Whats your budget breakdown?

My catering will be the biggest part of my budget followed by alcohol, venue, photographer, flowers, DJ, decor, dress, cake, invitations in that order.

Many people won't share their exact budgets. Here is a percentage breakdown of the budget I'm following.

Ceremony (Location, officiant, accessories) - 2%

Reception (Venue, Rentals, Food, Beverages, Cake, Extras) - 50%

Attire (Gown, alterations, veil, Tux, accessories, shoes, hair, makeup) - 10%

Flowers (Decor, Bouquets, Boutonnieres, flower girl flowers, corsages) - 7%

Music (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception) - 8%

Photos (photographer, videographer, prints) - 12%

Stationary (STD, Invites, RSVP, stamps, envelopes, programs, thank you) - 4%

Rings - 2%

Hotel (Wedding night hotel, Limo, Guest Parking) - 3%

Gifts (Favors, Parents, Bridal Party) - 2%

Does not include - Wedding coordinator, Rehearsal Dinner, Rentals, Tips or Honeymoon.

I'm not afraid to tell you what I've spent so far
Venue - free, family property
Rentals (tent, tables and chairs) - 1400
Photographer- 1200
DJ- 1000
Rings-450 for both
Catering-1400
Dress-675
Suit-300 we wanted him to feel just as dapper as I will.
Portable Bathrooms-460
Officiant-free, my sister
Ceremony and reception decor - way too much. I don't even have a number yet but probably close to 1000 at this point. Though were not paying for a florist or live flowers either.
Dance lessons - 300
HMU- 405

Some of these are exact amounts, and some are rough estimates (because, I honestly don't remember all of it, lol):

Venue- $2,400 (for the entire weekend, includes: tables, chairs, and arbor)

Photography- $800 (includes: engagement photos, bridal portraits, and entire day of w/ second shooter)

Videographer- $900 (3-4 minute highlight video of entire day)

Cake- $565

DJ- $700

DOC- $275

Catering- $1,400 (Gifted to us, only cost us the price of food)

Dress- $1,400

Accessories- approx $250

Groom's Outfit- approx $250 (shirt, vest, jeans, and boots)

Ceremony Chairs- $100

Rings- approx $400 (for both)

Officiant- Free, but giving a $100 donation

Flowers- $1000

Decor- approx $300

Hair- $80 (includes trial)

Makeup- $140 (includes trial)

Gifts- approx $800 or so (includes: wedding party, parents, and grandparents)

Card Box- $85

Alternative Guest Book- approx $100

Unity Ceremony Items- approx $150

Save the Dates- approx $200

Invitations- approx $90

Alcohol- $1,000

Flower girl dresses- approx $100 (for both)

Misc. (Cups, plates, napkins, etc.)- approx $200

Nails- approx $80

Ours is a little unique as our venue is all inclusive but here's what we have so far:

Venue (includes food, cake, open bar, limo, tables, chairs, centerpieces, night in their wedding suite) - $15,959

DJ - Free (FH is a DJ and they're doing a wedding swap)

Photographer - $2,950

Dress & veil - $1,600

Photobooth - Free (friend of FH has his own business, gifting for our wedding)

Flowers (bouquets) - $300

We haven't ordered any stationery yet so I'm not sure, but I'm budgeting $500

Officiant - free (my FH's friend)

We're trying to get everything to be around $15,000, but I think we're on mostly track (these costs don't include everything since we're still buying things for my Leap Day wedding)! My mom has been super pleased with all the great deals I've found and is okay if we go over the planned budget as long as it's not a huge amount. We're getting married 10 minutes away from FH's hometown in a very small town so that's why my costs are coming out so well! The costs would be double or triple this if I got married in my current city.

