Budget crisis

Initially our budget started around $25K because that’s what we and our families thought we could contribute. However, we toured DIY and all inclusive venues and found they would work out around the same unless we really did all the work (rather than hire event planner/decoration type people) and we just do not want that.
So an all in or DIY with planners would cost more than $25K. Now we are on a much stricter budget for other things to save more money.

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This is what I feel like doing!! Pushing the date back to save more because STICKER SHOCK IS REAL!!!! However, it's too far along now, and my fiance is really excited and I am too but we've come to the realization that a $15k budget is really going to be about a $25k budget and that even though we have about $16k saved now, we may end up having to use our credit cards and personal money for things as we get closer to the big day!

We have made peace with that though and realized pay for the reception and the big expenses out of the money we saved is the best idea and that the lower costs could be paid for with whatever can make do with at the time and then credit cards...I mean this is why we have them right? LOL i'm justifying myself!!

If it makes you feel 1% better, I’ve lived in NYC so long that $65K seemed “reasonable” for the same guest count until I read this thread lol. Apparently I’m living wrong.



$18K is totally doable in that timeframe though! I break mine down mentally into the total minus what’s already paid, minus tax refund & bonus, minus what my mom committed to helping with, divided by the months left, divided by 2 (assuming my fiancé will also be contributing.). $600/month each sounds a lot less scary than $30K. If I looked at the big number each payment I would probably cry hahaha.

I don’t know why I didn’t see this thread earlier but I am in the sameeee boat. I originally wanted to spend $12-14k while thinking our family would contribute some (because they did for our siblings weddings). Since no one has told me what they’re contributing at this point (we get married in December) along with some unexpected costs we didn’t initially think about/budget for (like having our coordinator set up-breakdown the reception space since time will be tight the day of) it’s definitely more like $18-20k now 😭😭

View Quoted Comment When you got your final numbers did you also add all the kids? I was thinking of doing disposable cameras and then developing them as fun for everyone instead of a photographer. Their prices are ridiculous or they even rent video and camera equipment but I don't want to have to replace it if something happens to it. I'm still looking around and trying to stay in a budget somewhat. Let me know what you think.

For 100 ppl that's a lot. My venue is for up to 300 total with all they do is 9900. I'm doing my own decorations for weddi g and reception that cuts then out and it's my way. That's 100.00. Classy, elegant,traditional and yet fun. The extra money is going on more food and a cash bar helps for those that drink. Not everyone drinks so don't put that on you if you don't have to. You can do so much more with the extra money.

I originally set a 10k budget, quickly realized that 15 was more realistic, budgeted everything out and ended up with 21k (HOLY SH**) and then whittled it down to 17k, which is what we ultimately spent 😂


My best advice is to just figure out what you can cut by looking at things that will directly impact your experience or your guests’ experiences. Keep the good food and drinks, keep the good music, keep the great photographer...... but see if you can drop or cut back on things like (1) favors. No one ever cares if you don’t have favors! (2) photo booth—it’s fun, but not necessary (3) any sort of decor... it’s nice, but again, you don’t need much. some other ways we saved money we’re having my brother officiate, using a Spotify playlist instead of a DJ, not having any flowers except for bouquets (and my bridesmaid bouquets were DIY with grocery store flowers). So like, we spent $0 on officiant, $0 on music, $100 on flowers. But then we were able to spend $7k on delicious food for our guests to enjoy!

You can do this! You just need to force yourself to be stingy on the things that aren’t super important so you can splurge more on the things that are

^oh and we had a 100 person wedding too!


(Actually initially invited 148 and ended up with only 98 coming... which was nice on the budget, and also gave me a little more financial wiggle room so I was able to hire a videographer )

I think thats pretty much what you're going to find in the more budgeted wedding planning. I swore that 10k would be more than enough and at the end we were at the 20k price point. There are so many things that you don't think of right in the beginning. Who would have ever thought that flowers would have been such a battle to find at a reasonable cost. Lol, sticker shock is real!

View Quoted Comment Sticker shock is real.... I was looking at my decorations again so I can get them shipped fresh due to my wedding isn't til September. They flowers went up now for the new year but still free shipping and so did a lot of other things. I'm glad I actually get most everything in my venue package since we're paying for it all ourselves. I'm still gonna keep looking for what I want for the price I want. It helps a little that he gets a veteran discount on somethings. It helped for our venue. We're not having a honeymoon were going to go for our 1st yr. We're going to enjoy our family for a couple days and back to work. Blessings come in small portions ladies and we got this!!! No stress yet... we need a spa day after said and done.