How We Created Our $16,000 Wedding Budget
That website was my lifesaver during my planning experience, and the budget list they have is very comprehensive. I enjoyed it because I could decide to remove certain things from the wedding budget, and add the money saved to another item.
For example, I didn’t wear a veil. I deleted the veil option from my list, and voila! The couple hundred dollars automatically set aside for the veil was added to the money it suggested I spend on food. It was a really great tool for someone like me, who is not at all successful in math!
If you are reading this and you have unlimited funds for your wedding, then you are saved the hassle of trying to stay within a budget. And alright, I’m also a little jealous of you. But if you’re like most brides and you have to stay within your means, then you have some work to do.
Brian and I sat down and figured out how much we were able to spend on our wedding (which was not much). My parents told us the amount they would provide, and Brian’s parents did the same. Then we designated a credit card to serve as a card for wedding items only. We had figured out who was contributing, which is the first step in planning a budget.
From there, I used the wedding budget checklist to handle the rest for me. I still had to add some things, though – and you will want to study your budget as well to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything. It is important to cover all categories and subcategories. For example, a monetary limit for your ceremony will have to include decorations, ceremony music, and officiant. Imagine your wedding day from start to finish. All of those things will have to be paid for. I know, I know – try not to let it depress you.
Here is our wedding budget breakdown:
Reception
♦ Reception: $11,000 (including room rental, food, and alcohol)
♦ Reception music: $500
♦ Reception centerpieces: $150
Ceremony
♦ Ceremony location: $150
The fee to use the church was free because I’m a member there, but I had to pay a sound technician and I also tipped the pastor.
Photographer
♦ Photographer: $2,050
Invitations
♦ Invitations and reply cards: $200
We bought blank invites and printed our own. Price includes the printer ink and stamps.
Flowers
♦ All flowers: $300
I purchased silk flowers and made all bouquets, corsages, boutonnieres and decorations myself.
Favors & Gifts
♦ Favors: $290 (it worked out to be $1 a person)
♦ Attendant gifts: $240
Wedding Attire
♦ Gown and all alterations: $500
♦ Groom’s tuxedo and accessories: $100
♦ Tiara, necklace, and earrings: $30
Wedding Rings
♦ Wedding rings: $175
Various Supplies
♦ Various supplies: $400
This includes thank-you cards, decorations for card box, flower girl gifts, name change kit, …
For Free
♦ Hair: FREE (my girlfriend did it)
♦ Wedding day transportation: FREE (our friend drove us!)
♦ Wedding night hotel room: FREE (we had enough family members book rooms for that hotel)
♦ Cake: FREE (Brian’s aunt is a professional baker)
I realize our wedding cost a lot of money, but we could not have done it without my parents, who paid for the majority of the reception!
Of all the wedding memories I have, I love the ones that are tangible mementos. The wedding gifts we received, the pictures all over the house… and oh yes, the sizeable credit card bill that comes once a month. Maybe I don’t love that last one so much. But it was definitely money well spent.
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August 14th, 2008 at 11:53 am
I agree with you on the veil. It is reasonably easy to find ways to cut down on some of the costs. You just have to decide what is REALLY important to you as opposed to thinking you need it all.
August 14th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
Absolutely! I had some people tell me that I “had” to have a veil. Not true! When it’s your wedding, you don’t “have” to do anything!
August 15th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
The core elements are what matter. The ‘little things’ can truly add up to more than half of your spending if you do not place limits on things. From my experience, catering / food, entertainment, and bride / groom attire and presentation are key.