Venue: $1,800 (Thursday-Saturday rental, which includes tables, chairs, tablecloths, available decorations, and a sound system)

Photography/Videogaphy/Photobooth Package: $2,250 (Includes engagement shoot, 8 hour photography coverage, 8 hour videography coverage, 1-2 minute teaser video, 5-7 minute highlights video, full ceremony video, assistant shooter, 2 hour photo booth) **I got all this during a spring sale & ended up saving over $1,000

Catering: Estimating $2,000 (From grandmother's cousin who owns a catering business -- doesn't include cocktail hour food)

Dress: $200 (it was usually around $1,500 but I bought it from another bride who needed to sell it!! it was brand new without any alterations)

Dress Alterations: $315

Custom-Made Veil: $120 (doesn't include cost of seamstress adding crystals and beading to match my dress)

Faux Fur Stole to wear outside for pictures: $75

Ceremony Heels & Reception Wedges: $85

Mermaid Petticoat: $80

Going away jumpsuit: $80

Hair and Makeup Artist with Nail Package: $276 (includes Hair and Makeup Trial, Day of Hair and Makeup, Shellac Manicure, and Pedicure - HMUA owns her own salon so her nail tech will be doing my nails the day before)

DJ: $550 (5 hours of DJ services during the reception with dance floor lights and a custom monogram)

Ceremony/Cocktail Musicians: $675 (Husband and wife couple that both sing & play the cello, guitar, and piano - includes 30 minutes of prelude music, processional, special rite music, recessional, and up to 90 minutes for music during the cocktail hour)

Wedding Cake: $608 (4 tier cake with buttercream icing); my FH's cake will be $180 i believe

Save the Dates: $40 (Found a Groupon for them - doesn't include stamps)

Invitations: $147 ( Ann's Bridal Bargains has amazing sales!! This cost was for 200 invitations/RSVP post cards - doesn't include stamps)

Chargers/Dinner Plates/Salad & Dessert Plates/Silverware: $630 (haven't bought our cups or napkins yet so this will go up)

Cocktail Table Rental (10 tables): Estimating $75-90 (based on quotes we've received)

Cocktail Tablecloths (10): $50

Chair sashes: $100

Centerpieces/Decorations: Approx. $700 (The venue also has a lot of decorations we're going to use)

We have a florist but haven't gotten our costs yet. We'll be doing real flowers for bride, bridesmaids, groomsmen, and parents/grandparents (corsages).

It’s be useful for these budget breakdowns to have location, wedding costs are super dependent on location. In Denver, I could not do much with $600 for catering, even with the most bare bones of options.

Um so Im a little jelly of your prices that your're paying lol. So far I have only booked my venues and I am researching everything to tally up an estimated cost, Im at about 7.5k which doesnt include the food. $350 for your photographer and $650 for your food, what a steal!!

Reception venue = 1700

Ceremony venue= 450-600 ($450 we booked it already but arent sure of the cost of the coordinator yet)

Linens= 170

Invitations= 50

Save the dates= 23

Ceremony & Reception decorations= 250 (my budget is 1k because I gotta have my decorations)

This is the small amount that I have booked/paid for so far

The biggest chunk of my budget is going to the venue, which includes catering.

My wedding will be in Bangor, Maine which is a small town so things are much cheaper. My sister is also a caterer is doing all of the food for me as long as I pay for the ingredients. My photographer is also a family friend who agreed to do all of it for only $350. I also have only 80 guests which definitely makes the number lower!

Venue - $1,950

Reception Decor - $100 roughly (Haven't finalized this yet)

Ceremony Decor - $20

Signage - $50

Rentals - $137 (tablecloths)

Catering - $1,300

Photography - $1,500

Flowers - $170 (bridal bouquet, 6 bridesmaids, 1 throwing)

Cake - $280 bride & grooms cake

Dress - $490

Shoes - $147

Grooms suit - $40 (new slacks)

Invitations - $57

Officiant - $150

HMU - $50

We are doing a lot of DIY, so I'm pretty impressed our total for 250 will be under $9,000!

I am not at home so don't have any exact numbers, these are just the items I know from memory.

Venue - $1,000 + $250 refundable deposit

Ceremony & Reception Decor (at the same location) - $500

Signage - FREE

Rentals - $50 (linens)

Catering - $800

Photography - $800

Flowers - Included in decor

Donuts instead of cake - $108

Dress - $99

Shoes - $5

Grooms suit - $110

Sand Unity - $10

Invitations, STD's - $70

Officiant - $100

HMU - FREE

Photo Booth - $50

Jewelry - $10

Brooch bouquet & Bout - $125

Wedding house rental - $560

Total: $ 4,647

I know there are things I am forgetting. We have estimated our final budget to be between $5000-$5,500.

