Wedding Costs?
- Thread starter kscwgirl
- Start date
ditzyscrap
New member
I voted for "less than 10,000" because it was WAY less than that, but we didn't elope, lol. We actually had about 300 people there.
We paid for a hall ($450), DJ ($400), my dress was $200. We had a catered supper for 30 people at $10 a plate, so about $300. My flowers cost about $300 (I worked in a bridal/flower shop, lol...got my dress there for cheap, my flowers were cheap). My hair cost maybe $50. DH and his groomsmen already had tuxes from his BIL's wedding (it was the same 4 guys, just roles were different, lol), and each guy rented his own vest/tie (which wasn't much...maybe $45 I think), and my bridesmaids each bought their dresses that I got on sale at a closing out sale ($75 apiece). We had a potluck late lunch, so that didn't cost us anything, and we didn't have alcohol (we would have had to pay a corkage fee of $2.50 per guest and weren't willing to pay that, so we didn't have pop or alcohol). We bought juice mixes (peach - the powdered kind) and rented one of those big jugs from McD's. We only decorated the head table...and we didn't have a cake made. Our photographer was a friend and we only had to pay for developing the 11 rolls of film.
Really I think with EVERYTHING included that we paid for, it was maybe $3000, if that. Including our "honeymoon" which was staying in a super fancy hotel room for 2 nights...half of it was a wedding gift from one of the groomsmen, he and his wife paid for our wedding night there and we paid for the second night...it included tickets to the waterpark, where we met all of the bridal party and their spouses for some fun on Sunday afternoon.
We paid for a hall ($450), DJ ($400), my dress was $200. We had a catered supper for 30 people at $10 a plate, so about $300. My flowers cost about $300 (I worked in a bridal/flower shop, lol...got my dress there for cheap, my flowers were cheap). My hair cost maybe $50. DH and his groomsmen already had tuxes from his BIL's wedding (it was the same 4 guys, just roles were different, lol), and each guy rented his own vest/tie (which wasn't much...maybe $45 I think), and my bridesmaids each bought their dresses that I got on sale at a closing out sale ($75 apiece). We had a potluck late lunch, so that didn't cost us anything, and we didn't have alcohol (we would have had to pay a corkage fee of $2.50 per guest and weren't willing to pay that, so we didn't have pop or alcohol). We bought juice mixes (peach - the powdered kind) and rented one of those big jugs from McD's. We only decorated the head table...and we didn't have a cake made. Our photographer was a friend and we only had to pay for developing the 11 rolls of film.
Really I think with EVERYTHING included that we paid for, it was maybe $3000, if that. Including our "honeymoon" which was staying in a super fancy hotel room for 2 nights...half of it was a wedding gift from one of the groomsmen, he and his wife paid for our wedding night there and we paid for the second night...it included tickets to the waterpark, where we met all of the bridal party and their spouses for some fun on Sunday afternoon.
All we really paid for was one reception (which FIL paid for) and my dress. And little fees here and there I suppose... But the wedding itself cost nothing. and my mom has enough connections that she and all her friends took care of my reception here. And friends made cakes, I didn't do flowers. Aww, great day. Oh, I forgot the photographer, but he was only $300 (got all my negatives!)
I said $10-20K - my mom gave us a $10K budget and then we paid extra for a really great photographer ($3500 or so at the time) and then I also included our WDW honeymoon which we paid for and that was about $6500 or so. Wouldnt change a thing!
rachelv
New member
I really wish we would've eloped! We were young when we got married (18 &19) and my mom took charge of the wedding. It was a cheaper wedding, too many people, horrible wedding pictures, just about everything I wouldn't want :blink: My fault for not just eloping when we wanted to.
nesser1981
Sweet Shoppe SugarBabe
Ours was about $9000 with honeymoon and all.
twentytinytoes
New member
We had a cheap wedding. LOL we had justice of the peace, immediate family only and did it in Doug's parent's back yard. It was prob $1000 for everything. Dresses, suits, marriage license, cake but we only had to buy my dress.
tuneskids
New member
mine cost similar to what Bree's cost ...
we got our hall rental for free because my Mom & stepdad were members of the club that owned the hall, and we got the cheapest rate for catering by the hall for the same reason. We also had my "Uncle" Don (family friend) bring a few roasts and some potato salad and such to supplement the amount of food we ordered for catering.
My MIL paid for our ceremony costs (organist and for Father Michael, who happened to be her boss at the time - she works for a Diocese, doing Cannon Law - sp???). She also made all the wine that we served (we also had a pay bar if people wanted other than wine) - and I created the labels for the bottles.
