Budget

View Quoted Comment Started at 80k

Our original budget was 30k. Since then we fell in love with a venue that is a bit more but includes everything we are looking for. We figure with all the other venders we have to hire such as flowers, photographer, and DJ plus Dress we will be around 50k. Both sides of our family are pitching in a bit, not quite sure how much yet. This is a non traditional wedding with some traditional qualities.

We will end up between $25k-29k, not including my rings or the honeymoon. We’re inviting 150, expecting 120ish. We live in the suburbs of Chicago and have been really budget minded. Everything is just SO expensive!

We started at no more than $4k for 115-150 people, not including honeymoon or rings. We are already over 6k and still have vendors to book plus FH attire. At this point we are really just trying to stay under 10k.. Which to me, is an absurd amount of money to spend on a single day, but here we are lol.

View Quoted Comment I think each bride sees it differently. If you have the money and want to spend it why not?! It’s going to be one of the most memorable days of your life! 😊

We were originally planning on 18k but it's looking like it may be more like 25k 😱😱😱😱😱

Our budget is 15k for 100 people! It doesn’t include our rings. Originally, it was set at 10k but we went with an all inclusive package with our venue. Also, we’ve had time to save since it’ll be a 2 year engagement till the wedding! Super glad we waited!

As interesting as it is hearing what everyone else’s budget is, in my opinion, location and their financial situation plays such a big part. Also. The most important factors for the wedding is important- food, atmosphere, photographer etc. my suggestion is to decide what is the most important thing is to YOU, and work from there! For me. I started with wanting to spend as little as possible for the best food. I was able to find a venue for $60 a person, where the average per person in connecticur seemed to be 100-125. I decided on everything else around the budget venue!

View Quoted Comment Hi Chelsea, I agree but the fact is that The average American doesn’t have the money. According to https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/finance/how-much-does-a-wedding-cost/, the national average of a wedding is $34,000!
If a couple hasn’t paid of their house, or their student loans, $34,000 should be prioritized to those investments first, before a wedding. I’ve met countless couples who tell me they regret spending so much on a wedding and started on in a marriage filled with debt. Not to mention, I’ve met several ppl who are still paying off a wedding debt AFTER their divorce.
You have to agree, the average middle class couple can not afford $34,000 upfront!

Southern California wedding here. We are at about 10-12k. Friday, lunch wedding, 24 guests, no DJ, no florist, no bridal party. Weddings are esssspensive!!!

View Quoted Comment I agree that the average middle class couple can’t afford that, and I don’t think you should go into debt for a wedding. That’s why I said IF you have the money then spend as much as you want. But I also wouldn’t shame anyone for spending as much money as they want on a wedding if they had the money to spend.

View Quoted Comment Maybe you are having insecurities because of the amount you are spending...

I’m suspecting this because I NEVER shamed any one, I simply said “I can’t wrap my head around the thought of spending several thousands of dollars...” That is not shaming 😲🤭

View Quoted Comment Haha I’m not having any insecurities, our wedding is paid in full without any debt. Your little comment about “can’t wrap my head around it” isn’t really subtle, and is most definitely judgy. But you have a good night 🙂

About 10k including the honeymoon

View Quoted Comment My comment was not judgmental at all. Saying that I can’t wrap my head around myself paying several thousands of dollars has nothing to do with you or anyone else, boo boo.

If you felt it was judgmental then it was your insecurity. A simple reply about how blessed you are to be completely debt free and being able to pay for a wedding upfront in full would have sufficed. Sweet dreams.

Hi Jessica, set a budget that works for you, but I highly recommend that you don’t go into debt for a wedding. I’m in a rare situation. I have $18,000 of student loan debt and a car payment. My FH and I are also saving for a house. Due to all of these circumstances, our budget is extremely low, we just believe we should put more of our money into investments.

again, I feel I’m in a rare situation, most women on this website seem to have wayyyy less debt than me.
Good luck to you and keep us updated on your wedding planning.

We’re paying for majority of the wedding ourselves and budgeting about 25k-30k, hoping to not go over. There are 179 people on our guest list and we’re in the NYC metro area!

I think we hit 11K

My fiance and I aren't going over $5,000 for our budget. We've saved up a lot and have had help from our parents and a very close family friend.

View Quoted Comment

Gotta agree with Tiffany on this one. Our Americanized culture has fed us that there are several things you "must" have in order for your wedding to be satisfactory. I can't imagine paying half of my yearly salary which is the average cost of a wedding even if debt wasn't an issue for me. I'm having trouble wrapping my head around spending more than my monthly rent on this. It's one day. We (general we) focus so much on the wedding and forget the marriage then wonder why our divorce rate is so high. Statistically the more you spend on a wedding and engagement rings the higher your chances for divorce are. Which I really don't care what others do but Tiffany has a point.