How much is your wedding costing you?

[Bruuning17]

We are budgeting about $30k, but that includes paying for about 10 immediate family members who would not otherwise be able to afford going.  We have the overall budget, but I was clueless as to how this should all break down.  The breakdowns you all have given are so helpful, thanks! 

[merrylee]

Wow, our budget is currently $12,000.00 but that includes our 14 day stay at the Moon Palace which is the largest chunk of our budget at $5000.00.

 

Item                                                       Budget                                               Actual

2 weeks in Mexico                                  $5000.00                                            $5260.00

Flight                                                     $600.00                                              not purchased yet

Photography                                           $1000.00                                            $1195.00 all day and TTD session plus 200 prints and DVD with rights to images

OOT Bags                                              $1000.00                                            currently less than $100.00 including the bag for the guests that have booked (5 rooms)

Wedding Attire                                        $1500.00                                            $499.00 (dress) + $25.00 hair flower

Invites/STD's                                          $425.00                                               $343.73 including postage

Wedding Extras                                     $500.00                                               $330.00 flowers

                                                         $9425.00                                                 $7802.23

 

There are other items included in my 12k budget, but those are things like spending money etc...I didn't include the cost of rings because for me that is about a lifetime and not a day.

 

 

[bebop]

clgriffi7 - What photographer are you using for only $1200?!  We are depositing at the Gran Caribe for Nov 18th right now and need an outside photographer.  Thanks!

[clgriffi7]

For $1200, it wouldn't be an outside photographer.  My resort includes a certain amount of photography in the $2800 wedding package I am buying and I figured it would cost me an additional $1200 to get the additional time, prints, and the TTD I want. 

 

With that being said, depending on how I play with the numbers, I suppose I am getting my photographer for $1600.  I am bringing a local photographer with me to Mexico and his fees were $800 cash + paid trip for he and his wife.  So I am paying $800 cash + $800 flights (2x @ $400) + $1400 room (2x @ $700) = $3000.  However, part of our group rate is that if we pay for 5 double occupancy rooms then we get the 6th for free.  So mentally I am saying the free room will go to pay for the photographer's stay (and his wife), so I am only paying the $800 + $800 = $1600 for him.  But that means I am mentally paying full price for my fiance and myself.

 

So you might get lucky and find a local photographer that will quote you a good deal (like I did) to photograph a destination wedding because they know they are getting a good vacation out of the deal.  Then if you can get a good free room deal at your resort, you can possibly get A LOT of photography at a great price.  But beware, at a bridal show (before I booked my photog), I did have a photographer quote me her standard $2000-3000 price ON TOP OF having the trip paid for.

 

Good luck with picking a photogrpaher!

 

Originally Posted by bebop 

clgriffi7 - What photographer are you using for only $1200?!  We are depositing at the Gran Caribe for Nov 18th right now and need an outside photographer.  Thanks!

 

[cdc150]

We figure ours will be around $20,000 -- we expect 60 people

[JessX823]

Our wedding is costing us around $10k which includes our 10 day stay at the resort and wedding reception with 45 guests.  

[Ariane1126]

well we wanted to stay under 7,000 with a 10 day stay in mexico. Thats not including rings, i left that out We are doing a small reception when we get home so im thinking we will be around 9,000! not bad

[Islandgirl910]

How'd you get it to stay at $10K? We are also having 45 guests but we went over our 10K unfortunately.

Originally Posted by JessX823 

Our wedding is costing us around $10k which includes our 10 day stay at the resort and wedding reception with 45 guests.  

 

[BridetwoBe]

This made me realize a week vs a day...not so bad after all

Originally Posted by Danz 

Ours will probably cost us the same or even more then it would if we had it back home. We are trying to keep it under $20K + travel expenses of about $5K. I just could not justify spending $20K back home for 1 day that would be over before we knew it. We would also probably spend most of the time talking to people our parents invited that we barely know.  I can justify spending $20K over the course of a week with all of my closest family and friends. Best decision EVER!

 

[mishele81]

Hey , Good point, I hadn't even thought of that - the cost is for a week not one day. I will have to mention this to fiance as he is pretty frugal