Budget Questions

Hi ladies. FH and I are trying to put together a rough budget and we really have no idea how much things should cost.

Can you help me out and let me a good range for the following. Maybe just % of the wedding budget I should allocate for each

DJ & MC with photo montage
2-person photography team all day
Large escalade limo and smaller stretch limo
Wedding bands
3 bouquets (incl mine) 4 corsages, 7 boutiniers
favors
invites
STD's

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide, we're totally lost and I have no idea. And I know these things can vary a lot based on personal preference but we're just trying to get SOMETHING on paper.

These are ranges based on quotes we got!

DJ & MC with photo montage
--> 2500-4000 (included uplighting, plasmas, etc.)

2-person photography team all day
--> avg was 2-3k

Large escalade limo and smaller stretch limo
--> around 1500

Wedding bands
--> totally depends on what you want! diamonds, platinum, etc.

3 bouquets (incl mine) 4 corsages, 7 boutiniers
--> bridal bo-k is like 150/200 and BM bo-k's are like 75; bouts are only 10 bucks usually. corsages usualyl a little more, like 20

favors
--> again, depends! you can get 79 cent favors on a lot of sites (e.g. cookie cutters or something) or spend 10 bucks (bottle of wine). you can find something for EVERY budget for sure.

invites
--> again, ranges A LOT. pocketfolds can be upward of 5 dollars each; you can find greattt deals though on vistaprint, 123print, etc. and get 100 for like 150 dollars! depends on what you want.

STD's
--> most photogs provide them for free. you can also get 100 free postcards from vistaprint. or weddingpaperdivas has cute ones for like a dollar and change each magnets run a little more

these are all rough estimates based on all the vendors we met w/! hth!!!

WOW, thank you SO MUCH!!

FH wanted to put 5k for a photog and like 1k for a DJ.....glad I have a better range.

---

Posted by TheLadyJ

Hi ladies. FH and I are trying to put together a rough budget and we really have no idea how much things should cost.

Can you help me out and let me a good range for the following. Maybe just % of the wedding budget I should allocate for each

DJ & MC with photo montage
2-person photography team all day
Large escalade limo and smaller stretch limo
Wedding bands
3 bouquets (incl mine) 4 corsages, 7 boutiniers
favors
invites
STD's

Thanks in advance for any help you can provide, we're totally lost and I have no idea. And I know these things can vary a lot based on personal preference but we're just trying to get SOMETHING on paper.

---

I never understood the percentage thing because if you like something better you might spend more (or less) on one thing or another.


DJ/Band is between $900-$5,000 and up
You can save money by not getting all the 'add ons' like smoke and LED lighting/plazma screens.

Photographer- you can find great deals if you look around. Mine is only 1k for 1 photographer and $1,500 if I want a 2nd. My friends wedding is even less than that.

Video- usually the photographer can do a combo package for an extra $1,500 ish.

Flowers- I'm paying $80 for my bouquet and $35 for my bridesmaids. They will have a very small bunch of roses, I was not spending over this for them to hold it for 25 minutes. I cut corsages out because I hate them and my mom did not want one. Boutonnieres are approx $10-$15 each.
Centerpieces are costing a little $$ but you can do inexpensive or really costly. I'm having 3 cylinders filled with water and flowers submerged.
My entire floral bill is $1,800

Limo-not sure, I'm not having one

Invitations- if you're creative you can design them on vistaprint (if you hijack their templates a little) and make them look spectacular. I actually did this but found a crazy deal at Michaels for $3.99 a box. That's .08 CENTS per invitation! (plus ink) And they do not look cheap at all.

Dress- Shop around, samples.. trunk sales... set a limit for price but I'd say approx $1,500-$2,000 for middle of the road.

Extras (ceremony music, photobooth, etc...)
About another $2,000

Save the dates- $50 on vistaprint if you catch a sale

Wedding bands range from $300-thousands.

Usually, you need AT LEAST 25k to have a wedding on Long Island with 100 people. This is with very careful planning. It can go up to 30-40k very fast. If you need to save money, cut the guest list to 75 and shop for deals on everything else.

Thanks. I'm about to cry because I'm already at 35k - this is for a Friday with 110 ppl.

Thankfully my mom is paying for my dress and veil and the RH includes centerpieces. And FH's mom is doing the RD.

I know I can save money on some things, but I want a good DJ and photog - a good DJ makes a great wedding and a good photog is a must. I don't see myself getting uplighting or those fancy ad-ons, but I do want a screen with a photo montage.

