Okay, we’re probably going to change the date to a Sunday, is this a good budget?
April 22, 2010 by
Filed under printed skirt
$12,500 is the total, honeymoon included. This is my plan:
PLATINUM PACKAGE 80 guests $6,247.74 (tax and service included)
Ballroom (5.5 hr event time + 2.5hr setup) (I have no idea why they give so much time)
Access to Cocktail Area / Game Room
Access to Patio & Gazebo Area / Ceremony Site
Access to Bridal Suite
1 Security Officer (I am keeping him/her for personal reasons)
Banquet Chairs and Round Banquet Tables
Chair Cover with Sash (color of choice)
Table Cover with Overlay (color of choice)
Skirted Head, Cake, Gift, and Registration Table
Centerpiece – Glass Candle Holder on Mirror (she is upgrading it for free!)
Ceiling Drapery Décor
China, Glassware, and Flatware
Linen Napkins (standard selection)
Professional Bussing Staff
Full Service Setup and Cleanup
Dinner Buffet with Menu Option A
Entrée (choice of 1)
Starch Side Dish (choice of 1)
Vegetable Side Dish (choice of 1)
Salad (choice of 1)
Rolls and Croissants / Tortillas
Water with Ice Tea or Fruit Punch
They are also setting up the outside area for guests who smoke, and giving me a deal of $150 for a fruit tree or platter and a small chocolate fountain. The venue also comes with a pool table and tvs for entertainment while we’re taking pictures since it is all indoors.
Now, am I missing anything from below? We’re not using a limo, please don’t suggest one lol
$680 dress, veil, tiara, petticoat, and undergarments
$350 flowers (just six attendants total for us and then our moms, his dad, and my grandparents)
$100 invitations, place cards, tags (I’m getting printing for free)
$50 candy bag favors (tulle bags with M&Ms in our colors, no print)
$450 wine (3-4 bottles per table, it’s not a sit down dinner)
$300 cakes (friend is doing them for $1/slice, cutting is $1/person)
$40 ‘wishing’ tree (manzanita branches and tags for wishes)
$200 bride/groom pampering (nails, hair, makeup and his haircut and whatnot)
$30 shoes (I’m a good shoe shopper)
$950 photography (this includes 5-6 hrs, and a CD, and I think bridals and engagements as well)
$275 minister (eh, I’m trying to get a friend to do this)
$315 wedding party gifts (once again, small WP)
$30 bridal jewelry (found a great set at DBs)
$60 groom’s accessories (shoes, and whatnot)
$30 postage
$70 knife/cake serving set, flutes, guestbook (buying online)
$50 flower girl basket and ring bearer pillow
$2,500 honeymoon (not sure about this yet)
We may actually have more room to save now that we’re waiting a couple more weeks than planned. So does this look okay for a budget? Am I missing anything?
= $12,727.74
$249.74 over budget!
Janice are you high? $950 for a photographer is not bad? I did WORST case scenario here. Least amount saved, with the most I would pay towards each thing. I’m not saying we want to spend that much at all. It’s just a figure! I’m $250 over, but we have two more weeks to save now, and we might have raises or bonuses before that time. We might only spend $200 on flowers or $500 on a photographer. It’s just an estimate. I wanted to know if I left anything off? The honeymoon is big because we are going to an island. I keep hearing that I am spending too much on the reception and not enough on the honeymoon and now here is the opposite?! We are also staying in an upscale hotel in a large city the night of the wedding. Sooooo…
Oh! My friend is going to DJ, they are also setting the mood lights and colors to auto so we can enjoy something without having to pay $75.
Well some of the pricing I gave you I already had in the total. Sorry if I confused you. I’ve gone over it three times and I am not wrong there. I love the tips. I will definitely try to do as much myself. I am going to serve one glass per person for dinner (wine) great suggestion! I just need to find a white and red as an option maybe. Depends on the dinner I assume. Red is an aquired taste, but I enjoy it myself. As I said, this is just to get an idea. I’d love to spend less on each item. I just broke it down using my own judgement instead of percentages. They didn’t work for me considering the bulk of things is already included in the package. I am going to have a small rehearsal hopefully. Probably have my family make dinner since they are dying to make dinner for the wedding, they can do this instead and I would save a lot of money have it at someone’s home. Thanks again!
Oh and to the answerer about the postage, I’m assuming I live in a more expensive area than you. The only other place cheaper (and decent – ie not a living room in a house or a church) was $3,300 NOTHING included. Just to rent! I am not sure about attaching postage yet, but at any rate, my #’s include dates for each person and some are large families.
I’m not getting personalized M&Ms, no way. The tulle bags are maybe 20 cents each. I’m not filling them to the brim either. I want to offer something edible without hassle, but without overdoing it. I hear a lot of favors get left. I never noticed favors myself. A dinner with friends is enough for me and most the people I associate with feel the same.
No it is NOT a good budget,cut back on the honeymoon expense and the flower girl basket and ring bearer pillow, and wedding party gifts, they do not have to pricey just nice. The minister fee is high you can get a lower fee for sure, The photography is priced high find a lower priced photographer. You can cut your expenses by at least 5000.00 and probably more. Seriously reconsider your prices. Best Wishes.
What about music? I would use an ipod/mp3 player or CD’s. I would get the flower girl basket at Hobby Lobby or Michael’s and dress it up with ribbon. For the Ring bearer pillow make it yourself or a close friend/family member make it. You can get fabric in your wedding colors for cheap or make it white/ivory and dress it up with ribbons in your wedding colors. You would spend less doing it that way.
For flowers (depending on what you are wanting) try online sites like costco.com or samsclub.com. You can get flowers a lot cheaper and do them yourself. I would skip the fruit platter and chocolate fountain. You could make your own or skip it all together.
I’d cut the cost of bridal party favors. They don’t need something way expensive. Be creative.
I also think you could find a better priced photographer.
Be sure to check out places like craigslist. A lot of vendors advertise on there and are usually more affordable.
For the price of the location you aren’t really getting a lot of food options.
I would cut out the wine and just have enough to serve for the toasts and speeches. Most of the wine will go to waste.
Do as much as you can yourselves and that will save tons of money in the end. Best of luck and Congrats!
There are several areas you could cut back on expenses.
1) The wedding party gifts. You should be able to cut that in half if you get creative.
2) Wine. Like the other poster said, just serve enough for toasts. Can the rest be byob?
3) Cake knife set. Surely you can find some cheaper. Check out Target, Hobby Lobby or another party store.
4) Flower girl/ring bearer. Surely you can find some cheaper. Check out Target, Hobby Lobby or another party store.
5)Honeymoon. (We took a 7 day cruise and spent $1500, maybe $2000 after paying the on-board alcohol bill.)
6) Wishing tree. Is this really necessary? Just leave cuts of paper on the dinner table.
Are you having any music? DJ? Band? iPod?
This is just my humble opinion. Do what you want. I’m just suggesting areas where I can see you can save money.
I added your expenses and they actually totalled 12904.74. Your postage will be higher cause you are sending out invitations and should include the rsvp that already should have paid postage on it. YOu could make your own flower girl basket and ring pillow and the m&m’s are pricey you will need a lot more than that for 80 people. My hall is 7200 and thats for 270 people and our menu is huge and the hall is nice as well. If you are working on a budget you have to adjust to that budget you need to do a lot more research.