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[admin]

Just wondering how much people generally spend on their weddings, including dress, venue, decoration, invitation card, website, food, photographer, videographer, transportation, etc., but not including honeymoon.

[tanya777]

Well no one has started this so I will go first. Our goal for our wedding was to be around $10,000.00 (not including rings or honeymoon). Well things add up fast and we have gone over. Here's what i've fiqured out so far for costs.
VENUE (INCLUDING FOOD): 5000.00
WINE: 1000.00
DRESS/ACCESSORIES: 1600.00
CEREMONY: 700.00
DECORATIONS: 1600.00
INVITATIONS/ALL STATIONARY: 250.00
FLOWERS: 150.00
PHOTOGRAPHER: 995.00
DJ: 550.00
CAKE: 300.00
GIFTS: 350.00
FAVORS: 100.00
BRIDESMAIDS/GROOMSMEN ATTIRE: 1000.00
MISC. : 1000.00

FOR A GRAND TOTAL OF $14595.00 AND STILL COUNTING.....Those are tears of joy!!!
We are going to jamaica for our honeymoon 6000.00 and
rings have been around 7000.00.

[K8park]

We are doing a budget wedding - but don't want it to look like one

Initally we planned for $5000, which now seems impossible for what we want, but I am hoping it is still less than $7000. I wanted the church wedding and sit down dinner and dance - I know we could have saved big time if we did a non Saturday night ceremony, or a cocktails and appy reception or brunch, or got married at the reception site, but I want what I want!

Our church - $1000
DJ - $400
Photographer - $550
Reception site - $600
Catering and Alcohol - ??$3,000??
decorations & flowers - ??$500??
Invitations & postage - ??$200??
gifts - ??100??
Dress & tux - ??$600??
cake - $50

I am hoping we will get some help from my parents so our cost will still be in the $5,000 range, but only time will tell...

[beleebala]

K8park,

$550 for photographer. Is that your budget or you already hired one? Unless the photographer is just starting his/her business and needs to build up his/her portfolio, otherwise, this fee seems extremely low. Or is this fee only for 2 hours of service? Have you seen his/her work? If it is not that good, perhaps you should consider asking your friends/family members who have some experience with phototaking to take photographs for you. Everyone has digital cameras nowadays. You can easily fix many things on PhotoShop afterwards to improve the photos if necessary.

[K8park]

Thanks BeleeBala,
That amount is the actual cost for the photographer. He is a photojournalist who is getting into weddings. We have seen some of his photos, so our deal is to pay for his time (all day ~ 10 hours) and he will hand over high resolution digital negatives - no proofs, no prints, no album. We'll have to worry about that stuff later - maybe as a first anniversary gift.

We also hired him to take engagement photos next weekend, so I'll be able to get a better idea of his work then.

[beleebala]

If the photographer's work is good, you are getting a very good deal! Will he be using your photos as samples?

[lookin4ideas]

Originally Posted by K8park

Thanks BeleeBala,
That amount is the actual cost for the photographer. He is a photojournalist who is getting into weddings. We have seen some of his photos, so our deal is to pay for his time (all day ~ 10 hours) and he will hand over high resolution digital negatives - no proofs, no prints, no album. We'll have to worry about that stuff later - maybe as a first anniversary gift.

We also hired him to take engagement photos next weekend, so I'll be able to get a better idea of his work then.

Hi Katherine,

One thing I have heard & read is that if it is a sunny day digital cameras do not take very good pictures, something to keep in mind....

[Sept2006_bride]

our goal was $10,000. we hit it pretty close:

venue : $3,600
my dress: $1,200
flowers: $250
dj: $500
Photographer $1400
limo: $600
rings: $500 (mine and fixing for husbands)
donation to church; $100
ceremony music: $120
decoration including centerpieces: $100
flower girl dress: $60
lincense: $100
hair and make up - $100
invitations: $150
cake: $200
favors: $30
wedding party gifts: $100
grooms tux: free
ring bearers tux: $80


for a grand total of $9,090.

now our honeymoon cost:

cruise and hotel in disneyland and flight: $1300
spending money: $600
tattoo money: $100

total was $2000 honeymoon

[K8park]

Yes, the photographer will be using our photos as samples, hopefully not the ones of us getting ready!

There are a number of photographers that seem to only be shooting digital, and I'm told that with the right equipment it is comparable to film (most people couldn't tell the difference). I did hear that from sources other that the photographer we hired, so hopefully it's the truth! The chances of it being a super sunny day in April aren't that good anyway I'm afraid. but I'll hope....

[admin]

Originally Posted by K8park

Yes, the photographer will be using our photos as samples, hopefully not the ones of us getting ready!

There are a number of photographers that seem to only be shooting digital, and I'm told that with the right equipment it is comparable to film (most people couldn't tell the difference). I did hear that from sources other that the photographer we hired, so hopefully it's the truth! The chances of it being a super sunny day in April aren't that good anyway I'm afraid. but I'll hope....

