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Expert
Posts: 2685
   
| What did you spend on:
1. Venue
2. Photos/Video
3. Dress
4. DJ/Music
5. What did your wedding cost as a whole?
Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding?
Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding?
How far from your house was your wedding?
How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen)
Thanks Y'all
Edited by RoaniePonie11 2017-10-27 10:14 AM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
| Well, I can't be much help. We went to Vegas and it was the BEST THING EVER.
No hassle, no drama, no planning, no big $$ drain.
I am not saying it's for everyone but it was great. We did have a reception back home a couple months later. BBQ, beer, dancing; very low key.
I have had so many friends regret how they let themselves get wrapped up in the details and didn't even enjoy their day. KEEP IT SIMPLE. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| thank you for the input! We are waayyyyy out from the date (10/19) so I have plenty of time. I want to have it all organized and PAID FOR a good 6-8 months out. I have an idea of what I want, but I have heard a bunch of do this, don't do that, this is/is not important... so I'm trying to make note of popular opinion. |
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 Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
 
Location: Oklahoma | My first wedding... spent WAY too much.
Dress $1800
Venue $20,000
Total cost about $40,000
Ended in divorce less than 3 years later and that was an additional $12,000
2nd time around... dress $150. Got married in Vegas with immediate family present. Had a moving/going away party/reception at the inlaws home.
I would do the small intimate ceremony with family only again. The first time around was a large church wedding. To me, a wedding lasts a day, a marriage a lifetime. I'd rather spend/save the money. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| opinions on the cost of photo/video? I found a company that does beyond incredible work oh photos and videos but its not cheap. I love the idea of being able to sit down with a bottle of wine and watch my wedding video while hes gone (we are military and he is gone ALL THE TIME). A close friend of mine (MOH) spent $1200 on her pictures and she said she wishes she hand't of cut corners on it because she doesn't have video and she doesn't like her pictures I.E. You get what you pay for...
thanks yall |
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Bulls Eye
Posts: 6443
Location: Oklahoma | RoaniePonie11 - 2017-10-27 9:52 AM
opinions on the cost of photo/video? I found a company that does beyond incredible work oh photos and videos but its not cheap. I love the idea of being able to sit down with a bottle of wine and watch my wedding video while hes gone (we are military and he is gone ALL THE TIME). A close friend of mine (MOH) spent $1200 on her pictures and she said she wishes she hand't of cut corners on it because she doesn't have video and she doesn't like her pictures I.E. You get what you pay for...
thanks yall
If I remember right, our pictures/videos were about $1200. Even though it ended in divorce, I still have the video and albums for my daughter in case she ever wants to see them. I think yes, that is worth the cost. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | We had a Friday night wedding. I know that's a little untraditional, but I would do it 1000x over. We had an amazing guest turnout. Way above average from what I read to expect. Lol! We were married in October, and as silly as it sounds, in the South, planning your wedding around football games is a BIG deal. I have been to at least a dozen fall weddings where half of the guests were glued to their phone screens watching the game. One wedding I went to the GROOM along with his groomsmen, disappeared right after the ceremony and did not join the reception until his team was done playing approx 45 minutes later! I thought, if it's that important just have a TV at the reception??
So we avoided that with a Friday wedding. Also, every single one of our vendors offered us a 15-20% discount to do it on Friday. That really added up!
Weddings are sooo exhausting for everyone involved and my family was extremely grateful to have the rest of the weekend to recover. They did cleanup until about mid-afternoon on Saturday and had all day Sunday to just rest before returning to work.
None of that really answered your questions though. Lol!
I think budgets are very personalized to the individual. Determine who will be paying for what and how much they are willing to spend. My parents paid for everything. But I know in some cases a grandparent will offer to pay for the dress, or an aunt will offer to pay for the ______ whatever.
Rough numbers:
Half of my budget went to the venue, this included catering.
15-20% photos/video
10% dress
2% DJ
My only regret is having too many bridesmaids. I felt pressured/obligated to ask certain people. I had 5, so not a huge number or anything, but it was a lot of drama at the time. And this is the one event in your life that it is absolutely ok to be selfish. I would only ask your nearest dearest most personal people and don't worry about offending anyone!
In my experience with my own wedding and attending lots of others, people really remember the food! Whether good or bad they talk about what kind of meal you provided. And unless it is strictly against your religious beliefs, booze is a must!! The only weddings I've been to that were complete duds, where no one had fun and everyone left as soon as the cake was cut, were the dry weddings!
The venue was about 20 minutes from my house.
5 on each side, we both agreed that was 3 too many. |
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 It Goes On
Posts: 2262
Location: Muskogee, OK | 1. Venue: $5000, it was a ranch and we had access to the ranch the whole weekend (the boys shooted skeet, fished etc) and also had a cabin onsite that we stayed in. Was GREAT
2. Photos: $1000, I did not do a video but had some priced out and this area it seemed to run $800-2000 depending on who you used).