My dress was $200 brand new, from stock from the year before we got married. Our rings were cheap (mine was $50, Des' was $200). I bought the girls outfits for around $50 each (shoes, skirt and top), the guys rentals were about $150 for all three of them. My Mom bought Cody's and Jenna's outfits (probably around $30 with her staff discount at the department store she works at).
Our night at the hotel was paid for by a collection of guests. And our honeymoon (5 days camping with the kids, exploring the Lower Mainland, going to the Aquarium & Stanley Park, etc) was paid for with money received as gifts.
Our photos were done by a friend, and they paid for all the film and development. And our flowers were discounted thanks to a friend that worked at the flower shop I went with.
I think our biggest "expense" was a vehicle rental for a week, since we had our Matron of Honor and our Best Man staying with us, and we drove a very small compact car at the time.
we got our hall rental for free because my Mom & stepdad were members of the club that owned the hall, and we got the cheapest rate for catering by the hall for the same reason. We also had my "Uncle" Don (family friend) bring a few roasts and some potato salad and such to supplement the amount of food we ordered for catering.
My MIL paid for our ceremony costs (organist and for Father Michael, who happened to be her boss at the time - she works for a Diocese, doing Cannon Law - sp???). She also made all the wine that we served (we also had a pay bar if people wanted other than wine) - and I created the labels for the bottles.
My dress was $200 brand new, from stock from the year before we got married. Our rings were cheap (mine was $50, Des' was $200). I bought the girls outfits for around $50 each (shoes, skirt and top), the guys rentals were about $150 for all three of them. My Mom bought Cody's and Jenna's outfits (probably around $30 with her staff discount at the department store she works at).
Our night at the hotel was paid for by a collection of guests. And our honeymoon (5 days camping with the kids, exploring the Lower Mainland, going to the Aquarium & Stanley Park, etc) was paid for with money received as gifts.
Our photos were done by a friend, and they paid for all the film and development. And our flowers were discounted thanks to a friend that worked at the flower shop I went with.
I think our biggest "expense" was a vehicle rental for a week, since we had our Matron of Honor and our Best Man staying with us, and we drove a very small compact car at the time.
InLoveWithDOTS
New member
I always wanted to do the Vegas thing but we didnt end up doing that.
We had a really small wedding (maybe 35 people?) ..... Leap Year Day 1996..... 20 below zero and we were pulled on a sleigh ride (which was really a hay ride because the snow had melted in a rare thaw the week before) out to a cliff where we were married by a friend who was a JP. We paid hefty for the photographer (no regrets), and we also had a DJ, food catered and alcohol. I think we probably paid about $7000 total? Just a guess....
We had a really small wedding (maybe 35 people?) ..... Leap Year Day 1996..... 20 below zero and we were pulled on a sleigh ride (which was really a hay ride because the snow had melted in a rare thaw the week before) out to a cliff where we were married by a friend who was a JP. We paid hefty for the photographer (no regrets), and we also had a DJ, food catered and alcohol. I think we probably paid about $7000 total? Just a guess....
Mine was a little pricey, which I don't regret really but I think that I would do things differently now. We did have a largish wedding, with a really big reception and a large rehearsal dinner, everything was done at the same local country club (which was more for sentimental reasons then anything else).
Brandy
New member
20 bucks max.....we went to the court house and that was it. in the middle a humongous blizzard, 2 months after having owen, spent all day down there. Then had a guy get all excited cuz we were getting married then came back and acted like we were 2yr olds and said "oh you guys even have rings" his friend goes "no we exchange goats not rings" and the guy got upset 
(it was me jeff and my best friend and his.)
(it was me jeff and my best friend and his.)
lauren grier
you're like stars
not too much.. 100 for the jp, prolly 20 for my dress.. 20 for my shoes.. If you count the wedding bands that's prolly around another 500 ( I don't really remember).
If I ever get married again (we're not together anymore), I had always dreamed about getting married in ireland That would prolly cost about 9million dollars though LOL
If I ever get married again (we're not together anymore), I had always dreamed about getting married in ireland
That would prolly cost about 9million dollars though LOLI picked eloped although that isn't exactly true. We did have about 8 guests. The whole thing including my dress was under $500. We just took everyone out to dinner afterward. My maid of honor had just been in a wedding the month before so I had her wear the same dress. The best man just wore a suit. Dh owns a tux. It was easy.
