Wedding Budget of $10,000! where to start

Oh that includes rings, honeymoon and my dress too!

WOW you guys have some really good point and ideas! I appreciate it alot! I am definitely doing alot of research and coming up with different options i may have a friend of my brothers who can dj and i have looked into getting an amateur photographer, and i have also looked into vendors that bundle as far as having everything i just have to check them out and see if i would really like their services. I have alot of things to take in consideration even though i'm not getting married for a while i'm hoping we can save enough money. I've gone over and over in my head about the type of wedding i want to have, i've thought about having a backyard bbq, picnic, i have a vision and i just have to figure out what works best for our budget and wedding style here is my inspiration!

That's beautiful, Chimara. If that's your vision, you will get it

Thank you hun i've been trying to figure out exactly what i want and i just love this it's fun and simple in a way lol.

Welcome to WW Chimara

I would stay away from an amateur photographer. After the wedding, all you will have left is photos. At least get a 4 hr package and use the amateur for reception pictures (guests dancing, bouquet toss) You could do your 1st dance and cake cut before dinner so that you don't need to pay for the photographer to stay. Do all your combo shots before the ceremony and use the cocktail hour to get shots with your new husband.

Shoot for locations with plate $27.50 per person = $3500 for 100 guests.

$2750 dinner + $495 (tip) + $275 (tax) = $3520

Catering $3,520

Drink package $1200

DJ $650

Dress $350 ($99-$150 Davids Dress and alterations)

Accessories & Veil $180

Groom Tux $145 (unless you rent 5 and get his free - or he wears a current suit)

Favors $0

Flowers $670 (DIY, talk to Jewel? Cosco?)

Ceremony or reception Decorations $240

Cake topper/flutes/knife/unity ceremony $300

Invites/stamps/thank you $450 (Kits from Michaels or WW-ladies can show you tricks to get it for this price on vistaprint)

Rings $50 (check out www.jvljewelry.com pick out bride and groom ring. Put in code that is located on my profile, and rings are Free and pay $25 in s&h)

License $75?

Officiant $200

Gifts for wedding party/parents $220

Photography $800 (please get a photographer for 4-5 hrs & get some good pictures)

Ceremony set up fee $150

$800 misc

= $10K

Our budget was $10,000, and we came in slightly under that. Here is a link to what we did.

I planned and hosted my son and daughter-in-law's wedding in late 2011 at the best venue in town for a little over $9,000 and wrote an ebook about it that might be helpful to you (Budget Wedding Secrets: How to Have a $30,000 Wedding for Less than $10,000). You can download the first three chapters free at www.budgetweddingsite.com. I also have written quite a few blog posts that might be helpful, too.

If you're willing to do a lot of things yourself, you can have the equivalent of a $30,000 wedding; it's not rocket science, but it does take time and organization. Best of luck to you!

Diane Owens

Hi Chimara!

I am in Bolingbrook, Illinois so we are very close! I also am trying to have a wedding under 10,000 in May of 2015. How ironic! Unfortunately my guest list is looking like 200 because my in-laws have a huge family! I know not everyone will go, but we still have to invite everyone which makes it SO difficult to have a low-cost wedding. I am going to rip my hair out!

Hi... I am also trying to plan a wedding for under 10k for March 2015. I am in Naperville.... very close to you. I must admit that I am completely overwhelmed at how much things costs. I am attending the Windy City wedding show this weekend at the Marriott in Naperville. Is anyone else going?