Wedding budgeting?

Question

I don't know ANYTHING about the cost of weddings. Suppose two people are considering the budget of a wedding. Both are middle class, him living on his own pulling in about 50K/year, her currently living with mom, trying to get a decent job after getting her Master's. Mom wants to help, but Dad just died.

Important: Great dress, tons of flowers, nice reception hall with decent food and a competent DJ

Negligable: Ice swan, table decorations, cake, transportation

Oh, and 12K has already been offered by the grandmother. What kind of budget would be typical for this kind of idea?

I know lots of people, so we're probably talking 200-250 guests

Also--it probably isn't rushed, and I live in Wisconsin

...AND the 12K isn't my total budget, it's just a portion of it I don't have to worry about.

Answer 1

figure food is around $20-$30 per person, plus any drinks that will be purchased, your hall rental, dress, DJ, photographer, flowers.... you just have to get a budget of how much you have to spend and work around that. You can do a very nice wedding for 15,000. first-make your list of guests and see how many people you need to be working with, then go from there on finding a hall. Some of them do in house catering and some you can go elsewhere for catering.

Answer 2

The cost of things for weddings varies greatly from region to region, but the budgeting is easier! Here's how you figure your total wedding budget:
Add the following sums together:
1. How much you will receive from relatives/friends
2. How much you two are setting aside each month out of paychecks
3. How much you are willing to go into debt (i.e. put on credit cards).

The total of that is your total wedding budget.

How you spend it depends on your priorities. It sounds like you already have a pretty good idea of the things that are the most important to you. So start there; begin pricing those things and taking that away from your budget. Then you will see what you have left to divide up for everything else.

I noticed you left off photography. It may have just been an oversight, but please don't skimp on this! All you will have left after it is all over is the dress hanging in the closet & the photos. Find a competent, reliable photographer & spend at least $800-1000 on him/her! You won't regret it!

Answer 3

I have a budget of 10 to 12 thousand and i am pulling off for 200 guest. It can be done, depending on where you live. There may be some things however that you will have to DIY , like DIY your flowers, will save lots, invitations.

A good thing to do to is to find a hall that includes some sort of table decoration, something you like, or maybe like in my case something you can modify. My hall is supplying the hurricanes and the candles, as well as all the usual, plates knives etc. But i am going to add my personal touch of autumn leaves to surround it.


Your list of important, and negligible i think are accurate except i would want the cake as important, only for taste though, not so worried about design. Simple is beautiful to.

I wish you the best of luck and congrats. And my condolences to you and your family.

Answer 4

The average is 26,000. Of course it all depends on the extras. Are you going to look for sales or are you rushed with no time to price shop? Do you have a wedding coordinator? Where is the reception hall? Are we talking Ritz-Carlton? Renting a castle in Europe? A bride who most have a Vera Wang custom dress? A dad who wants to use it for networking purposes and is inviting everyone he wants to work with? Cause with a guest list of 500, the cost is going up.

It can be done on 12K. That was roughly my budget. But the bride has to be budget conscious. Her idea of a great dress can't be from a NYC designers store and her idea of a caterer can't be a recognizable name and eating lobster or filet mignon.

Table decorations alone can be anything. Are we talking a vase, pretty flowers and a couple votives? Or do you we have in mind a hand sculpted masterpiece, going up to the ceiling using only orchids and birds of paradise?

Really--it completely depends. Each brides idea of "decent" is different. 12K (outside of NYC and LA) will cover a lot--but it will involve a lot of bargain shopping.

Answer 5

Try theknot.com or perfectweddignguide.com to start your budget. They both list everything you will need. The knot is nice because you put in your total budget (say you figure $18,000) and it will divide everything up by percentages for you, so you know what approximate amount you have for each item. The perfect wedding guide is good because you can type in whatever amount you have for each item rather than just use percentages. You can find a great dress in many different price ranges, and the same withreception halls, djs, etc. Just do some research, both those sites offer list of vendors in your area I would suggest getting organized, calling or emailing and listing prices to get a good idea of what you can afford. Good Luck!

Answer 6

hi Sweetie you could stay on your budget via reducing numbers in the visitor checklist and prefer a prior remark their there to celebrate your wedding ceremony to not devour up your nutrition. save on with finger nutrition like meatballs , wing dings, salad, bread, save potatoe salad and others so which you will place money in different factors now if nutrition is what you pick the main than bypass with that and decrease different section like print your very own invitation purchase your gown off final 3 hundred and sixty 5 days clearance at david's or Demetrio's make your flowers from the craft save or use one million rose on your bridemaids. Lunch time is the final much greater effective in the process the week at evening. photograph might properly be decrease via having a photographer there for the marriage in basic terms and function somebody take photos on the recession. in basic terms have a effective digital camara handy and the final element is to get help out of your loved ones people you could count quantity enable their wedding ceremony present be something they are able that can assist you with in the marriage . sturdy success and can God Bless the days of your Marriage

Answer 7

Hi and congratulations on your engagement!

First, it's really hard for people to give you estimates. It really depends on how willing you are to look around and go "outside the box" for things. If you are looking for the "average", well, the average wedding in the U.S. is $25,000! That's LOTS of money for 1 day!

I TOTALLY agree with the "important" things you want. Along with that, I would add in Photographer. I advise everyone on a budget NOT to scrimp on the photographer. I would totally nix the ice swan, unless that is included in the price of the reception venue.

I live in Upper Michigan, so I am pretty familiar with Wisconsin. Really, unless you are in one of the cities: Madison, Green Bay, Appleton, you should probably be able to do your WHOLE wedding on $12,000.

Shop around and compare things. When looking at reception venues see what is included and compare to other locations!

Ideas to save are to get the "boxed sets" of invitations from stores like Michael's, Target, Hobby Lobby, Walmart, or Office Max. These come 50 in a box....so for 200-250 people total, you will only need approximately 3 boxes! These sell for $25-$30 a box. You simply print them off yourself on your computer. This is a HUGE savings compared to getting them printed. Remember that everyone but you will toss them.

Everything can come in substantially under the "normal" budget for things if you are willing to look around. You can order wholesale flowers from places like Costco, Sams Club, and online. Here is a vendor I used for my son's wedding:
http://www.rosesource.com

You can do your own table centerpieces using wholesale flowers and vases from a dollar store! Cheap! But I will warn you....it's lots of work!

Good luck!

Answer 8

12K and your guest list is not due able. The way to cut cost is the guest list...the less people eating and drinking the less you have to pay for and the less decor, accessories, etc... you get!
I planned a wedding around 17K and only 75-100 guest. I used the venue for both ceremony/reception, made my own decor, floral, favors, etc...went to a discounted bridal gown store. It ended up a beautiful yet classy wedding!

Answer 9

Need more info - how many guests, location, size of bridal party?

It's nice of grandmother to offer any help, but the wedding should really be something that the bride & groom can afford on their own. But if you have grams's help - by all means, take it (but say thank you a lot & let grams have some input).

12K would pay for my entire wedding AND honeymoon, with funds leftover. We're having 150 guests.

Answer 10

Based on my cousin's wedding, you are looking at paying 18K if you live in any city other than LA or NY and if you are having 100 guests.

Dress: $1500
Music (incl DJ and maybe a harpist at the reception): $1200
Food for 100 at a nice venue, at $55 per plate + extras like drinks, appetizers, room or linen rental+tax and service fee: $9500

TONS of Flowers: $1900
Other decor (incl favors): $600
Licence: $50
Officiant: $150
Invites/stamps/save the dates: $800
Limo (supposing you want 2): $900
Bridal party gifts: $400
Cake: $600
Tips and incidentals: $400