Wedding

By

minootoo

Talk it over with her without being emitional about it. Both should stay calm and make notes and if need be be willing to compromise.

Get a event manager, but you go over ervery thing with the manager, the manager should control the event to, "both of her and your liking"($200.00 to $1000 worth every penny if you get a good manager, and plan ahead with her and get it down on the paper). Since it is her day, you said it.

Shop around, do not throw away your money. Get every thing in writing, from every one.  Get the fees and look at previous work, in all cases.

Find a DJ that you like (local) and see he/she will officiate the reception. About $200.00 to $1000.00 same for live band. But do select the music but let guest have some fun so open up a slot for request but have a person that you trust, select it without people knowing it, put up a box and pick it up at certain time and weed out the unwanted tunes or song and then draw from the rest, also allow time for on the spot request from the guest spontaneously from time to time, but play only the once that the person approves it, just say the record or disc is not available or is in bad condition or damaged, use a velvet glow when you turn down the request.

Find a clergy if you want to go that way. See what they charge.

Find a photographer. Get the fees and look at previous work. Make notes of the shots that you must have, same with vidie if you need that too, aleast tel these two people what is inportant to you.

Dresses/flowers and decoration(will also depend on No. of people in the wedding party).

Hall or church or both in some cases.

For food drinks and other things, we had price of $12.00 per person no alcohol (or alcohol extra) to S100.00 a person (all inclusive) at an outdoor set up at a club like setting.

Answer 3

Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!

You've already told us how much it will cost:  $5-20k.  How much of that you will spend is up to you.

Remember. . . no one will remember later what all the details were of your wedding (except you two); so don't be blowing money trying to impress anyone.  The priority is the two of you sharing your wedding vows and living the rest of your lives together....not the decorations, location, clothes, flowers, food, etc.....and the ceremony itself is over in just a few minutes...your marriage will last a lifetime!

Answer 4

if your wanting a dj and everthing im guessing this is going to take a chunk out of your wallet, but as long as you both are happy, and its the best day ever, thats the only thing that matters.....right!?

good luck

congrats!!!

Answer 5

Sorry, but plan on spending closer to 20k. I pulled mine off at 10k, but that's because I had connections and got most of the services for free -- DJ, cake, huge discount on catering, decorations free, etc.

The best way to save money would be to have an afternoon wedding with a dessert reception instead of an evening wedding where you have to have the full meal, if you can talk her into that one. :)

But, cut costs wherever you can. Sure, you want to have a nice wedding and great pictures to remember it for a lifetime, but you also don't want to look back and think "wow, We could have spent half as much and I would have been happy". I spent the 10k, and I know I really couldn't have spent any less and still have been 100% happy with the ways things turned out. But if we'd have spent more than that, I would have regretted it. It's just a few hours of your life!

Oh, and I would recommend hiring a DJ.

Answer 6

They say the average wedding in the US costs roughly $19K for about 150 guests.  With that being said, it really matters where you are located.  I was able to pull off our wedding for 250 at a golf course in Michigan for just about $13K.

Fortunately since you aren't looking for the traditional you may be able to pull off the lower cost.

IDEAS FOR YOUR WEDDING

Gazebo in a park w/Reception at a rented out dance club

River boat cruise w/DJ & reception on board

Destination wedding... do you 2 have a favorite place to vacation?

The key is spending smart!  Think about hiring a wedding wedding consultant... they can find you some of the best deals!

Answer 7

You are going to end up paying toward the upper end of your range for your wedding.  Heck, my husband and I got married 2 1/2 years ago and spent over $2k on an extremely simple wedding for less than 20 people.

Answer 8

if you have a live band and an open buffet; provide outfits for bridesmaids and rehearsal dinner- 10k is more than enough.

Answer 9

Hard to say exactly what it will cost.  There will be expenses you cannot skimp on, such as the marriage license.  Get together and decide what is "vital", what is "important" and what is "can take or leave it".  Getting married on a day other than Saturday can help lower the cost of the venue for the wedding/reception.  If you are a member of a "house of worship", you may be able to also use the family life room/rec room/gym for much less than having the reception at a hotel.  Lower the cost of food by doing either a cake and punch reception or an appetizer buffet rather than a full sit down catered meal. Do not do an open bar.  If you must have alcohol, have a couple "signature drinks", beer and wine to pass around.  Music, listen to the bands perform before making up your mind.

Answer 10

go to city hall,get the marriage overwith,then have a party in a rented banquet hall.

Answer 11

a lot...but there are different ways you can cut back...and know what to spend the money on...personally..i wanted nice flowers at the wedding so just used a lot of tool at the reception..i wanted a nice dress so had to skimp on the food...DONT SKIMP ON THE PHOTOGRAPHER..GET THE BEST AND MOST EXPENSIVE ONE!! i did a dj and not a band..it depends on what is important to you..but you can do it for under 10 if you try...buffets are more expensive...and forget the open bar..and do a morning wedding not an evening one..those are ways to save money...oh..and get a nice cake but forget the little gifts you give to the guests..they cost a lot of money and no one really cares, anyway

Answer 12

we are on a budget also i have planned everything out and have booked mostly everything. we made a budget of 10k. we have figured without the cake and banner we have only spent 4536.96 on everything. the idea of hiring a dj or a band depends on the what u are really looking for. a band will probally have breaks but a dj can play continuesly without interuption. i had found bands tend to run alittle more then a DJ would  but  good luck and congrats

Answer 13

I'm not married but i do know that you will be coming off some money. the bigger the wedding is the more you'll spend. you have to think about all the people you all have invited. what kind of food to you guys want to serve flowers where the wedding will be located at then the photographer's. then the bride still have to get her dress and you know all women wants the best dress....and instead of old fashion way get some one to sing at the wedding and then have a DJ at the receptionist. just like you said once the both of y'all look back y'all wont regret anything and it will be all worth so good luck and have a great and wonderful wedding