What's the MOST important expense for a wedding?

Food/Booze

Photography

DJ

Food and booze

Photography

Entertainment

1. Food

2. Photography

3. Music

We want to have a good time and capture the day.

1. Photography

2. Food

3. Music

Props to everyone who chose officiant ;-)

1. Food/Drink

2. Photography

3. Music

4. Venue

5. Attire

1. Venue(s) (but mostly a venue that could fit 200+, and allow us to bring in #2)

2. Drinks (includes open bar)

3. Photography

I've found food can be awesome but if there is no booze, people will forget the food.

1) Family (and yes that was a budget concern in terms of getting them all there/being able to afford to invite all of both of our very close and very large families)

2) Officiant

3) Food I guess.

4) Venue - because H was determined to get married in his childhood back yard.

I honestly didn't give a crap about most of the other stuff on the list. Nice to have but none of it was a major consideration for me. We got what we got - and if we couldn't afford it we didn't have it.

1. Officiant - They are kind of the most important part of the whole day

2) Booze - self explanatory LOL

3) food

Photography

Venue

DJ

Booze

Food

Guest: food, drink, DJ

bride: photographer, food, drink, DJ, venue

Can I say my groom?

Edit: Didn't read until the end about the budget lol. In terms of that,

Photography

Band (it wasn't the most expensive thing or even the top 3 most expensive thing, but it was a priority)

Food

1. Music (live band) - I want people to remember how much they danced

2. Food - I want legitimate food babies on the dance floor

3. Venue (art museum) - architectural and beautiful / interesting on its own. less decor costs = moar food and bigger band

1. That I don't hate my body or the way I look or spend the entire time worrying about how fat I am going to look in pictures. So basically that I look and feel amazing! I'm adding a new "Feel Good/Beauty" category.

2. Alcohol because that should help with #1. After a few drinks I forgot all that nonsense and think I look like Meghan Fox and can dance like Beyonce.

3. Food/Cake. That's why #1 is even an issue because I *heart* food

4. Music because #2

5. Honeymoon because my favorite thing to do with FH is travel and our honeymoon is going to be amazing!

Officiant - can't get married without them

Cake - could just have a cake & punch reception if I had to

Photographer - in whatever form, I would want some recording of the events

1. Food - Either the food is good or bad, and I'd rather guests remember the food being good.

2. Photography - Capturing moments and making memories as best as they can

3. Music/Entertainment - Again, keeping the guests happy

4. Drinks - yet again, making those guests happy

5. Honeymoon - because as long as we've been together and after all the planning and partying, we deserve it!

This is how the budget went. I guess what we spent showed our priorities.

1. Guest hosting: The Venue - included 5 hours of open bar, cocktail hour food, 4 course plated meal. The cake was included, but was part of the dessert display. Valet parking.

2. 2 trumpets, keyboard/piano, baritone and soprano soloists, for the prelude and ceremony. Piano player and saxophonist, for the cocktail hour - part of 12 piece band, for the reception.

3. Décor and floral - included uplights and pinspots on the tables, chair covers, personal flowers and centerpieces, ceremony flowers, all candles and other décor.

4. Apparel - for myself and my groom. Including beaded belt, veil, shoes, jewelry. A friend is a professional MUA and hair stylist, so she worked for a fraction of her regular price.

5. Photography and videography - same firm

Top five:

Venue

Food

Favors

Attire

Decor

Well.....photography, of course

1. Food/Venue--ours was a package deal but if the venue didn't have amazing food we may have gone elsewhere.

2. Photography--after all is said and done, your photos will be all that's left of that very fast day.

3. DJ/Music--because everyone loves a good party.