3. Dress: $1000 + $200 in alterations
4. DJ/Music: Was included in our ranch rental package.
I LOVED our venue, was so worth it. Check them out Flying M Ranch in Inola, OK.
Regrets: none
How far from my house: 50 minutes
Bridal party: 5 bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen
We went ahead and hired a wedding planner that worked out of this venue quite a bit, she was about $3000 but was worth every penny. She handled ALL decorations, setting up, clean up and the actual organization of the event. We literally just had to show up. I HIGHLY recommend this- took a lot of stress off of us and our families especially day of so everyone could have fun. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 912
Location: Alabama | 1) Venue was free. We used a friends local farm.
2) I found a local girl who was just starting and paid her $500. We got about 300 edited pictures and she stayed for over 6 hours.
3)$1200
4) DJ is the way to go. I think it was about $800
5) Around $7500 all said and done.
If I had it to do over I would do it take pictures before, get a better dj, start earlier, and hire someone to video.
We had one person each to stand up with us, the ceremony was about 30 minutes from us.
Book your hair and makeup way early. Make sure you love your dress and order it early.
HAVE FUN! I don't understand why people get so stressed about these things. You should enjoy it!
 Congratulations! |
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 Living within my means
Posts: 5128
Location: Randolph, Utah | I had 2 close friends get married this summer and they didn’t do a bridle party. The one said it was easier than trying to pick what friends you wanted and that way no one got their feelings hurt, plus it took the cost of more dresses away.
Just something to think about. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| JcNhEmI - 2017-10-27 10:24 AM
I had 2 close friends get married this summer and they didn’t do a bridle party. The one said it was easier than trying to pick what friends you wanted and that way no one got their feelings hurt, plus it took the cost of more dresses away.
Just something to think about.
He has a ton of friends and I have like 3.... on a good day LOL. I am not a people person. I don't want to limit his buddies but I am not having people I am not close with as a brides maid. I am thinking MOH and 1 bridesmaid. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| thanks you guys! Any and all bits of advice welcome! |
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | My husband had 5 and I had 4. He really wanted 5 and I didn't want to ask someone just to fill a space. I had the last bridesmaid walk down with a groom on each side. You may not want to be 6 and 2, but it's totally kosh to be uneven! |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | RoaniePonie11 - 2017-10-28 8:09 AM
What did you spend on:
1. Venue
2. Photos/Video
3. Dress
4. DJ/Music
5. What did your wedding cost as a whole?
Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding?
Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding?
How far from your house was your wedding?
How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen)
Thanks Y'all
Venue - couple thousandDress - 2500 or soCake -1500 it sure was pretty..lolFlowers - couple thouBand was 5gPhotos were around the 3g mark4 bridesmaids and the wedding shinding was half an hour from home.....Total spent approx 60 g......regrets...yup shouldn't have gotten married...but if I had it to do over and not be the skeptic i am now..vegas......M |
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Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | RoaniePonie11 - 2017-10-28 8:09 AM
What did you spend on:
1. Venue
2. Photos/Video
3. Dress
4. DJ/Music
5. What did your wedding cost as a whole?
Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding?
Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding?
How far from your house was your wedding?
How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen)
Thanks Y'all
Venue - couple thousandDress - 2500 or soCake -1500 it sure was pretty..lolFlowers - couple thouBand was 5gPhotos were around the 3g mark4 bridesmaids and the wedding shinding was half an hour from home.....Total spent approx 60 g......regrets...yup shouldn't have gotten married...but if I had it to do over and not be the skeptic i am now..vegas......M |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 682
Location: Northwest | RoaniePonie11 - 2017-10-27 7:09 AM What did you spend on: 1. Venue 2. Photos/Video 3. Dress 4. DJ/Music 5. What did your wedding cost as a whole? Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding? Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding? How far from your house was your wedding? How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen) Thanks Y'all
What did you spend on:
1. Venue: Free, used a family friend's farm
2. Photos/Video: Also free, my husband's sister took photos and a friend took a video for me.....don't regret this one bit! And honestly, I could care less about a video
3. Dress: $250 (it was a more expensive dress, $1300 or 1400 I can't remember exactly, that was a sample for a design that had been discontinued) plus alterations ~$100
4. DJ/Music: None
5. What did your wedding cost as a whole?: MAYBE $2000
I had a beautiful wedding and there is nothing I would change about it. It was outdoors and low key. I didn't want anything "fancy". |
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 The One
Posts: 7998
Location: South Georgia | RoaniePonie11 - 2017-10-27 10:09 AM What did you spend on: 1. Venue 2. Photos/Video 3. Dress 4. DJ/Music 5. What did your wedding cost as a whole? Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding? Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding? How far from your house was your wedding? How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen) Thanks Y'all What did you spend on: 1. Venue 2. Photos/Video 3. Dress 4. DJ/Music 5. What did your wedding cost as a whole?
We bought a package deal from Sheraton Suites in Key West. The package included decor, food, the venue (of course), photography, cake, floral, and officiant......and it also included a wedding planner and an event coordinator. The package was $7,700.00 with the food and bar (top shelf premium bar for 4 hours) choices we made (prime rib and lobster tails, along with a shrimp cocktail app, and passed appetizers during cocktail hour) for 36 guests.
