How much is your wedding costing you?

[AMINAH215]

I agree with you! I am getting stressed out just looking at this thread and I am at exactly the same stage of planning as you. OMG

[AnaSteele58]

We set a budget and with efforts to stay within our budget we are limiting our guest count.  Our package includes 25 people and we have decided to pay for an additional 10 people.  Our cut off is 35 and everyone is aware.  We had to draw the line in the sand somewhere. 

 

At first everyone thought we were the most selfish people they have ever known.  They have since realized that DW aren't FREE! All the tension have died down and everyone is moving forward. Those who can't come will wish us well from afar.

[Nena Martinez]

Hello,

 

I am so glad I found this thread! We are getting married at Paradisus Palma Real in August 2014. Our budget is 10K, which we are expecting to pay it all off prior our wedding date. Our very first expenses have just started, from outfits for our engagement photo shoot, the photo shoot itself to picking our date and rooms. My very next expense will be the STD's which I am planning on keeping it nice and simple.

 

ENGAGEMENT OUTFITS: $250

NY PHOTO SHOOT: $350

WEDDING DATE RESERVATION: $500 (The package comes up to 5K)

10 ROOMS BLOCK: $1,000

LEGAL CEREMONY: $1,000

SAVE THE DATES: TBD

INVITATIONS: $400 (est)

XTRA STATIONARY: TBD (Programs, place cards etc)

FAVORS: $200 (est)

WEDDING BANDS: TBD

HIS OUTFIT: TBD

AIRFARE: 1200 (est)

DJ: $700

CAKE: $50 (extra layer)

PHOTOGRAPHY: TBD

FLOWERS: TBD

I'm sure there will be many items that I have not even think about yet… 

 

 

It has been somewhat difficult for us to decide on a wedding destination as my family is from Ecuador and my fiancé's is from NY and Atl. Nonetheless, I think something important for us to keep in mind is that besides celebrating our marriage and future life together, this may be the only time that BOTH families may spend time together and compromising in certain items may be the only way to get there!

 

HAPPY PLANNING!! 

 

 

Liz

[Jessica Correa]

I feel like the photographer is so expensive! I considered bringing my fiance's friend to take the pictures for us but I feel like it may even be more expensive that me finding one there! I would have to pay for his flight, his stay, the renting of his equipment, his time, and the photo album. The flight and stay alone are about $1,000 + equipment which is another $1000  + the wedding book which is about $1000 more for about 150 pictures and the one perk I would get is that he said I could keep all the pictures that he took during the wedding and the trash the dress. I need an honest opinion, is it worth me paying $4000- $5000 for this? I would get to keep the pictures that he did not edit for the wedding book but I would not be able to put them on any website, just for me own eyes basically. Help Help Help please. I really want your honest opinion on what I should do. THANK YOU

[agm04]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessica Correa 

I feel like the photographer is so expensive! I considered bringing my fiance's friend to take the pictures for us but I feel like it may even be more expensive that me finding one there! I would have to pay for his flight, his stay, the renting of his equipment, his time, and the photo album. The flight and stay alone are about $1,000 + equipment which is another $1000  + the wedding book which is about $1000 more for about 150 pictures and the one perk I would get is that he said I could keep all the pictures that he took during the wedding and the trash the dress. I need an honest opinion, is it worth me paying $4000- $5000 for this? I would get to keep the pictures that he did not edit for the wedding book but I would not be able to put them on any website, just for me own eyes basically. Help Help Help please. I really want your honest opinion on what I should do. THANK YOU

 

I think you could find a similar package there, and not have the complication of booking everything. Sometimes a 'no strings attached' vendor is just better and less stressful.

[Jenny2014]

I feel like the photographer is so expensive! I considered bringing my fiance's friend to take the pictures for us but I feel like it may even be more expensive that me finding one there! I would have to pay for his flight, his stay, the renting of his equipment, his time, and the photo album. The flight and stay alone are about $1,000 + equipment which is another $1000  + the wedding book which is about $1000 more for about 150 pictures and the one perk I would get is that he said I could keep all the pictures that he took during the wedding and the trash the dress. I need an honest opinion, is it worth me paying $4000- $5000 for this? I would get to keep the pictures that he did not edit for the wedding book but I would not be able to put them on any website, just for me own eyes basically. Help Help Help please. I really want your honest opinion on what I should do. THANK YOU

I worry that after all that, you can't do what you want with the picture. For that price you could get an amazing local photographer, get a ton of pictures and have all the rights to them...... I think it's a crazy amount of money to spend to not be able to post to facebook/twitter/instagram, etc. whenever you want...... Just my honest opinion

[Jessica Correa]

Thank you so much. I will talk to my fiance about it. I was thinking of finding a photographer there too because I think it is too much money. We are trying to stay in our budget that that would just be too much for us to do. 

[Peach]

Originally Posted by Jessica Correa 

 

I feel like the photographer is so expensive! I considered bringing my fiance's friend to take the pictures for us but I feel like it may even be more expensive that me finding one there! I would have to pay for his flight, his stay, the renting of his equipment, his time, and the photo album. The flight and stay alone are about $1,000 + equipment which is another $1000  + the wedding book which is about $1000 more for about 150 pictures and the one perk I would get is that he said I could keep all the pictures that he took during the wedding and the trash the dress. I need an honest opinion, is it worth me paying $4000- $5000 for this? I would get to keep the pictures that he did not edit for the wedding book but I would not be able to put them on any website, just for me own eyes basically. Help Help Help please. I really want your honest opinion on what I should do. THANK YOU

 

Yeah, that is too much money. Plus it would be better, in my opinion, to have someone used to photographing in that setting - cameras do not react the same on the beach, for example, as the prairies (where I am from). We paid a travel fee (they are coming from Punta Cana), two nights stay for them, plus added on a reception package and TTD next day photos. We are getting a videographer and photographer with all the rights for the images - retouched images - from a reputable company with amazing reviews, all for less than that. I definitely think you can find a better deal, especially if it is important for you to stay within your budget.

[KK2013]

Originally Posted by Jessica Correa 

 

I feel like the photographer is so expensive! I considered bringing my fiance's friend to take the pictures for us but I feel like it may even be more expensive that me finding one there! I would have to pay for his flight, his stay, the renting of his equipment, his time, and the photo album. The flight and stay alone are about $1,000 + equipment which is another $1000  + the wedding book which is about $1000 more for about 150 pictures and the one perk I would get is that he said I could keep all the pictures that he took during the wedding and the trash the dress. I need an honest opinion, is it worth me paying $4000- $5000 for this? I would get to keep the pictures that he did not edit for the wedding book but I would not be able to put them on any website, just for me own eyes basically. Help Help Help please. I really want your honest opinion on what I should do. THANK YOU

 

I am paying a little more than that for a photographer in Mexico...plus I have to pay an additional $1000 for an outside vendor fee.  I guess it depends on what is important to you.  I would take a look at area photographers as well for that price.  They give you slideshows for online as well. 

[EVKnowsitall]

Originally Posted by KK2013 

 

 

I am paying a little more than that for a photographer in Mexico...plus I have to pay an additional $1000 for an outside vendor fee.  I guess it depends on what is important to you.  I would take a look at area photographers as well for that price.  They give you slideshows for online as well. 

Ugh Paradisus and their outside vendor fees! We had an outside photog too, but we booked him a room as a guest and they waived the outside vendor fee. You should look into that- it was cheaper for us that way.