How much did you spend on your wedding?

Question

do you think $3,000 is enough for 200 or less people? Im planning on a 'backyard wedding'.. and do you think if i had a backyard wedding and planned the reception a few miles down the road, that anyone would go to the reception???

any other suggestions on how to keep it under $4,500 would be great... thanks!

oh... and could you get ANY kind of catering with it for that price? (im getting a free dj :p so dont worry bout that part!)

and the rings i want will cost about $1000 altogether... and my dress is $300... so... thanks!! :D

well, like i said.. i have the rings and dress and dj under control... is there any way (in a small louisiana town) to have a nice wedding? pretty much only concerned about the reception.... would people go to the reception afterward, or just go home? if its like... 5 miles away from where the actual wedding is held?

oh thanks jenntonic... i just made a new question because the other answers where kind of... not helpful... at all... lol
and people dont usually look at the added details, anyway.. so.. thanks!!!!

Answer 1

Yes, I do think $3K is enough. Here's why: based on what you described, your largest expenses are the bride's gown, flowers and food. When I got married, it was a home wedding with 50-60 people. I bought my dress from Cache for $300. I helped pay for my sister's and niece's dresses - maybe another $150. I paid for 2 bouquets, my husband's and his best man's corsages. Invitations were from Factory Card Outlet -- or similar place that does printed invitations. Elder women of the family cooked for us.

My point is, I don't believe in spending a lot on weddings, because you're starting a life together. A way for God to bless your finances is by being proactive with your own spending. Your new life together is going to call for good financial planning & spending. A wedding is just a day -- a marriage is a lifetime (at least we hope)!

You don't need to impress anybody, girl. Keep your wedding party small. The more bridesmaids/groomsmen you have the more gifts you have to buy for them, then there's rehearsal dinner because with that many people you have to rehearse. And I think your guests would travel up the road to the reception with no problem.

Answer 2

We did our wedding, 200 people, for $4000. We had the ceremony in my parents back yard and the reception wa a 30 minute drive away - everyone went. In truth, 75% of weddings require some driving inbetween the ceremony and location, and a few miles really is nothing!

One thing to think about is parking - if you don't have enough at the ceremony site - guests could park at the reception site and you could provide a bus/van to bring them to and from the ceremony.

For food, catering on that budget is nearly impossible unfortunatly. What we did was have a mostly cold meal (potato salads, green salad, fruit salad etc) so that we could make as much as possible the day before. Then we had fried chicken from a local restuarant delivered right before the reception as the warm part of the meal. We called up a local church who had a women's group that prepared cooked vegitables and served the food/stocked the buffet, etc and cleaned up afterwards. They do this as a fundraiser for their group and we paid them about $250. Other places that might have ladies who do that include 55+ centers, ladies axcillaries, etc.

Answer 3

Well it depends on what you plan to serve. If it is going to be no alcohol and just finger foods you can keep your budget way down.

How much is the reception site going to cost? Are you going to have a photographer if so your looking at spending at least $1000 on even a cheap package. Are you having someone make your cake or buying it?

My parents have 2 acres of land and we rented a tent and had the wedding and reception there and served things like cheese ball, meatballs, punch, macaroni salad, ham, cheese corssants, small party food. I also rented a daquiri machine for about $150 it was a big hit. I got a small photo package and it ran about $1200.

We spent about $5000 before it was all over.

Make all the decorations and favors yourself and you can save allot of money. Keep your flowers very minimal but splurge on your bouqet because it is the most important.

Most people would go to the reception. Lots of people have the wedding and reception at two different locations. However if you can have the wedding and reception at the same place to save money.

Weddings are crazy. Good luck and plan ahead for everything. If you start buying things asap for favors and decorations and working on them you could save yourself time, money and stress.

Answer 4

My wedding was about $2050.00. I had my wedding in my home church and the reception 20 miles away at a dance hall. It was fabulous, after the wedding we all met outside the church for pictures. Every one else took off for the reception. We stayed for more pictures inside the church. We then took off for the reception when we got there everyone was there. You should have seen the trail of cars following the limo to the reception it was a sight. My wedding was unbelievable. How to keep it under 4500 you make the food for the reception. I don't know about you but being Latina we had Mexican dishes that everyone in both families helped make. Just a suggestion make your own dishes. Hope this helps lots of luck. By the way the groomsmen used their own dark suits. My bridesmaids had their gowns made I had 10 and my maid of honor.

Answer 5

3,000 is going to be pushing it for 200 guest!! Most people who cater charge like $15 (maybe a little less or more depending where you are) per person... that's 15 dollars times 200 guest is $3000 already!!! I would say, ask people in your family if they wouldn't mind making a large dish to bring to the reception! People like your mom, dad, closet aunts, grandparents, and the same for his side of the family.

Then since you are already having a backyard wedding, why not leave the reception in the backyard as well, instead of paying money for a reception spot!

Answer 6

My wedding was about 10k but most of that was the reception hall with catering. A backyard wedding is a great way to cut costs. I would think most people would go.

Answer 7

You may want to add a few more thousands on to that baby if you plan on having that many people. And for the turn out at the reception you need to only invite people that you know are going to come and support you and your new found family.

Answer 8

Honestly, No... but lets see
Before wedding
Invitations- ? (go to weddingsolutions.com, cheaper)
Tuxes- ? (rent, dont buy)
Dress- $300 (you will need bridal slip, veil, bustier, shoes, )
Rings- $1000 (will they need to be sized?)
Hair/Makeup- ? (you should do yourself)
Marriage Certificate- ? (local courthouse)

Actual Wedding
Wedding location- Free
Officiant- ? (generally you tip)
Chair Rental- ? (for 200 guests)
Bouquet- ? (you and bridesmaids, get something in season)
Flowers- ? (in season)
Photographer- ? (get an amateur or student)
Videographer- ? (get family member to videotape)

Reception
Reception Location- ? (chairs, tables included?)
D.J- Free (have all equipment, speakers/mic loud enough?)
Cake- ? (shop around, make sure you get enough to feed all guests, who's going to cut and serve 200 pieces?)
Food- ? (do appetizers, main courses are expensive)
Drinks/Open Bar- ? (set up table and get someone to serve drinks)

In the invitations, include a note saying "the reception will be held immediately following the ceremony at __________" Include a map for the guests.

Hope I helped... Good Luck!

Answer 9

I suggest visiting online website such as

http://www.weddinglenox.com ,weddingvendors.com ,onewed.com

Unlike most yellow pages, they have price comparison for vendors (DJ,videographer, florist, and photographer) you can choose.

One problem I had with my wedding is that it is hard to locate vendors in most website as most likely they group by states and there are too many of them that's too far from me and I have to look at each site to figure out.

I like weddinglenox as they have a easy to use layout to show you pictures, pricing and location in one page, plus you can send out your inquiry for matching vendor to contact you. That save me lots of time to locate the best vendors with the right price.

Answer 10

Let's see on the actual "wedding" about $40.00, then we hit every bar in town afterwards, probably a couple hundred...I wasn't there when he purchased the rings so I don't know how much they were. I sold them for $500.00 though after the divorce.