If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

I was initally thinking $15K but it seems more like $25K - $30K.

The halls we have visited have been between $51 - $125 pp (plus tax/grat) and we want to stick to $75pp or less.

Then there are other items:
photos
video
flowers
limos
dress
tux
bridal party gifts
invites
etc............

I'm getting so much flack from family that I really want to make sure we do not go over budget.

Thanks much.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

That's tough...

I had a budget of 32. we had 125 attend, and we stil went over. But, I definitely could have trimmed some expenses.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

Wow! 125 guests for $32K. I was thinking 125 guests could be done for $15K.

Maybe we do need to trim the list down. It's at 195 right now.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

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Posted by kdrainey

Wow! 125 guests for $32K. I was thinking 125 guests could be done for $15K.

Maybe we do need to trim the list down. It's at 195 right now.

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you may need to do some trimming. some costs will remain the same regardless of the amount of guests:

Photo
video
bridal party costs
music
limos
your gown
your hair
your makeup

These are things that will stay the same regardless of your guest list. But, I'd say that if you can keep your bridal party small, you can save on limos, bouquets, and other bridal party related costs.

edited to add: I was WAY TOO GENEROUS with my bridal party. I covered most of their costs. After adding in dinner, and all of the costs that I covered for my girls, and their gifts, I spent around $600 per bridesmaid...

edited to add: also, our honeymoon really killed our budget! don't forget about your honeymoon!

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

We had about 155 guests attend and after all was said and done, including our honeymoon and wedding bands, we spent about $40,000.

And there were some things that I would have liked to upgrade, but just couldn't get the money together since we had a short engagement.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

I had 175 people on a Saturday night and with everything included, we spent around 26,000 that was 3 years ago.

What we did was do a package deal through Douglaston Manor. The food was great and what we didn't love we paid a little extra to have something different.

For example, we didn't do an entire Vienese hour, instead, we did some italian desserts and cordials but not the grandiose event.

I also bought my dress straight from the warehouse. That saved me over 500.000. They also made my veil for practically nothing.

For our honeymoon we used a timeshare that we already owned. It can be done, you just have to prioritize what is important to you.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

That budget is pretty much what we are spending for 100 guests. We originally had a budget of $15,000 but that was thrown out the window pretty much after visiting all the catering halls and wanting to get married in Oct. You could probably stay within that budget if you get married in the winter months, skimp on the flowers and get married at a catering hall that has lower prices pp. Best of luck.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

we had a budget of 30,000 we had 140 people and went alot over the budget and we got married on a friday evening in january it all depends on what extras are important to you. im sure you can stay within a reasonable budget but you have to make sure that you spend the most money of the things that are most important to you .

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

We had 155 people including the vendors and with EVERYTHING we spent close to $45k and I was on a budget of $30k - I cut back as much as I could, but everything adds up!!

Good luck!

Things to consider and I'm sure I didn't get them all!!

Reception
Band
Flowers
Photo
Limo
Rehearsal dinner
Dress, veil, shoes, alterations, purse, shawl, etc.
Tux
Mom's dress
Hair/MU (for myself and bridal party + tip)
Hair/MU trials
Invitations
Addressing invites/postage
Postage for shower and wedding thank you's
Wedding programs
Favors, Favor boxes, tissue paper and wrapping paper
Place Cards/menus
Church toss
Marriage License
Tips (band, florist, hall, bridal asst, photo/video, limo)
Church donation
Pre Cana
Groomsman Gift
Bride's made gift
Wedding Rings
Honeymoon
Honeymoon cash
Hotel night before and night of

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

the 15K just about covered the food for our 100 guests...i was when i stumbled upon the reality of what people charge.

we splurged on food and music, everything else we attempted to cut back on creatively and with lots of hard work. my mother made all the dresses and centerpieces and i made all the paper items (invitations, programs, TY cards, etc.)

- we didn't have a video
- our photographer was reasonable (however -i am taking care of album making)
- florist was reasonable (just had bouquets and some church decorations)
- had a limo only at the end of the night, and honestly we didn't even need it...
- didn't do favors
- didn't hire a makeup artist
- had my hair blown out at a local salon
- minimized our bridal party (3 girls and 4 guys)

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

We had 175 people and we stayed within your price range. (Actually I don't think we included the honeymoon in that budget, since we took it 4 months later) We paid for the whole thing ourselves and in cash and I think that was the incentive for the budget.

I think we saved the most money on the hall--we only paid like $60pp--mind you, this is in March when prices are likely to be lower. This was really a factor in our decision of month. Also, we booked less than a year in advance--Our banquet manager told us that was definitely a savings since they need to book the room and were running out of time.