Becca Bonneville
Sweet Shoppe Designer
We didn't elope but it was wayyyy under the 10k mark. We went to Panama City Beach to get married. We found a wonderful place there that did it all, performed the cermony (on the beach), had the reception/party afterwards in their very nice building which included all the catering, music, cake, photos, etc.
rochelle789
New member
We spent 10-11K, with about 1000 of that being my dress. If I had it to do over again, I'd take my dress and bouquet (both of which I absolutely loved!) and go to Vegas with close family and friends. No cheesy Vegas wedding though. I'd go to the Venetian or something.
Shawna
New member
I think ours was under $10,000 but not sure of the exact figures since it was almost 8 years ago (I'm sure if I dug out all my wedding planning stuff I could tell you almost to the exact penny though lol)! We had a big Catholic wedding including Mass plus a reception, dinner and dance with around 200+ guests I think. I know my parents (they're divorced) each gave me $2500 to spend (for my dress, flowers, photographer, videographer, cake, invitations and bunches of other stuff and then I spent around another $1000 or so of my own $$ on stuff like my shoes, veil, toasting glasses, ring bearer pillow, flower girl baskets & petals, cake cutting items, stuff for the table decorations, my dress alterations, etc. I think Rob paid around $1500 for my engagement and wedding rings and I spent another $250 on his wedding band. And his parents paid for the church & reception hall rental since they were members of our church, plus they paid for the rehearsal dinner and possibly part of the catering of the dinner. Oh and my Dad paid for the two kegs for the reception himself cause my MIL didn't really want alcohol at the wedding but my Dad said you have to have alcohol at a Catholic wedding & he's not even Catholic lol!! Our plane tickets for our honeymoon in San Antonio were a gift from my Mom and Stepdad and then we paid for our hotel & car rental and then our food and tickets to the places we went (Six Flags, Sea World, the Schlitterbahn, the Zoo and a few other places) so that was maybe another $1500 or so. We had the wedding I'd always dreamed of and I definitely wouldn't change one single thing about it!!
ColleenSwerb
Brodo gettin her Swerb on
I'm currently planning our wedding, and I'm figuring on over $30k. My parents are paying, and I'm sure Jordan's parents will chip in too. My parents are expecting 200 ppl, so they catering alone at the reception (which we got a RIDICULOUSLY good deal on) will be almost $20k itself.
meems
New member
i went through similar experience. Basically my wedding turned into my mother's wedding and she and I really don't have the same taste. :glare: When my mom showed me where she was planning to have the wedding (gymnasium of a church that none of us had ever attended, which was painted a horrendous green/blue), I just mentally and emotionally separated myself from the whole ordeal and let her do what she wanted. She was paying for most of it anyway. I had never planned on getting married so a dream wedding wasn't something I had ever thought about or was even that important to me.
But when my DD gets married then I will have the wedding of my dreams, bwhahahahahaha. totally kidding. I have no desire to plan something like that. :blink:
SaraAmarie
New member
Mine was also way under $10k. My sister had gotten married just 5 months before I did so dh and I tried to pay for as much as we could ourselves. I have a very talented and creative family- my aunts did all the flower/decoration arangements with flowers we got from Sams Club and Hobby Lobby. My MIL did our cake. I found my dress (which I LOVED) at a thrift store!! We only did cake and punch at our reception which was at a beautiful park and cost only $25 for the day. My uncle did the photos. We went with semi-casual dress for bridesmaids and groomsmen. For our honeymoon, we stayed 1 night at a fancy hotel then took a week and a half to travel and camp which cut the cost down. It is exactly what we wanted at the time!
scarletsierra
New member
We were really really blessed. My parents set us a budget of $25,000. We were able to have our dream wedding. Surprisingly it wasn't an over the top huge affair and wasn't a huge wedding..but we did get to choose some really wonderful vendors and had an awesome venue. And the open bar was a HUGE expense in and of itself, lol! I would have loved and felt completely thrilled with a wedding that wasn't as costly. In the end, it's just one day.
amy_camp80
New member
our wedding
We got married in the Bahamas on a cruise. We stayed in the penthouse suite and everything. I think it was between 10 and 20k, but it may have been less than 10k. My dh did it and I'm not too sure how much it cost, but we loved it! It was beautiful and stress free.
We got married in the Bahamas on a cruise. We stayed in the penthouse suite and everything. I think it was between 10 and 20k, but it may have been less than 10k. My dh did it and I'm not too sure how much it cost, but we loved it! It was beautiful and stress free.
iJenny
New member
Mine was $15K. My parents paid and they gave us the budget and we didn't have any trouble sticking to it. My dress cost less than $500 which was nice. We had the reception at a nice hotel and had a catered buffet dinner which was nice. There were 250ish (maybe closer to 300) people there, but we didn't have much of a choice. Both my parents and Jeff's parents grew up in the area so between all of us, we know EVERYONE around here. lol
The only major thing I splurged on was the wedding cake which cost $950 but its still to this day my favorite part of the whole thing. I"ll have to try to find a picture of it. It was so great.