Hi K8park,

Depending on what you want from the photos, yes digital can be as good as (or better than) film. One thing to consider: not-so-good photographers will not be confident to shoot with film. If you have a low budget, you want to have digital: chances are the photos will turn out better with digital as the photographer (assuming not as experienced as the good ones) can see what he/she takes right away. He/she may retake when necessary. If you have a higher budget, you want your photographer to shoot both digital and film. Film is always better for enlargement. If they shoot digital, make sure they provide you with both the RAW files and jpeg as well. Also, there is an easy way to tell if a photographer is good: Look at the photos they took indoor. See whether you can tell a flash has been used. If you can clearly see a flash was used and the shadow in many of the indoor photos, he/she might be not very good. Good photographers can use flash in a such way that you cannot tell just by looking at the photos.

Also, you actually don't want a sunny day for taking photos. Overcast always provides the best overall lighting for photo taking.

[K8park]

Thanks for the input. We are having the photographer do our engagement photos this weekend, so we will get to see his work in action.

He has "other" photography experience, he is just new to weddings, so I'm hoping there won't be any issues, but I will feel better after I see our engagement pics. Kind of like a "test drive" I guess!

[Nicole-BRIDE TO BE!!]

Yes We Too Are Trying To Budget!
We Are Hoping No More Than $7000-not Including The Dress And Make-up Etc
Ceremony Site-$600
Reception With Food-$3000
Professional Decorator-$500-$800? We Meet This Week
Booze-$2000
Flowers-$250
Marriage Fees-$200
Photographer-free-my Aunt Is A Professional And Does Many Weddings!
Invitations Etc-$250
Favors-$50 We Are Making Cds For The Gusts Of Our Favorit Music That Reflects Us
Cake-$500
Well I Guess Ive Reached Our Budget! Ha Ha I Guess Ill Forget The Budget. This Day Only Happens Once

[Vie]

This is what we're budgeting for and we're pretty close... We have about 100 people.

[jbwonders]

Originally Posted by K8park

Yes, the photographer will be using our photos as samples, hopefully not the ones of us getting ready!

There are a number of photographers that seem to only be shooting digital, and I'm told that with the right equipment it is comparable to film (most people couldn't tell the difference). I did hear that from sources other that the photographer we hired, so hopefully it's the truth! The chances of it being a super sunny day in April aren't that good anyway I'm afraid. but I'll hope....

I was worrying about the getting ready shots too until I've found my photographer, I was referred by a friend, and their get ready shots as well as the photographers' portfolio really amazed me! We booked a ~$5000 package including a monster size coffee book. I really look forward to it.

We might want to hire a videographer as well, anyone knows about the market price of hiring a videographer for about 10 hours? I am looking for experienced professionals specialized in weddings.

[Girly1986]

Aiming for $5000, although $6000 is possible if necessary.

Dress: $500 (bought it already)
Groom's outfit: Not sure yet. Up to $600
Rings: $870 (for both, already bought)
Venue: $600 (already booked, includes liquor license)
Food: $800 (making it ourselves with help)
Cake: $150-200
Photographer: $200 (discount from friend)
Renting cutlery/glasses/plates: No idea?? Maybe $300
Invitations: $70 (from Michaels)
Wine: $700 (already bought)
Musicians: Not sure yet. Under $400
Marriage license: $100 (I think?)
Flowers: $50-100
2 Bridesmaids Dresses: $200

That's all I can think of right now. It's still a year away though.

[Burnabybride]

Our original budget was $10,000 an then it was $12,000 and with the wedding less than two weeks away the final tally is in and it costing $15,000. I had a pretty small budget to begin with so I am happy in the end with what we've spent.

Our budget was $10,000 but I think we will be closer to $12,500. So far this is what I have:
Dress, veil and shoes - $665 - got a good deal on my dress and veil only need to buy shoes
Wedding ring for the groom only, I have my grandmother's wedding band - $400
Venue - $900
Reception (food and wine) - $6000 - but really cost $8500
Hair and makeup for the bridal party - $350
Dj - $800 - but with a package upgrade cost $900
Photographer -$900
Limo - $500
Flowers for wedding party and recpetion - $700 - but really cost $1100
Tuxedo rentals - $200
Ceremony - $150 - cost $300
Parents, MOH, and Bestman thank-you gifts - $300
and about $500 for misc. wedding stuff
I'm making my invitations and it's about $75 so far for card stock and other materials

It sure adds up fast!

[SweCan]

No budget whatsoever at this point, haven't really started to plan yet.... Could be anywhere between 10k and 20k depending on what type of wedding we decide on

[Mayura]

Wow, I'm amazed at how well you all have managed to stay within budget.

We have 200 guests invited, and I initially started off with a budget of 30K - but right now it looks like it's leaning more towards 35K.

I would loved to have been able to have a wedding for under 10K... but I don't think that is possible for the number of guests we wanted to invite.

[setarei]

For all those that have gotten reception venues for around 1k, where was your reception?

[jnhodges]

Originally Posted by admin

Just wondering how much people generally spend on their weddings, including dress, venue, decoration, invitation card, website, food, photographer, videographer, transportation, etc., but not including honeymoon.

My fiancee and I have a pretty substantial guestlist that we really can't trim down and we're both Italian so we're spending a LOT on amazing food...I budgeted about $25,500, but since I'm planning a winter wedding I'm hoping to get some deals