We also did not have a video, but 2 family members taped the important stuff. Our photographer was very reasonable, provided we did not get carried away with the package.

We stuffed everybody into one limo--we had 9 people in the bridal party, plus us.

We got the invitations at Party City; they were very unique and pretty.

Flowers--we did not decorate the church (we couldn't anyway; it was Lent).

I think that's about it, but if you have any questions, feel free to FM.

Let me just tell you, our wedding and reception were beautiful and no one would have suspected we saved so much money. You can do it and it will be gorgeous!!

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

you have FM

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

We had a smaller wedding & were in the low 20's. I think if you can, keep the bridal party to 3 people, that will help. Bouquets cost about 60-100 each, and you have to get each attendant a gift. And if you are doing limos, the more people you have, the more ( or bigger) limos you need.

For me, the biggest cost savings were--
-- the smaller guest list, 97 invited, 85 showed, --the PP cost ( $81 inlc tax & gratuity)
-- small BP. (2 & 2- We only had 1 limo.)
--not having video ( this was also personal preference, not just for the cost)

There were other things I splurged on, because I could, but if my hall had cost more , I could have cut out or cahnged

-- the 2nd photographer, professional albums,
--spent less on bridal party gifts ( I paid for makeup & bought them shawls & white gold & crushed diamond necklaces)
-- last minute decorations I bought for the hall.
--dj instead of a band
--direction cards
-- less expensive invitations ( mine were mid range)

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

WOW that's a toughie. We paid $95pp plus tax and grat for 150 people and our wedding was close to 40K
I didn't stick to a budget though.
I am sure it can be done.

What about NSGraham's budget vendor page?

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

We were over 175 but under 200 and we paid over 45k I can't tell you how to do that on a budget.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

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Posted by Monkeybride

WOW that's a toughie. We paid $95pp plus tax and grat for 150 people and our wedding was close to 40K
I didn't stick to a budget though.
I am sure it can be done.

What about NSGraham's budget vendor page?

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Yeah, I checked out her page and have contacted some of them. They are still reasonable for the most part - although a few have gone up.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

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Posted by tourist

We had a smaller wedding & were in the low 20's. I think if you can, keep the bridal party to 3 people, that will help. Bouquets cost about 60-100 each, and you have to get each attendant a gift. And if you are doing limos, the more people you have, the more ( or bigger) limos you need.

For me, the biggest cost savings were--
-- the smaller guest list, 97 invited, 85 showed, --the PP cost ( $81 inlc tax & gratuity)
-- small BP. (2 & 2- We only had 1 limo.)
--not having video ( this was also personal preference, not just for the cost)

There were other things I splurged on, because I could, but if my hall had cost more , I could have cut out or cahnged

-- the 2nd photographer, professional albums,
--spent less on bridal party gifts ( I paid for makeup & bought them shawls & white gold & crushed diamond necklaces)
-- last minute decorations I bought for the hall.
--dj instead of a band
--direction cards
-- less expensive invitations ( mine were mid range)

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I think we are definitely cutting the list. I have 3 bridesmaids (sister, best friend and grad school friend).

My mom also suggested candles for centerpieces with rose petals instead of flowers. I may go for it too since the quotes I got for flowers were up to $2300.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

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Posted by Eireann

We had 175 people and we stayed within your price range. (Actually I don't think we included the honeymoon in that budget, since we took it 4 months later) We paid for the whole thing ourselves and in cash and I think that was the incentive for the budget.

I think we saved the most money on the hall--we only paid like $60pp--mind you, this is in March when prices are likely to be lower. This was really a factor in our decision of month. Also, we booked less than a year in advance--Our banquet manager told us that was definitely a savings since they need to book the room and were running out of time.

We also did not have a video, but 2 family members taped the important stuff. Our photographer was very reasonable, provided we did not get carried away with the package.

We stuffed everybody into one limo--we had 9 people in the bridal party, plus us.

We got the invitations at Party City; they were very unique and pretty.

Flowers--we did not decorate the church (we couldn't anyway; it was Lent).

I think that's about it, but if you have any questions, feel free to FM.

Let me just tell you, our wedding and reception were beautiful and no one would have suspected we saved so much money. You can do it and it will be gorgeous!!

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I think that is why we are getting good prices. We are looking for October 2005 and it's January practically. I was told $74.95pp++ for Villa Lombardi's with a 75 minimum - Thursday night in October though. I guess prices will get better as time goes on if we do not pick a hall.

Re: If you had 175 - 200 guests - please tell me how your budget worked out for $25K

ughh..I am hvaing th e same dilemma. I wanted to go 180 guests for $30K but with tax and gratuity my hall is eating up most of that!..so there goes my buget. I think I'm going to end up spending about $50K, but I have NO clue where I'll get it from!