I wanted a photo boot but now I don't see that happening. I think the only 'extra' is going to be the Emerald Society because it's the one thing FH requested.

---

Posted by TheLadyJ

Thanks. I'm about to cry because I'm already at 35k - this is for a Friday with 110 ppl.

Thankfully my mom is paying for my dress and veil and the RH includes centerpieces. And FH's mom is doing the RD.

I know I can save money on some things, but I want a good DJ and photog - a good DJ makes a great wedding and a good photog is a must. I don't see myself getting uplighting or those fancy ad-ons, but I do want a screen with a photo montage.

I wanted a photo boot but now I don't see that happening. I think the only 'extra' is going to be the Emerald Society because it's the one thing FH requested.

---

I agree but just because they are reasonably priced doesn't mean they are not good. If you look at their work you will know if they are good and read their reviews. Some of this is all hype, like a brand name... people think it's better because it's more expensive but that is not always true. Of course there is a balance between cheap and reasonable. A screen with photos should not be too expensive.
Photobooth was $1,000 for a 'special' at the bridal show.

If you have centerpieces that will save a lot!!
How are you at 35k already?? Must be prime season at the Riviera. September is a beautiful month.

I would definetly shop around for good deals. I did just that and i am spending less than most people for the same quality. You also need to know how to negotiate. For example: My dress was less than $1000, DJ with lighting $1000, Photographer less than $2500, Video is $300 and flowers, my bouq is $125, BP $50 and centerpieces are $75.

All of these prices are from very good reputable vendors. I just knew what i wanted and the price i was gonna pay for it. So def shop around for deals.

Like most other women said there are so many ways to save and you can definately do it.

Here is my breakdown
DJ/MC cocktail/reception music, intell lights, uplighting - $1500

Photography - uncle is a professional wedding photographer so this is our gift from him (thank God)

Limos I haven't priced out yet but you can use one to pick up your FH and you, to save some money.

Wedding bands
Our are costing under $800

Flowers
I have really budgeted for this one. I am getting my bridal bouquet, 5 bridesmaids bouquet, 8 bouq, 3 corsages, toss bouquet = $250.00
I am doing my own centerpieces with crystal candle holders as floating candles.
Total budget = $425.00

Invites: pocketfolds = $300.00

favors: haven't been picked out but I want something creative so i am still thinking of this one

STDS = I made them, and got them printed all for under $15.00. The postage will be more than the actual cost of them.

Here is some ideas from my personal experiences:

DJ & MC with photo montage
- I had a band and it cost $6800 for 9 members. I created my own photo montage using Microsoft MovieMaker. It played throughout the CH on the TVs at the bar. It also played on a flat screen in the lobby during reception.

2-person photography team all day
- I had a main photog and photo-journalist. It cost us $3300 for 750 proof CD, 3 DVDs and 3 slideshow DVDs. Albums for us and our parents will be an extra $1300 most likely.

Large escalade limo and smaller stretch limo
- I had a 20-passenger Escalade. It was $725

Wedding bands
- We got our bands at Tri-County - both for $1000. I also got an eternity band. It's easy to negotiate with those vendors.

3 bouquets (incl mine) 4 corsages, 7 boutiniers
favors
- I believe my bouquet was $200 and the 3 BM bouquets were around $100 a piece. My total flower budget was just under $5000 and it included: Bridal bouquet, 3 BM bouquets, 1 flower ball for FG, 3 corsages, 7 boutiniers, 23 centerpieces (high and low), 1 piece for the bridal table, one large piece for the escort card table, flower topper for cake, one bouquet for ladies room, and petals and garnish for tables and trays at CH - see my album for ideas

invites
- We ordered 175 invitations. They were folded with a pocket and coordinating ribbon on front. With addreses printed on envelopes, the cost was about $2200.

STD's
- I created both my STD and thank you cards on kodakgallery.com - I believe they each were around $200 - $250

---

Posted by TheLadyJ

Thanks. I'm about to cry because I'm already at 35k - this is for a Friday with 110 ppl.

Thankfully my mom is paying for my dress and veil and the RH includes centerpieces. And FH's mom is doing the RD.

I know I can save money on some things, but I want a good DJ and photog - a good DJ makes a great wedding and a good photog is a must. I don't see myself getting uplighting or those fancy ad-ons, but I do want a screen with a photo montage.

