Budget (or, Do We Really Want to Know?)

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.

unless otherwise noted, all photos by Danny Boyle Photography

Previously on A Life Full of Laughter:

• "The One Where We Get Practice Married"

• "The One Where The Girls Put On Their Faces"

• "The One With The Beautiful Words"

• "The One Where The Dudes Get Sexy"

• "The One With The Big White Dress"

• "The One Where We Smize"

• "The One Where We Don't See Each Other"

• "The One With All The Walking"

• "The One Where It's Official"

• "The One After The Ceremony"

• "The One With Our Wonderful Families"

• "The One With The Bride and Groom"

• "The One Where We Dance"

• "The One Where We Mix 'n' Mingle"

• "The One Where Everyone Else Dances Too"

• "The One With The Sword"

• "The One That's Catching"

• "The One Where We Sing and Sway"

• "The One With All The Pretty Little Details"

• "The Last One"