I'm scared a DW is going to be more expensive

[Luckybride13]

Hi bncandi,

 

So totally in the same boat. My wedding is May 3, 2013 and I did all the same stressing you are doing. Research, research, research girl and read tons of post from here. I got alot of my ideas from post right here that saved me lots of $$. I made my std, invites and rsvp and everyone loved them.   Now it's the waiting game. We started with a 5K budget but my honey booboo has a big mouth and invited additional people so I'm up to 7K because of the added guest.  So read on and get inspired!! It will all work out fine. Good luck!

[nbateman]

Originally Posted by bncandi 

 

Thank you so much for the cost breakdown! I feel like you gave me an outline of sorts to start with. I picked up a destination wedding book but it was so general and sort of filled with stuff that's obvious. Thanks so much again to all!

Yea I have a DW book also but I feel like I have only looked at it once since I bought it and haven't really needed anything in there.  Once I started booking and making decisions I've been tracking everything in a spreasheet to keep my budget in line so that's kinda where my breakdown came from.

[Cherina]

My wedding website via wedding windows has a great budget tracker. You give it a number it estimates costs as you put in the actual costs it readjusts other budget items so you know where you have to be to stay within your budget.

[agm04]

For me, given that the areas I'm unwilling to cut corners (food and alcohol) aren't really any cheaper no matter where you go, the savings is in having fewer guests willing to travel to a destination wedding.  If I'd had a wedding for 400 people back home, I would have spent the same amount of money and had to cut corners in the same places (flowers, centerpieces, smaller bridal party, etc) - and then some.  Having fewer people in Grand Cayman means I can spend more on those 100 - better food, alcohol, doing nice welcome bags, etc, even if it does cost the same amount overall.

 

Off the cuff I think $10k is doable if it's SMALL and if you are willing to make sacrifices on certain things.  Good luck!

[Snoopy129]

I agree with agm04!  If you had a larger wedding at home, it would cost about the same as a more intimate wedding abroad!  plus, you're not really paying for just 1 night, it's a vacation and a weekend experience with your closest friends and family!  one of my friends keeps telling me "this cuts out the riff raff" haha!  and it's true!  of course there will be some people who can't make it but think of the memories (and the fun pics) you'll have afterwards! 

[agm04]

Originally Posted by Snoopy129 

 

I agree with agm04!  If you had a larger wedding at home, it would cost about the same as a more intimate wedding abroad!  plus, you're not really paying for just 1 night, it's a vacation and a weekend experience with your closest friends and family!  one of my friends keeps telling me "this cuts out the riff raff" haha!  and it's true!  of course there will be some people who can't make it but think of the memories (and the fun pics) you'll have afterwards! 

absolutely!  and the only people who can't come to mine that i'm really disappointed about are 2 friends who will be extremely pregnant or just have given birth, and they wouldn't have been able to come anyway.  i like "cuts out the riff raff" - totally true!  ha.  I will admit that it's added up to be a lot more than I expected, but I know I'm going to cherish the memories with my friends and family so much.