15K Budget

I'm not sure about the prices in the Chicago area, but I think your budget is very reasonable for 120 people. Try adding Chicago suburbs to your title!

Here's how it works, Donna-- to get married will cost you around $500 for the license and officiant. NOTHING you add after that makes you any more married, so after that, it's a series of choices: want to invite 600 guests? It's probably going to be pizza in the park then. OK with just 20? Then you can have a nice reception at a fancy restaurant. Want a handmade dress? Better be OK with a less-experienced photog. OK with a dress off the rack? Then you can afford the pricier photog. So and so forth, till you've hit your budget. But remember-- NONE of it matters after you have your officiant and marriage license.

Hi Donna - this is certainly possible in the Chicago suburbs for 120 guests. Just keep your budget in mind and skip the "extras" (save the dates, photo booth, etc.). Get the important things paid for first (venue, caterer, photographer, DJ) and go from there. with what you can afford.

I think that budget is very doable, I think the recommendation from Ashley is spot-on. Focus on the bigger most important aspects of the wedding and knock those out first. I do find the venue to be one of the biggest expenses but there are a lot of spots to visit & choose from. Speaking as a Chicago wedding photographer I have been to some affordable venues in the suburbs too. One of my favorite indoor venues was the Drury Lane in Oakbrook. It is gorgeous inside & they do offer pretty competitive pricing. Old Orchard Country Club is also very pretty and I have shot a smaller wedding (around 100 people) there. I hope this helps!

Hey Donna! I'm over in Willowbrook/Oak Brook area and getting married in Frankfort. It's definitely possible on a 15k budget, you just need to be smart about what you're spending your money on as any person needs to be. Your wedding's not until 2018 but I'd book the top vendors like venue and photographer so you lock in 2016 prices.

Use the Venues and Vendors tab on WW for info that's for our area.

It's possible. My budget is under 10k for 100 people and i'm managing. You definitely need to decide what is important to you, 15k will not get all all the bells and whistles nowadays. Good luck!

You're talking over two years away, so pricing will go up.

I think it's a little tight considering that most of the time the reception takes up about 50% of the budget. That gives you 7500.00 for 120 guests, including tax and service. That means your food/beverage should be about 60.00 pp to start.

It's possible, but it's going to be tight.

I'd cut the list, but I would almost always cut the list.

I went with the Serbian Social Center in Lansing. Food was good, bar was open and passed apps. It was around 53 pp for 110 people. My total was right under 6k. So it is possible, but you have to scale back on the extras. We went with a all in one studio for photography instead of an independent photographer. Saved us about 1k. The pictures are great but everything else like a photo album is a la carte and cookie cutter. No photo booth, no favors, grocery store flowers, simple centerpieces, simple stds and invites. We shopped for deals wherever we could. You have to be willing to cut the frills.

Chicago is one of the most expensive places to get married, however the suburbs may be a little cheaper! I live in Chicago now but am marrying in my hometown, Saint Louis because it's way cheaper and I have more connections. Good luck to you!

I am looking to pretty much the same thing as you, also in the suburbs of Chicago. I am looking at around 100 people though and 13k next September.

We look at our first "venue", a restaurant, on Friday!!

Yes I'm doing 250 for under 20k in Chicago suburbs. We are doing noahs in naperville

I don't live in Chicago, so I can't speak for that, but I'm sure its doable. Just make sure you prioritize what's most important. We just set budgets on each thing that we were willing to spend and left little room for compromise (i.e. venue, catering, photographer, DJ, etc.). Also, our wedding venue allows for you to buy your own alcohol AKA $1500 vs. $4000 (compared to other venues) for us. Also, you have time on your side which allows for a lot of research! Good luck!

I am doing 225 for 25k in Lincolnshire- no honeymoon or rings included in that. I would think about half the guests should pull you down a bit. And i didn't make the cheapest choices available

I'm getting married for under 15K. Expecting 100 guests. I'm in southwest FL though, not Chicago.

I'm in the same boat but in Maryland. The venue we choose for the ceremony and reception is all inclusive and waterfront. We are paying $11k for food and booze for 115 guests, venue has all the fixins'. (linens,chairs,china,bartender, cake, center pieces). Now that the important stuff is out the way I can penny pinch and diy. Good luck!!

I am doing 175 guests in Ohio for 13k. Includes everything.

Hi, your budget is definitely doable in Chicago. Your venue will definitely be the most expensive. However, if you opt out for Friday or Sunday, venues tend to offer good discounts sometimes up to 20% off. Also if you choose to go outside of the wedding season you can probably save there at least on the venue. For my own wedding my biggest issue was photography and videography because in Chicago area great photo/video guys are not cheap. At the end of the day you will need to make smart choices and decide what is most important to you. For example, if you don't want to spend on centerpieces, ask your venues to see if they offer any artificial flowers that come in your package. I know Avalon Banquets in Elk Grove Village do that as I work with them all the time.