I'm still in the early planning stages. Right now I just have the venue, which will be $5000. My fiance didn't want to go over $7500, which I think will be impossible. Thankfully, my mom bought my wedding dress for me. I've already decided to forgo favors and floral centerpieces. I'm stressing out about finding reasonably priced caterers, photographers, and florists.

Your catering number seems extremely low at less than 10% of your budget.

Estimated costs:

Venue/Catering/Bartending - $15,100

Decor - estimated $500. Final $300.

Rentals - estimated $1100. Final $800.

Photography - estimated $500. Final $1250.

Flowers - estimated $500. Final $650.

Cake - estimated $500. Final $500.

Dress - estimated $600. Final $800.

Attire - estimated $100. Final $100.

Grooms suit - estimated $200, possibly free.

DJ - estimated $500, possibly free.

Stationary/postage - estimated $500. Final $225.

Officiant - estimated $75, possibly free.

HMU - free with DIY

Total: should be coming in below $20k if all goes according to plan.

Ceremony fee with chair rentals and a nanny to babysit kids during: $250
Reception food (with fee for dance floor): $13700
DJ and photobooth: $600
Photographer and videographer: $480
Additional alcohol: $400
Day of coordinator: $175
Cake: $285
Centerpieces: $30
Candy bar: $70
Misc items: $100

I don't count things like the rings and outfits and misc items we use beyond the wedding. my husband bought a general suit he wears outside of our wedding. But if I counted that:

Rings: $200
Suit: $600
Brides outfit: $50

I had 250 guests.

I'm in Saskatoon, SK, Canada and we're having 50 guests.

Ceremony Venue- $30 (renting a park)

Reception Venue- $0 (with catering minimum met, includes set up and take down)

Ceremony and Reception Decor - $150

Signage - unsure

Rentals - $100 (ceremony chairs)

Catering - $3000

Photography - $200 (having a friend take photos)

Flowers - $250 (5 bouquets and 9 boutonnieres)

Favors - $160 (making candy table)

Cake - $200

Dress - $200-300

Grooms suit - $200 (possibly gifted)

DJ - $20 (renting speaker and DIY music)

Invitations - $50

Officiant - $150

My sister, junior bridesmaid's dress- $100 (possibly covered by my mom)

Hotel room for night before- $70

Total: $5,000

Spent the most of food I believe!

Catering - ~$2,400
Beer & Wine - $500
Cake & cupcakes - $320
Venue (includes tables, chairs, linens) $2,250
DJ - $950 (ceremony & reception)
Dress - $1295
Alterations -$300
Jewelry - $60
Shoes - $60
Tux - $240
Invites & STDs - $200 ?
Photographer & 2nd shooter - $1,495
Officiant - $100
Flowers (including burlap runners, centerpieces, candles) - $2,400
Bartender - $150
Hotel - $300
Decorations - $250?? Maybe less actually.
Flower girl basket & Ring Pillow - $50

It’s an outdoor botanical garden. Mannnn I’m probably missing some minor details! But here ya go! This is WA state. About 100 guests.

View Quoted Comment WOW!!! What Venue is this at?!

Here’s our breakdown for a 100 guest adults only boozy brunch wedding dance party in one location in rochester ny
restaurant venue - $14,700 (wedding coordinator, open bar with 4 specialty cocktails, decor set up and tear down, furnishings, custom menu)
photographers - $3800 (1 main and an additional shooter, unlimited hours (~10 for main, ~7 for second shooter), engagement shoot, album credit, ~2400 photos)
rentals - $550 (single palette with installation and tear down)
officiant - $400
florals - $3760 (2 bouquets, 7 boutonnieres, 8 floral cuffs, hanging suspended arrangement, massive floor arrangement, 60 bud vases, 3 small arrangements, 2 medium arrangements, bannister ivy, set up and tear down)
dj - $1320 (2 DJs 6 hours for reception and ceremony)
dessert - free (breakfast pastries, other baked goods, homemade desserts from my mom and his grandma)
hair - $200 (includes trial)
makeup - $250 (airbrush and includes trial)
dress - $800
dress alterations - $150
accessories - $200 (shoes, jewelery, jacket)
wedding bands - $1230
suit - $1000
decor - $350
welcome bags, save the dates, invitations, programs, thank you cards - $400
favors - $515

about 30-35k, not including honeymoon