help!!

mary2kate5 Posted: Apr 19, 2014 04:46 PM

help!!

I'm getting extremely overwealmed by the costs of everything and trying to organize a budget. I am planning on spending a maximum of 28000 for everything. What would be the division of costs and how much does everything cost approximately? With the venue and cost per person alone I have already 15000-17000:(

CAlbanese Posted: Apr 19, 2014 08:17 PM

help!!

I have the exact same budget and it's going to be tight for me as well. I just made a list of 3 things I want to splurge on and tried to get the best deals on other things. I know what you're going through I'm constantly trying to calculate the costs. Me and my FH are paying for everything ourselves. It's kinda of sucks especially hearing some people I work with have a $100,000 budget.

mrzsoontobejames Posted: Apr 19, 2014 08:27 PM

help!!

I wanted my budget to be 25k. I'm already at 23k but the only things that are missing are limos, bouquets, and small details so I think I will be able to stay very close to budget. But this includes hall, photo, video, photobooth, 2 photos, 2 cinematographers so I'm quite proud myself LOL. I think 30k will be my max I still have to incorporate my honeymoon but I won't be going over 29k I highly doubt it.. I see you're trying to book a May 2015 wedding I'm sure that will be a chunk of your budget since that is prime wedding season.

mary2kate5 Posted: Apr 19, 2014 08:32 PM

Re: help!!

I know it sucks I didn't realize how much everything cost. I didn't realize how much people actually spend on average, my parents are putting maybe 3000-5000 in, but the rest is on us and I don't work at the moment :( I don't want to end up in debt either or spending a good amount of our savings. There are things that I'm flexible on like the time of year, but then that effects the availability of flowers, and I want to have a rustic barn wedding. I have no problem with DIY stuff but that often ends up costing just as much or more.

rcotter90 Posted: Apr 19, 2014 08:39 PM

help!!

Definitely do not go into debt for a wedding! Do what you can with what you have. You can do it on a budget. FH and I had a 30K budget to start and we are paying for it all ourselves, but then we started looking at venues and I fell in love with our venue, which we couldn't afford. FH's parents decided they would contribute (they're putting $50 a week into an account for us until the wedding.. perks of a long engagement! It'll be about 7K in the end) and my grandparents gave us another 2K so we would pick the one we loved. So our budget increased to $39K pretty much overnight.

You CAN do it on a budget though. Check out East Wind. It's far out east, but worth the drive. They offer an all-inclusive and for 150 people it would have ended up being about $20K including photographer (2nd biggest expense in wedding planning), centerpieces, DJ, cake, and I believe 1 8-passenger limo. And if you didn't want any of the things (like if you didn't like any of the photographers and wanted to hire your own) you could just swap it out for something similar in cost, such as upgrading centerpieces, upgrading the cake, etc. It can be done, I swear! I've also heard The Sterling does an all-inclusive and they have all their info and prices listed on the website! Good luck!

Heather1698 Posted: Apr 19, 2014 09:09 PM

help!!

I have about the same budget. I'm doing like a rustic beachy theme so I'm keeping my eye out for sales and buying things little by little and when I see good things I'll buy them. I am cutting costs by not doing a lot of flowers and the flowers I am getting I am getting from whole foods. I just keep shopping around for the best deals and try to stay under that number,

christinechristian Posted: Apr 19, 2014 11:27 PM

help!!

Can't believe how much everything adds up!!

xBudgetBridex Posted: Apr 20, 2014 09:13 PM

help!!

I went the route of all inclusive, I'm having 175 people for 18k I get an 8 pass limo, one man dj/mc, photo and video package with album and video and other pictures, 10 centerpieces....which isn't enough so I have to pay extra for more centerpieces and am extra limo aand all the bridal party flowers. And all the little extra we want we r going to stay at 25k max!

lalapelosa Posted: Apr 20, 2014 10:17 PM

help!!

For a rustic barn wedding, try the Queens Farm museum - they have a few settings you can choose from and the rentals start at about $1000, depending on where you rent. You have to bring in everything yourself but they have preferred vendors and will help you find the best fit.

You can also cut costs by doing an appetizers-only or a buffet as your meal. Sometimes those end up being even better because there is so much food to choose from! Most people pig out during the cocktail hour anyway.

For drinks, choose to serve only wine and beer. People won't be picky as long as the alcohol is free :)

No matter what you spend vs what you save, people will have a good time. Do what feels right and screw the rest!