I wanted a photo boot but now I don't see that happening. I think the only 'extra' is going to be the Emerald Society because it's the one thing FH requested.

---

I agree with you on the music and photos!!! No one remembers the flowers - and rarely the food unless it is EXCEPTIONAL! Everyone remembers the party and of course, the photos are a MUST!!

I know a lot of people who cut out video from their budget. We did a video and I am thrilled!! We had so many laughs watching all our friends and family at both the ceremony and reception!! And our niece and nephew (FG and RB) LOVED it!! I can't wait to show it to them again when they're in their teens!

All of my friends have camcorders and will be taking videos. I have video editing software at my job.

I don't see myself really watching it more than once ot twice.

The 35k includes a LONG list of things, like shuttlebuses, brunch the next day, tips, gifts for the bridal party, dance classes, DOJ, hair and makeup (incl trials), welcome baskets, slippers for ladies, ring pillow, unity candle and misc stuff, programs, etc.

I know I might be able to save some money from my fellow LIWers who may be putting things up for sale. It's just a real shock to see the final # when I write everything down.

I'm hoping to negotiate, I'm very good at that. Let's see where it goes....

In the end I know I will have a great wedding to the best man on the planet, so I'm not too worried. It was just a shock when I put everything together

---

Posted by TheLadyJ

All of my friends have camcorders and will be taking videos. I have video editing software at my job.

I don't see myself really watching it more than once ot twice.

The 35k includes a LONG list of things, like shuttlebuses, brunch the next day, tips, gifts for the bridal party, dance classes, DOJ, hair and makeup (incl trials), welcome baskets, slippers for ladies, ring pillow, unity candle and misc stuff, programs, etc.

I know I might be able to save some money from my fellow LIWers who may be putting things up for sale. It's just a real shock to see the final # when I write everything down.

I'm hoping to negotiate, I'm very good at that. Let's see where it goes....

In the end I know I will have a great wedding to the best man on the planet, so I'm not too worried. It was just a shock when I put everything together

---

I agree with you on video. I'm just having the ceremony professionally videotaped. The rest is friends. Video is nice to have but i have friends who say that after their first anniversary and as years go by, they hardly ever watched it again.

Totally negotiate on prices. There is alot that vendors will do for the price if you know how to get them to throw in extras.

My experience...

DJ & MC with photo montage
...we only had a one man DJ/MC show....we paid $650

2-person photography team all day
....with the albums and thank yous, and engagement shoot we paid $3700


Large escalade limo and smaller stretch limo
.... I would agree with somewhere around 1500, depending on how long you need it for

Wedding bands
....it really depends. We spend under $1000 and got something we loved without going crazy.

3 bouquets (incl mine) 4 corsages, 7 boutiniers
...do you also need centerpieces? I'd say if you stay on budget, you can get your Bo-k for $150 and the girls $65-$80. Corsages and bouts are cheap, I'd average $10-$15 for each.

favors
....to be safe, I'd average $2 per guest. You can always spend less

invites
...totally depends. We spent $680 on 140, including all the cards and addressing. You can DIY for way less, or go crazy. I think for an average invite (nothing too crazy) with addressing, you could out in $5-$6 per invite for a guideline.

STD's
.... We got ours very inexpensively from Vistaprint. Like $70 or something.

Hope this helps

I am DIY a lot of things, here is what I have so far:

DJ With MC, props and GOBO for dance floor $1100
Doing photo montage myself JT has 8 plasmas in my room

2-person photography team all day $2200 includes all albums, thank you cards

Video: $1000 all day

Limo: Large Navigator 14 psgr limo and large 22 psgr infiniti $1200 for 3 hours

Wedding bands $300-1000 for both

Flowers: Doing them myself, flowers are nice, but they die...not a biggie for me total cost $275 (I have 8 BM)
CP's: Tall Crystal trees & low cylinder vases with submerged flowers total $400

favors -doing this with my photobooth, total $750-$800
invites- not sure on this yet
STD's- vistaprint I did large magnets with three photos and spent $100 total for 200

HTH

I'm at 15k with a 150 people for a friday night wedding.

I got photo/video for 3,300 and this includes 2 full day photographers and 3 videographers yes a little much but great price

Florist-1000 for my bouquet, 4 bms bouguets, and then the parents stuff

DJ- 500 with no extras

Inivtations from a ETSY vendor $400

You can totally do a great wedding for less money...if you want any names or more info feel free to FM me