How much did your wedding cost?

Question

It is amazing how pricey our big day can be. How much did you spend?

Answer 1

I have worked with couples who have had budgets between 15-300k. Personally, I will be working within a 50-60k budget.

Answer 2

Ours is looking to be about $18,000 for 100 people

Location $1500
Food $8000
Rentals $2000
Photographer $2000
Cake $600
Alchohal $1000 (wine and beer bought from a store)
Flowers $1000 (arrange my self)
Invitations $500 (made and printed myself)
Favors $300
DJ $1200

This doesnt include our rings, attire or honeymoon...man weddings are expensive!

To Lindsay O:
Thats great that you can spend 50K on a wedding but not everyone can, you are still able to have a fantastic elegant wedding for below 20k you just have to be a little more resourceful. We are getting married ina beutiful private spanish garden in Monterey CA, open bar and great food.

We just know how to budget and to do research instead of just using our parents money to which can go to much better things.

Good luck to the man that married you, he better be pretty wealthy to support your greed.

Answer 3

Ours will prob end up costing about $30,000 give or take a few thousand. We're having a destination wedding (airfare and 4 nights hotel for 12 isn't cheap) for about 35 people followed by a cambake reception in our hometown for about 200...we're thrilled with the plans we've made...we also have about 50% of what our house will cost saved as a downpayment...the purchase of the land is final and we have the deed and construction is to begin in the next few months.

Answer 4

We had ours in my in-laws house, so the major expense was the food. My mom gave my future mother-in-law about $500. This was in 1993. I bought my dress and the silk flowers, the cake, and some extras. My in-laws cooked all the food themselves everyone loved it. There were 50 people about.

It sounds so cheap but we really didn't skimp on anything. I guess we just didn't demand a lot. This was a nice day for us, but I realize a lot of people would not want a wedding like this.

Answer 5

I got married last year, in June (SE WI). For about 80 people it was around $4000. We found an all-inclusive place. They did the ceremony(outdoor gazebo), provided the justice of the peace, dj, food (delicious buffet), decorations, reception, cake(just had to pick a flavor and frosting color). I also printed my own invites and rsvp cards. I went to school for photography so I had 2 of my friends do the pictures for free. My dress was only $400. The bridesmaids dresses were around $75(simple black and actually re-wearable!). I made the table favors and centerpieces myself, as well as my tiara and garter. My moms friend (a florist) did the flowers for cheap. It was a wonderful day and people are still telling me how much they loved it! We didn't go crazy trying to coordinate tons of vendors and caterers, it was completely stress free! It was simple, but not "cheap" looking. Remember, your wedding day is just that, ONE day. It's the marriage that counts.

http://www.theloftandchapel.com/

Answer 6

$30,000

We already own a house but it's small because it's in the city so we had to rent a place and get a cater.
10,000 for cater which includes food, DJ and cake
Rest of the stuff really add ups quick, open bar $2,000, Church $1,400, Flowers $1,000 and Pictures $2,500..... and the list goes on.
Most of the weddings are $50,000 in our area so we saved money by having less people, I made some stuff instead of buying it and EBAY! I even got a unity candle 50% off because someone bought one and then got one as a gift.

Answer 7

Wow, I'm really surprised at how cheap people are for the biggest day of their life.....Maybe it depends on where you live, but I couldn't of spent only $10,000 if I had even done it at my own home. Like I said, I live in California, where everything seems to cost twice as much as the rest of the country. So out here in Cali, for 150 people, we spent around $50k. We DID have an nice wedding, but we also were smart and saved on many things as well. The location and the fact that we wanted an open bar for the entire evening was our biggest expense. Start with a what you can afford and then break it down to a cost per person.

Someone said that they spent $500 on food! From where? Subway subs? Get some class people.....

If you don't want to get married in a "rec center" then you'll have to spend some money on a nice location.

Congrat's! I wouldn't change a thing. It was a magical day that I'll never forget for the rest of my life. I'm happy for you and hope your wedding day is amazing!

Answer 8

I spent about $2000 fourteen years ago. People still tell me what a nice wedding it was. It's amazing what you can do on a budget if you're creative and keep your priorities clearly in mind.

ETA: Lindsey O, I'm a California girl, too, and had a great wedding on less than a tenth of what you're spending complete with live music, considerably more than enough food, and a pure silk custom gown with handmade lace. The pricetag doesn't determine the class of the event; the graciousness with which one treats one's guests does.

Answer 9

My second wedding only cost me 225.00 but my husband to be's boss gave us the wedding reception in his home. The first one was samll also, and cost about 1000.00 because we both got married in our Naval Uniforms and my parents had the reception in their home. I think a wedding should be small and intimate and only have the people that are nearest and dearest to you. I know people can spend as much as a good down payment on a house. I say keep it small and the rest of the money put away for a rainey day.

Answer 10

Originally, we gave ourselves a low $10,000 budget so that we can continue to save up for a house. This was for 100 people. Our guest list went up 200 & we went over our budget. Spent almost $20,000 & I really wish I hadn't. Set us back a bit longer than I anticipated. I loved my wedding, but after the fact, I wish I had already bought my home. No regrets, just anxious to move into a new home.

Answer 11

My budget was 10,000 and I only went slightly over it. My husband and I decided we did want wine at the last minute so I think we were about at 11,000.

I'm not sure if you count the honeymoon as part of the big day or not though--but I didn't. Nor does that take into consideration what his parents spent on the rehearsal dinner.

I'd say my entire wedding--including what we didnt pay for--bridesmaids dresses, grooms tux, rehearsal to reception and including honeymoon was probably about 20,000.