How much is your wedding costing you?

[celticgirl]

My big saver was having 60+ people book, it gave us a few free trips to use, so we only have to pay a grand total of 600 for our trip! (it would have been free, but we upgraded to a private cottage!) And our son is under 2, so he was free too! That helped us ALOT!! I did alot of DIY projects too!
 

Originally Posted by torilynnsmith 

HOW?! Share your secrets!!!!!  I find the trip takes up a big part of the budget... 

 

 

[bulldogs11]

Our wedding we are guessing with everything will cost no more than 12,000 total. This includes DW in Aruba and AHR and all that comes with the wedding.  The only thing we have no figured in yet is our spending money down there because our resort is not an AI.  I know if we stayed at home and had a wedding here, we would probably spend close to 25,000.

[LandG]

I thought it would be cheap and that was one of the main reasons, but it is not!  We are now spending over $20,000. However I think what is reallt hurting us is the reception back home. That is taking a chunk of our budget too.

[babigirl21]

I think when it all said and done a DW will still be cheaper if your total is including your trip/stay for 5 day to 2 weeks.  If you had a wedding at home you would spend $20,000-50,000 for just that one day.  We are estimating at least 60 people (inviting 100).  We picked an AI resort in RM Mexico that has a wedding package that includes 40 guests staying at the resort for $3,565 ($40 for each additional person).  We also plan on having an welcome cocktail party/rehearsal (instead of a dinner to reduce costs).  Our photographer is around $2,000 for the entire day.  We are not hiring a DJ and will have some local DJs back home create different party mix for our Ipods which will guarantee we get the music we want (the sound system is included for the ceremony and reception).  My mom is paying for my dress (which will be under $2,000) and my FI's mom is paying for our honeymoon (3-4 nights at an adults only AI).  Our budget is $15,000 and I think this is feasible.  I'm also a crafty person so a lot of things will be DIY or I will select items that will serve dual purposes (my brides maids are carrying small red lanterns instead of flowers and I will use them for decor on the tables at the reception).  I also like looking for bargain so anything I will buy I will make sure it's on sale.  

 

Good luck to you all with the budget.  Make sure you include items that are important to you but also make sure that you are doing things within your means so you will not start you marriage with frustration and regret.

[anna524]

Our budget is 15,000 for anything. I think that is about the norm for DW.

[JayKay]

I love the idea of the red lanterns!!!  Do they have special meaning to you or how did you decide on that verse flowers??
 

Originally Posted by babigirl21 

I think when it all said and done a DW will still be cheaper if your total is including your trip/stay for 5 day to 2 weeks.  If you had a wedding at home you would spend $20,000-50,000 for just that one day.  We are estimating at least 60 people (inviting 100).  We picked an AI resort in RM Mexico that has a wedding package that includes 40 guests staying at the resort for $3,565 ($40 for each additional person).  We also plan on having an welcome cocktail party/rehearsal (instead of a dinner to reduce costs).  Our photographer is around $2,000 for the entire day.  We are not hiring a DJ and will have some local DJs back home create different party mix for our Ipods which will guarantee we get the music we want (the sound system is included for the ceremony and reception).  My mom is paying for my dress (which will be under $2,000) and my FI's mom is paying for our honeymoon (3-4 nights at an adults only AI).  Our budget is $15,000 and I think this is feasible.  I'm also a crafty person so a lot of things will be DIY or I will select items that will serve dual purposes (my brides maids are carrying small red lanterns instead of flowers and I will use them for decor on the tables at the reception).  I also like looking for bargain so anything I will buy I will make sure it's on sale.  

 

Good luck to you all with the budget.  Make sure you include items that are important to you but also make sure that you are doing things within your means so you will not start you marriage with frustration and regret.

 

[babigirl21]

 

 

@JayKay:

 

I attached a photo of the lanterns they will carry (I hope if post properly, this is my first time posting a photo).  I have been in over 12 weddings as a bridesmaid/hostess/semi-planner and let's just say I wanted something different for mines.  We are having our wedding over memorial day weekend 2012 and I also want these lanterns to serve a dual meaning and represent our family members who have died (we lost both our fathers, grandfathers, and his grandmother).  So I will find LED lights to place in them so that their memory and presence will be at both the ceremony and reception (when I place them on the tables).  These are fairly small lanterns and I will tie ribbon around them to make it easy for the bridesmaids to carry them during the ceremony and also have a tag listing each family member's name on each lantern.  

[babigirl21]

[babigirl21]

Okay let me try again (last time trying):

 

 

 

I also attached the link to the Koyal website:

 

http://www.koyalwholesale.com/pages-productinfo-product-15531/red_glass_moroccan-style_lantern.html 

[JayKay]

What a great idea! I love it!
 

Originally Posted by babigirl21 

 

 

@JayKay:

 

I attached a photo of the lanterns they will carry (I hope if post properly, this is my first time posting a photo).  I have been in over 12 weddings as a bridesmaid/hostess/semi-planner and let's just say I wanted something different for mines.  We are having our wedding over memorial day weekend 2012 and I also want these lanterns to serve a dual meaning and represent our family members who have died (we lost both our fathers, grandfathers, and his grandmother).  So I will find LED lights to place in them so that their memory and presence will be at both the ceremony and reception (when I place them on the tables).  These are fairly small lanterns and I will tie ribbon around them to make it easy for the bridesmaids to carry them during the ceremony and also have a tag listing each family member's name on each lantern.