How Much Did You Spend on your Wedding?

Our budget is around 30k (this is for everything except the honeymoon) - the way we came up with our budget was by focusing on how much we make, how much the bills are, seeing what we were able to cut back on and be able to save every month. Coupled with what our parents have told us they want to pay and that's how we got our budget. (I say told us because even though FH and I were adamant about paying for this on our own they refused to take no for an answer) Also our guest list is at around 100 people.

Asking how much a wedding costs is like asking how much a car cost. A better and politer approach might be to ask what sort of cake, or flowers, or reception a couple had and what was the price range for those vendors, there's a big difference between an 8 tier elaborately decorated, professionally made cake with a grooms cake and "cake cutting fee"; and a nice one tier cake made by an aunt, served at a house reception. I think Brian's offer is very helpful.

Each and every couple has different circumstances to consider. Some have no bills, no debt, higher salaries; whereas others have bills, debt and/ or little or hardly any salary. I can say that my bills are minimum and I and my fiance give up many things on a daily basis. We have not been shopping in 2 years. We have no cable, no house phone, we cook everything at home. I don't get my hair done as often as I wish, I do my own nails, my own eyebrows, and we always always always shop for a bargain, when we need to. We only recently got a credit card as an emergency type card. And we are spending a lot for this wedding. (Over 20k) Some people choose to spend their money on many of little pleasures, we prefer to spend our money on a bigger pleasure.

Wowwwwww! We're having about 70-80 people and anticipate spending 5.5k/6k total with a sit down dinner..

That's awesome Lauren.

We are spending $10.3k for everything except the honeymoon, except the honey moon. We are paying for everything except the honeymoon, and are about halfway there. My mom and her sig other are paying for the honeymoon.

@TeeDub4Evr technically the reception costs are about $12k at BWI...at a new and very nice hotel that if it were downtown would cost $120 pp. We are paying $62 pp for everything and couldn't find a better deal anywhere else. Once you factor in the photography, DJ, dress, invitations, rehearsal dinner, rings, honeymoon, it all adds up. Plus we are looking at 175-200 people so it's not exactly small.

We tried tyo stay in budget of $15k but got up to about $19k.

Irin: lol I was just at BWI yesterday I live right off the beltway and flew in from FL.. that's really cool there's somewhere near by for a wedding!

Lauren, yeah we're pretty excited! We're having it at a Sheraton that was built I think less than 3 years ago so it's not like it's at the Red Roof Inn over there or something. We just can't afford downtown or Annapolis and this place is beautiful.

I'm in Atl and we're doing everything in the city, so that seems to make it a bit pricier. We have a guest list of 90 and with estimates of 70 showing, we're sitting at about 11K. We're doing a lot of DIY, stationary, flowers, decor etc. I wish I could find a way of lowering that but....I think I'm out of ideas!

I meant to say "plus you're at BWI". But yes you're way more people than I'll have. I knew I should have took that into consideration.

BTW 60pp is good, I've seen higher, but also found 30 and 40 (smaller venues though).

Also I'm bringing may gal on board, who is a planner and has the hook up on everything wedding related here. I'm a travel agent on the "side" so I'll get a good deal on the HM.

The thing that KILLS a reception is that dang service charge. The good thing about our PP price is that it includes everything, including a full open bar with name brand liquor, the food, cocktail hour and passed hors d'ouevres, and even the cake, linens, plates, silverware, tables, chairs, etc.

I know we could easily have 250 people if we were able to pay for that, so cutting the list to where it is now has been tough. Our families are 80-90 people on the list so far. FH has a huge family!

That's actually not bad. Honestly I was considering BWI since most of our guests are OOT. We haven't really made any plans as of late.

I have a huge fam too, but if I haven't seen you in over 5 yrs...*shrugs and lol*

We ended up spending around $25,000, that includes the honeymoon..

The number of OOT guests really sealed the deal for us. It pretty much had to be at a hotel.

My parents are helping out a lot, otherwise we would be having a very minimal wedding, but the total for ours came out to around $20k for 200 guests.

Yea we ended up trimming the guest list down to 70 people and it still includes everyone who we want there, so I'm okay with it, plus FH and I will feel so much more comfortable not being in the midst of relatives who we dont even remember.. we're very simple people so this is going to be awesome!

A hotel is my first choice, but we might have to look into White Marsh or near Towson. Like you stated downtown/inner harbor is pricey.

@Lauren can I ask, where are you getting married?