Brides with an unlimited (or very high) budget

Our budget was fairly hefty because my parents were paying as well as my husband and I. I decided the most important things to me were: food, venue, photographer and videographer. I picked a florist I loved who happened to do things fairly inexpensively in comparison. The venue I loved was actually a National Park so it was inexpensive for an outdoor venue with indoor reception space for 400 people (we only invited 200 though haha). While our budget was high, I also made the decision that I didn't want to spend that much money so I found ways to save that also were fun. My sister made all the table numbers. My husband and father built planter boxes for the ceremony and did the decorative light poles for the reception. I used the arbor (that my dad built) from my sisters wedding as well as her beautiful hair piece. Think of the things that are truly the most important to you and creating the atmosphere you want and that is what you should spend your money on.

Growing up I was annoyed with the idea of spending so much money on one day. The idea of eloping sounded very good to me. FH was not a fan of the idea so we compromised by having 2 weddings. 1 will be in courtroom (for me) and 1 will be in church with a big party (for him). This is our compromise. Of course I am the one who ends up planning his dream wedding because there’s no way I would trust him to make these kinds of decisions. Both of us are paying for the wedding. Originally I thought we could do it in $10-15k. Then I realized that even for a bride who doesn’t want this wedding I have expensive taste and will not be embarrassed on our day so our wedding will end up being closer to $30k. I don’t have a budget I just do research and compare prices and go with the most trustworthy professional and try to negotiate on what I’m getting and the price.

My husband and I are both in our 40s with established careers so we were able to do what we wanted with our wedding. We still kept our guest list low so we could splurge on them. We had 40 guests and we paid for their accommodations at the Fairmont in Sonoma where we had our reception. We also splurged on transportation. We rented a '47 Packard to drive us from the hotel to the ceremony roundtrip and that cost nearly $1,000 for basically a 20 minute drive roundtrip. We also splurged on getting a 9-piece band. However, there were some things I wanted to keep under a certain amount and I still researched each and every vendor to make sure I was getting the best deal for my money. I didn't want to pay more than $3,000 for a photographer and got lucky by finding someone who does it on the side so she only charged me $1,200. I got a videographer for $1,500 but that also included a photo booth. And I wanted to keep my floral budget at $2,500. I bought a lot of small things that I didn't care about the price. When I added up all those things it was easily over $2,000 with most of it being things from Etsy. For example, my custom card box that was a replica of our house was over $300. I really splurged on my bridesmaids. I bought them each a diamond and pearl gold necklace and earrings along with several other items and paid for their makeup so that all in I paid about $1,000 for each bridesmaid's gifts. When it was all said and done, not including rings or honeymoon, our wedding cost us around $50,000 for 42 people (bride and groom included).

My dad and I are paying for the wedding, with roughly a 2/3s 1/3 split. The most important thing to me was my venue, full stop. I knew I would be married there since the age of five. Luckily for me, they have a pretty all-inclusive wedding package. They handle all of the catering except the cake/desserts, provide floral arrangements for the tables (and I can get my bouquets and boutonnieres from the in-house florist for an additional charge), and provide a wedding coordinator.

The only other thing I really splurged on was my photographer. She's ridiculously expensive, but also ridiculously talented. So I made cuts in other areas. Our amazingly delicious cake is $375, but I'll have to send a friend to pick it up. We'll have an open bar, but just beer and wine. I'm not a DIY person, so there's really no additional decorations and I'm using minted and Zazzle to create the paper products.

My fiancé and I did not set a budget but we set a number that we would like to stay under. If we go over no big deal but I am keeping an excel sheet with all prices, what we have paid so far and what we will owe the night of the wedding

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5/9/20 is the best day, so I'm not surprised
What Maggie dress did you go with? Their selection is absolutely gorgeous. I love that your FH insisted on a horn section! That will be so much fun.

We didn't get a specific budget from my parents, but I had been halfway down the planning stage of a wedding, before, so we alluded to that. FH and I knew that we'd be kicking in some, and I kind of took on a lot of the expenses (probably more than I could actually afford, but I have an independent streak).

I've been tracking the major expenses, and my dad and I hate spending money on things that aren't travel/education/housing, so I bargain hunted and we're keeping things fairly simple.

Our biggest expenses are the venue and the photographer. We all prioritized good food and a good view - and yet, because we planned in less than 8 months, we got a great deal on the venue. The photographer was rec'd by a friend's husband (who happens to be a wee bit of an Important Photographer himself, and did our engagement pics), and we've never met him. But good pictures are the way you remember the day best.

Our videographer is super cheap - she's a coworker/friend, wants to get into the business, and is a filmmaker. She asked for expenses, basically, and she wants to do our wedding because we're having a swordfight. (This is great, all our friends are actors, so now she'll meet them all and it's a de facto network event.)

Went for fake flowers - 1. My dad's allergic to everything, nowadays. 2. So cheap.

I found my dress at a sample sale. The alterations cost nearly 4 times as much as the dress, but I still saved at least 50% over retail.

DJ, limo, and all that kind of stuff seem to be coming in around standard for our region.

I think we're going to be about $30k or so ... in New York City... in August... which is actually really below average.

We have a "budget" but it's higher than I think I'd realistically reach. I planned on contributing, but my parents set a number they'd contribute and then FH's parents and my grandparents have been coming forward with additional contributions. I really splurged on photography, but were conscious about catering (i.e. picking one of the cheaper preferred/required caterers) and flowers because I'm not super picky about real vs. fake. We've kept track of major vendor expenses, but not things like bridesmaids gifts, jewelry, stationary, and such. Not interested in spending any more than is necessary (besides fireworks...really want fireworks haha) because I'm grateful for everyone's contributions!

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That sounds like such an incredible day!! I absolutely love Sonoma, perfect setting for a wedding. We are older as well, I will see 40 in the very near future on our wedding day and my FH crossed that bridge a few years ago So I do think age has us more comfortable for sure spending some extra where we want than we could 15 years ago. Paid (no pun intended) to wait for my perfect hubby!!!

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I think that is a great price for NYC, props on all your budgeting!! Hope you have an amazing wedding! Sooooo close!! Can't wait to see pics. I'm a Jersey girl too and looked at having up there, but we have both been in the DC area for 15+ years, so decided to make all the Jersey people come to the South!

View Quoted Comment WE ARE HAVING FIREWORKS!! We met over fireworks and both have a thing for them, have seen shows in numerous countries. It is pretty much what I'm most excited about. And we are keeping it a secret so hopefully we have some very surprised guests! Where is your weekend, Tracy?? 1 year countdown is on!

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We are hoping to keep the fireworks a surprise too - guests will love it! We are getting married at a vineyard in Charlottesville, VA! 1 year to go as of today

I have a "budget" but it is on the higher end and based on the things that I'm wanting we're probably going to be over