The only major thing I splurged on was the wedding cake which cost $950 but its still to this day my favorite part of the whole thing.
I"ll have to try to find a picture of it. It was so great. 
iJenny
New member
I should add that we have VERY few people fly in for the wedding. Like I said, everyone we know and love is pretty much around here. lol
scrapmonkey
New member
I don't know how much our wedding cost as my parents paid for most of it (fortunately, I'm an only child). We only had about 100 guests. I think it was under $20K, but I know the photographer cost them $4K (and I got a total of 1 picture for myself), the band was another $4K, and I think the reception was another $6K for the space and food. Hubby and I paid for the actual wedding (church, minister, flowers, wardrobe) and I think combined that was about $1,500-1,800 (my dress was less than $200), and we also paid for the delicious cake (another $300). Hubby's mom paid for the rehearsal dinner and I know that was $500. Mom and I made the wedding favors and decorations (Chinese takeout boxes with the Chinese character "Love" stenciled on with inside glass rock magnets and chocolate truffles; table decorations were a square mirror slab with one lily with a green organza ribbon with "Love" rubber stamped on it), so I don't remember how much that part cost. So, yeah, I think it was under $20K....
Julie Billingsley
The Ghost of Awesome Past
My vote reflected both wedding and honeymoon. Our wedding was done cheaply so we could enjoy a nice honeymoon We had a 7 day Caribbean Cruise! The wedding itself was probably like 2,500, including my dress (which was a white prom dress... LOL). But the honeymoon was like 13,000. So glad we did it that way!
We had a 7 day Caribbean Cruise! The wedding itself was probably like 2,500, including my dress (which was a white prom dress... LOL). But the honeymoon was like 13,000. So glad we did it that way!
lizzyfizzy
New member
wow...i cannot imagine spending in the 10's of thousands for a few hours. i know it is the most important day of your life. i assume sponsor some starving children or something and go to vegas. holler!
LeeAndra
Sweet Shoppe SugarBabe
*lol* This is SUCH a sore subject with my mother. Thank God my sister is getting married next summer and having the most traditional boring wedding ever, so when I get married again (and for the last time!! *lol*) and it's so NOT what she likes, she will have my sister's wedding memories to sustain her.
I planned my first wedding in six weeks. Originally slated for the August after I graduated college, we bumped it up to the weekend I graduated college so I could move directly from my college townhouse into my ex's house without 'living in sin.' *snort* The cheesy wedding chapel inside a Universalist Unitarian church, complete with fake wooden trellis and fake dusty white flowers, was $500. The minister/judge was $200. Ex bought a suit at Value City for $30 and already had shoes. We bought his wedding band and my wedding band at one of those kiosks in the mall for $20 apiece. My eing was a garnet, so it was only $200. I printed out invitations for our 18 (?) guests at home from blank ones I bought at Paper Warehouse, so maybe $30 there. I had a friend play her flute for music, another friend videotape, and my sister and father took pictures. We had no attendants and never took a honeymoon.
My parents paid $250 for my dress, $150 for flowers, dinner at Outback Steakhouse for 15 people, and a small reception at their home a couple weeks later where Mom served cold cuts for sandwiches, finger foods, and a wedding cake that she baked.
The next and last wedding will cost more, but that's due to paying for a real photog and taking a honeymoon.
I planned my first wedding in six weeks. Originally slated for the August after I graduated college, we bumped it up to the weekend I graduated college so I could move directly from my college townhouse into my ex's house without 'living in sin.' *snort* The cheesy wedding chapel inside a Universalist Unitarian church, complete with fake wooden trellis and fake dusty white flowers, was $500. The minister/judge was $200. Ex bought a suit at Value City for $30 and already had shoes. We bought his wedding band and my wedding band at one of those kiosks in the mall for $20 apiece. My eing was a garnet, so it was only $200. I printed out invitations for our 18 (?) guests at home from blank ones I bought at Paper Warehouse, so maybe $30 there. I had a friend play her flute for music, another friend videotape, and my sister and father took pictures. We had no attendants and never took a honeymoon.
My parents paid $250 for my dress, $150 for flowers, dinner at Outback Steakhouse for 15 people, and a small reception at their home a couple weeks later where Mom served cold cuts for sandwiches, finger foods, and a wedding cake that she baked.
The next and last wedding will cost more, but that's due to paying for a real photog and taking a honeymoon.