I know budgeting can be a touchy subject, but I always found posts crunching the numbers to be useful. It can be difficult to figure out what percentage of your budget should be put toward each thing, and to that, I say
choose your priorities. Then, put the major money toward those priorities. Nothing wrong with pretty things, but if you've never cared about flowers before, chances are you're not going to feel good dropping eleventy hundred dollars on them now.
We were very thankful that the bulk of our wedding costs were covered by our parents. There were a few expenses here and there that we ate, but our families were very generous and for that we are extremely grateful.
above two pictures guest photos
Venues — $3,500 (25%)
• Church, including officiant fee, church coordinator and space rental for ceremony and rehearsal — $900
•
Reception hall, including round banquet tables, eight-foot folding tables and chairs, A/V system rental — $2,600
Catering — $1,764 (13%)
• Hors d'oeuvres, coffee and tea service for 127 people, plus gratuity — $1,650
• Morning-of sandwich trays from McAlister's Deli for family and bridal party — $114
Cakes — $520 (4%)
• Three tiered wedding cake and two-tiered groom's cake, including delivery fee — $515
• Cake Knife — $5
• Cake Saber — borrowed from family
Rentals — $322 (2%)
• One six-foot table; three bistro tables and accompanying linens;
linens for four serving tables, one guestbook table and eight round banquet tables — $322
Music
• All music was purchased on iTunes with gift cards we already had, and was played on my laptop
Flowers — $487 (3%)
• Faux flowers and all accoutrements for assembly — $487
• Altar flowers were gifted to us by Mom Hyena
You can see a better breakdown of the flower budget
here. Of course I bought more stuff since I did that count, but...
guest photo
Alcohol — $962 (7%)
• Bartender — $207.50, including tip
•
Kegs, one Shiner Bock, one Coors Light — $218
•
Wine — $264
• Cups from Sam's Club — $32.50
• Off-duty police officers (2) — $240
Photography — $1,600 (11%)
• All-day single shooter, including print package — $1,600
•
Bridal portrait shoot, won at a bridal fair — free
•
Engagement portraits, taken by friend — free
Attire — $1,229 (9%)
•
Dress and veil — $707
• Alterations, bustling and hemming — $271
• Jewelry (
bracelet and earrings; necklace was a gift from Mr. Hyena) — $23
•
Shoes, plus heel inserts — $57
•
Garter — $8
•
Tux rental — $163
Hair/Makeup — $120 (1%)
•
Hair trial and day-of 'do — $120
• Did makeup myself, using products I already had
Paper Goods — $458 (3%)
• Invitations — $187. See full breakdown
here.
•
Envelopes — $67
•
Save-the-Dates — $37
• Stamps — $126
•
Guestbook — $32
• Miscellaneous — $9
Day-of Coordinator — $200 (1%)
• Hired friendor — $200
Wedding Rings — $1,950 (14%)
• Hers — $950
• His — $1,000
Marriage License — $72 (.5%)
Bridal Party Gifts — $518 (4%)
• Bridesmaid gifts — $318
• Groomsmen gifts — $200
"Favors" (2%)
•
Kiva donation — $250
Miscellaneous — $72 (.5%)
And the grand total is ... $14,025.
Previously on A Life Full of Laughter:
