How much is your wedding costing you?

[ajamieso]

My budget is 12000 for everything!

[greatbritain]

My budget is $5000-$6000 and so far, so good. We will see as we get closer but I am confident that I can do it!

[adevnturelovers]

Hi getting married in Mexico, Las Caletas depending on how many guests we have with honeymoon included in best, 30-40 guests, fishing trips and spa for a few ladies,photograohers, makeup , transportation and basically everything  we will probably spend about 20,000. But I'm form New York so the normal average wedding here is about 50,000 and if you go all out about 60-80,000 so I don't feel too guilty having everything I would want at my destination wedding. But still hoping I can keep it lower than that since originally we had planned on spending tops 15,000.

[Bride2012]

Awwww...I guess everyone had the same thoughts about DW....it was my "compromise" with my FI, I wanted to get married at the courthouse...total cost like $20...but this DW is getting out of hand...

 

Flights, hotel stay, ceremony, reception, flowers, photographer, resort "extras" cost I honestly am ready to just throw in the towel and say forget it....but we're already too invested now...so i guess I will just suck it up and remember its supposed to be our day....

 

MY budget was $5000, right now we are at $10,000...and at the rate we're going I can see us hitting $15k by the time we say, I do

[torilynnsmith]

Luvmoo - so jealous of your 2 weeks, we are starting to think we should have done the same but know we just can't take the time off or do we have the money right now!!! I am sure it will be so nice to have that extra week once all the guests are gone!!!!

 

 

Bride2012 do I feel your pain, the budget seems to slowly inflate with every little step, I keep trying to cut things and thankfully so because secret extras keep popping up, I am scared to see any other resort extras that come into play!!!! I am thinking we are around $12000 now from an original 10k budget, hopefully we can keep it there.
 

Originally Posted by Bride2012 

Awwww...I guess everyone had the same thoughts about DW....it was my "compromise" with my FI, I wanted to get married at the courthouse...total cost like $20...but this DW is getting out of hand...

 

Flights, hotel stay, ceremony, reception, flowers, photographer, resort "extras" cost I honestly am ready to just throw in the towel and say forget it....but we're already too invested now...so i guess I will just suck it up and remember its supposed to be our day....

 

MY budget was $5000, right now we are at $10,000...and at the rate we're going I can see us hitting $15k by the time we say, I do

 

[kellygrrrl]

but keep in mind it includes your honeymoon - subtract ~$5000 and then see where you are. I couldn't find a reception venue for under $7,500 (not including flowers or photography), so for me, it's still well below what it would have cost to stay here. and you get a whole vacation with the people involved, not just a night. sure, the courthouse would be cheaper, but this is much more of a days-long experience than a moment. please don't be discouraged. : )
 

Originally Posted by Bride2012 

Awwww...I guess everyone had the same thoughts about DW....it was my "compromise" with my FI, I wanted to get married at the courthouse...total cost like $20...but this DW is getting out of hand...

 

Flights, hotel stay, ceremony, reception, flowers, photographer, resort "extras" cost I honestly am ready to just throw in the towel and say forget it....but we're already too invested now...so i guess I will just suck it up and remember its supposed to be our day....

 

MY budget was $5000, right now we are at $10,000...and at the rate we're going I can see us hitting $15k by the time we say, I do

 

[proti007]

We're getting married at Dreams Los Cabos in two weeks, and this is a breakdown of our costs:

 

Dreams Ultimate Package: $2800

Cost of additional guests (package includes 20): $1440

DJ: $1250

Photographer & Videographer: $5000

Flights/Accommodation for Photographer/Videographer: $1100

Florist: $1600 less resort credits, $1100

Hair/Makeup (Trial/Day of/Day after shoot, plus tax/grat for BMs and MOB/MOG): $900

Dress (plus alterations, shoes, veil): $4425 ***GIFT FROM PARENTS***

Grooms attire: $600

Groomsmen attire: $1100

Bridesmaid attire: $800

Gifts for bridesmaids/MOB/MOG: $650

Gifts for groomsmen/FOB/FOG: $1100

Guest THANK YOU Sunset Catamaran cruise: $1300

Decorations/Rentals: $2500

 

That brings us to a grand total of $21640. That does not include my wedding day attire, as it was a gift. That also doesn't include our wedding bands ($5000), our cost for the 10 nights in Cabo with flights ($4200) and our two-week honeymoon in California ($6000). If we did include those, it would be closer to $37000.

 

We're really lucky to have amazing families who have helped above and beyond. My parents hosted an engagement party for us in February (about 100 people) and our in-laws are hosting and AHR in August when we get back from our honeymoon (about 250 people). Between those two parties, the three bridal showers that have been thrown for me, as well as wedding gifts we've been receiving from family, we've more than covered the cost of our destination wedding, as well as had our registries purchased almost in full for our new house!

 

My advice to any brides-to-be would be to definitely stick to your guns with what you want, but to negotiate with vendors!!! We've saved thousands by discussing discounts with vendors in Mexico, and they've been more than happy to oblige - we're bringing 40 guests to their resort! Second would be to pick your battles with your FI!!! The ideas I had for decor (although stunning!), MAY have been a bit over the top. When he saw me diy-ing through many of my projects, he was happy to concede on the things I literally could not do myself (anyone know how to MAKE a tiffany chair for less than the $8 our hotel is charging us?!). Only two weeks to go!

[AfricanVenus]

I still haven't tallied up the cost of everything, and my wedding is past! I think I don't wanna know, because it was over-budget, lol. The thing is, our wedding itself was under budget, but we helped a few guests to attend so that bumped it up quite a bit. I still don't regret it though. If I had to guess, it would be around $15,000 and our original budget was $10,000.

[LovesJakeyPoo]

Trying to keep it under 15,000 including AHR...lol we shall see....

[weddingaway]

We are just under $10,000 including the honeymoon.  We are trying to keep things simple, but I wanted the private reception which is over 20% of the budget and he wanted an Oceanfront Junior Suite at the RIU.  Savings: bought wedding dress at tent sale, most OOT bags fillers come from Dollar Tree, girls' OOT bags were 2 for $1, buying decor from other brides and Photographer is a friend so we are paying her room and materials.  It is really scary to see the big number but half the budget is resorts and airfare.

 

Airfare 1100

RIU Negril 1200

Couples San Souci 2430

Transfer 180

Reception 2000

Flowers 500

Photographer 550

Linens, Décor 60

Dress 50

Alterations 150

Shoes 100

Jewelry 100

Hair/Makeup 200

Suit 250

Shoes 50

Fees 250

Tips 125

OOT Bags 350 

 

TOTAL $9645