Budget

[downtownlagirl]

Astef, it's totally doable. We are doing the whole thing at a very nice resort with no great deals for $25K for 60 guests not including our attire - on which we went overboard so no need to discuss ;-) But I could cut $5k in open bar, flowers, and photography without too much pain. You will be fine!

[IRIEGIRL]

 everything is sooo expensive but i know it definately worked out cheaper planning a destination Jamaica wedding it woulda been soooo much more expensive to do it in new york

[Brenners]

Looking at other threads, some brides are choosing less expensive packages and then adding on what they want.  Does anyone know if this is really cheaper in the end?  I agree that it is cheaper for my FI and I to do our wedding this way but I still want to make sure that we aren't paying an arm and a leg for things that we could maybe get cheaper another way like through an outside vendor perhaps????

[jamieirene]

Brenners,

 

We have found out that this is way cheaper for us as well!

 

Save the Dates 150.00 Custom made post cards on Etsy.com

Wedding invites custom made passports 400.00

My Dress 1200.00

Travel w/air for a week 2500.00

The Actually wedding Day Royal Package at the all inclusive Riu Caribe 1600.00

Our Photographer and a Videographer (local cancun Vendor) 1500.00 ( and YES thats for all day coverage!

Vendor fees for my photographer and videographer 400.00

Flowers for myself and 5 Bridesmaids 300.00 (real touch calla lillys 20 in bouquet with white ribbons with pears for me and 6 for my maids)

 

So so far we are at 8050.00.... we are trying to stay under $10,000.00  my cake and everything else is included so all we have to get is oot bags together wedding party gifts and my fi's attire.  I am 100% sure we can stay under 10,000!

 

 

[mochamakes3]

Now that we are only a few weeks away I thought I would do a quick run down of our budget. FI never told me how much he thought we should spend, but I always had it in my mind to try to stay below $10K. Our guest list is 30 people.

 

Accommodations for 11 nights and 12 days in paradise: $4500

Return Airfare: $1000

 

Save-the-Date DIY & Vistaprint (incl. postage): $100

Engagement Photos: $50

DIY Invitations (incl. postage and cutting supplies): $350

 

OOT Bags & Bridal Party Survival Kits: $400

Decor & Civil Ceremony Fees (incl. setup) : $1050

DIY Real Touch Bouquets & Boutonnieres: $350

 

Bride's Attire (3 Dresses and shoes): $750

Groom's Attire (Purchased new suit but will wear again): $350

 

Photographers: $3000

 

Cocktail Hour: $600

 

That is $12500 but since we are at Palace Resorts, we are expecting to have the cocktail hour credited and 7 nights stay credited because of our group contract. So after our credits we should be back down to $9100.

 

I didn't include our rings because we will wear them everyday so I don't think they should be included in the "Wedding Day" budget.

[jamieirene]

Its good to know there are other brides out there doing it for under 10k. When I was reading some of the budgets I was thinking we are having a destination wedding to save money what are we getting ourselves into?!

[Brenners]

Yes, it is crazy how much everything adds up.  One of the resorts we are considering looks much more reasonable after we got some additional information about what is included in their fees.  That made me feel much better!

[jamieirene]

We are having out wedding at the Riu Caribe... I have some info about additional costs if its one you are considering let me know I can email you the info I have!

[Brenners]

Hi Jamie!  We are looking at Ceiba Del Mar and Barcelo Maya.  Do any of your vendors travel that far south?

[ct2013]

We've gone through our budget for ~80 people at a nice Jamaican resort and I'm actually quite shocked at the cost.  

 

Just for key wedding items, not the dress, travel, rings, gifts for guests, etc. we're at ~$25,000 USD.

 

I'm shocked how much we have to pay for booze and food at an all inclusive, where otherwise the guests that we are bringing to the resort would be eating and drinking anyway.   We also have to rent the dining room for the dinner reception.  I understand there is cost in barternders and servers + markup, but it's way more expensive than I thought!

 

$3K coctail party

$8K dinner

$3K open bar (wine and beer is included), so it's $3k regardless how much hard liquor is consumed

$3K basic ceremony (per person charge of $20 above 2 people)

$1500 music for reception, dj for dinner/ dancing

flowers?

photos?

etc.

 

It's really not much cheaper than doing it at home for 80 people, and a lot of restrictions.