Budget

I love this thread!! And SO admire those people with budgets under $10,000... i am such a frugal (cheap!!) person in everyday life that I am really needing to try and relax and breathe deep when I think about how expensive this wedding will be! Still... i honestly believe a destination wedding will be cheaper than a formal wedding at home!

 

We're just at the beginning stages of planning our wedding for next May. We originally wanted to spend $10,000.... however after looking into it I think $15,000 is more realistic. As long as we are under $20,000 I will be happy!!

 

This is the budget we are hoping to stick to.

 

Travel (air, 7nights accomodation, transfers, insurance) =$3800

Ceremony + Cocktail hour + Reception = $4000

Photographer = $5000

Videographer = $500

DJ = $600

Favors & OOT & guest gifts = $750

Stationary, Invites, STD, menus (mostly all DIY) = $200

Dress & accessories = $2000

Suit & accessories = $150

Rings = $150 (only for FI, my engagement ring will be my wedding band!)

Hair, Makeup, manicure, pedicure = $200

Miscellaneous (cake topper, linens, chair sashes, luminaries, lanterns) = $300

 

The main thing that would put us over budget is if more people end up RSVPing than we are expecting. This also doesn't include our honeymoon... or at home reception (I think my parents will be paying for this as it is mostly for them!). I would also really like to do a day-trip for our guests, so we'll see how that fits into the budget... eeek!

 

How is everyone finding such affordable photographers?? It is such a huge part of my budget... it boggles my mind!

I think that if you're not including the things listed above, you can definitely do it for 10k no problem! That's a smart number IMO.

Do you have your photographer yet or are you looking for suggestions. There are so many out there and they really run the gamut. And it should be a huge part of your budget--it's the only thing you get to take back with you!

Pinapplebride! Do you need photographer suggestions? Mine was AWESOME!!!!!!!! And very affordable!!

This is insightful! A lot of the first DW appeared to have substantially lower photog expenses. Lucky them!!!!

I am back from Maui! But I have not had the AHR yet..

Here is what we ended up spending -->

 

Travel

Plane Tickets: $988

Hotel Rooms: $1970

Airport Parking: $100

Total= $3058

 

Invites

DIY Save the Dates: $60

Wedding Invites: $150

DIY Luggage Tags: $60

AHR Invites: $65

Stampes/Response Cards & Envelopes: $175

Total= $510

 

Wedding & Reception

Wedding Coordinator: $900

Site Fee: $500

Chairs for Ceremony: $125

CD of Negatives: $125

Reception: $1860

Tips/Gifts for Vendors: $145

Guest Book: $10

Total= $3665

 

At Home Reception

DIY Centerpieces: $145

Dueling Piano Players: $1400

Site Fee: $500

Hotel: $79

Shuttle Bus: $425

Food: $3500 (guess)

Total= $6049

Our budget is definitely low, but we're lucky that our parents are paying our air+hotel as a wedding gift. We're going to Varadero, Cuba, and for our second week my fiance and I are going to Havana and staying in a casa (their version of bed and breakfast) So we have:

 

Charge for coming back on a later flight: $300/each - $600

Wedding dress - $170 - from Unique Vintage. I love it, and it looks perfect and won't need many alterations at all.

Shoes - $70

My ring: $450

His ring: $300

Casa stay in Havana for our honeymoon: $30/day for 6 days = $180 (so affordable and includes breakfast every morning!)

Wedding package at the resort: $250 for renewal of vows (doing the legal part here before we go)

Extras for the ceremony including live music and videographer: $350

Hair dresser for me at the resort: $50

Gifts for groomsmen/bridesmaids: $250

His suit: $400

OOT Bags - roughly around $200 (still waiting for final guest list)

 

So roughly around $3500. Plus spending money for Cuba so we're looking at close to but under $5000.

 

Not bad!

We're still looking for a photographer!! There are tons out there that I love...but they will all really be pushing the budget!!

I'd LOVE any suggestions!!!! Thanks in advance!!

You can check out mine, Andrew Jordan Photography. There are links under my siggy. If I recall your budget was $5000 for photog? He'd be waaaay under that! Are you thinking of bringing one with you, choosing one from the resort, or someone else in Mexico? I can think of a few other names if Andrew isn't your style.

The $5000 is based on the cost of bringing a local photographer we like to Mexico with us, which is our plan B.
Originally we had dreamed of having Elizabeth Medina or Nathaniel Thompson, however they are both over the budget for the amount of coverage we want.

If we can find a photographer we love for under $5000 we would be ecstatic!! I'm going to check out your photos tonight!! Thx!

check out Juan Navarro...his prices are reasonable and his work looks awesome..i hired him for my November wedding and so far he's been great to work with