I found the Maggie Soterro dress I wanted for $1,300. When they went to order my size, they found out it was discontinued, and I could not fit into their size 8 floor sample. I called literally around 75 stores that carried that designer and found ONE store with a sample dress left in stock....and it was in my size. They had it on their 50% off clearance rack. I paid $600 and then I spent $100 on a couple repairs (missing crystal buttons from being tried on before). I bought it over the phone.
Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding?
None. The event venue handled everything beautifully. All the contractors they used were EXCELLENT also.
Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding?
I wouldn't change anything.
How far from your house was your wedding?
7 hours. We flew in 2 days before.
How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen)
Zero. It simplified the whole process, nobody felt obligated to help us with things, everyone could just have fun, and nobody had to pay for a special outfit to be in a wedding party. No obligatory gifts for them either. Much simpler.
All told, considering ALL expenses, our wedding was about $10,000.00.
Edited by horsegirl 2017-10-27 12:10 PM
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 Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | I think my and my husband had a fairly cheap wedding; maybe $3,000-$4,000 in total of everything. I think my dress was the most expensive thing and it was around $1,500. We have the ceremony at our church and got a lot of our decorations from Hobby Lobby. I let my friends pick out their own bridesmaids dresses which there is only two of them and it was pretty easy I just told them what color and that was it. We had a family friend do our wedding photos and I wish that was something that we paid more money for. Our photos are pretty simple and not worth bragging about. But I am glad that there are some pictures that I like. For music We had a 5 CD stereo case and that just mix songs for the whole reception. We already had the stereo and the CD so it didn't cost us anything. We just got married in town and had all of our friends and family invited. About 200 and total and we had a barbecue/steak all-you-can-eat line so people just grabbed what they wanted to eat and it was pretty simple. My aunt in law did the cake so we didn't have to pay much for that and we had a lot of family members help out. One of the major perks of being married to a big family! For our honeymoon we went to my husband's grandparents cabin in the mountains which was a couple hours away and it worked out great for us because we had our wedding Saturday and we had to get back to work on Monday so it was just a short getaway.
I really wasn't picky about our wedding and I was just happy to be getting married to the man that I loved, but I also stressed out at times because of my family sticking their nose up at things that I was very close to getting married in Vegas. Thinking back now I wish that we did get married in Vegas during the NFR so that could have been our honeymoon / vacation! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| RoaniePonie11 - 2017-10-27 9:09 AM
What did you spend on:
1. Venue-$8,000 that's including food and appetizers
2. Photos/Video-Photos were a gift from my husband's brother (who takes pictures for a living). I also paid $250.00 to have a wedding video done, and I would do that all over again! I love being able to watch our wedding all over again.
3. Dress-Total with alterations $1,000 at David's Bridal
4. DJ/Music-$1,500.00
5. What did your wedding cost as a whole? I would say around $15,000.
Do you have any regrets about what you did/didn't do for your wedding? I regret having bridesmaids/wedding party! I also regret having a family member take our pictures. I would do anything to go back and time and hire a non family member! I hate 99.9% of our wedding pictures, and I'm mad at myself for that. I would have spent a decent amount of money to have beautiful pictures! Good food was also important to us, as we had servers pass around appetizers, and and did NOT have a cash bar. We had an open bar, and IMO it was 100% worth it. It didn't put our guests in an uncomfortable spot. Also, if I could go back, I would not have a wedding party.
Looking back, what were/should have been your priority list in planning the wedding/ paying for the wedding?
How far from your house was your wedding? 10 min (church, and then reception at a local Inn which was 15 min away from the church). We didn't want our guests to have to travel a long ways.
How many was in your bridal party? (brides maids/ groomsmen) 3 and 3
Edited by emricmacy 2017-10-27 12:45 PM
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | My daughter got married in 2015. The one thing that I remember was the cost of the venue & photographer. We got a package deal on the venue for the reception (it was a church wedding) + all photography (bridals, wedding, reception) for $4500. It was a garden setting with a farm house. Real pretty. We served about 300 guests, so I don't remember (nor do I care to) what everything else cost. The music was a band on a flatbed trailer. They were a hoot! We rented a dancefloor (put on grass), those huge party tents, a gazillion tables, & strung up a BUNCH of lights.. Floated 5 kegs, served tons of wine, chicken fried steak + all the fixins. It was a total blast! It was all a success because they had so many friends that pitched in to pull it all off! I only regret having my make up done by the pro...LOL I don't even wear make up usually, so I was very uncomfortable with all that make up on
I think the important thing is to make it what you and your fiance want, not what anyone else wants. Don't feel pressured to have a big wedding if you don't want one. It is all a very personal & should reflect your style.
Edited to add that a local college (I think, or maybe a high school? can't rememeber) class did the flowers a whole lot cheaper than a retail florist. Everything including the bouqets to the table arrangements). It was a vocational type floristry class. Save money where you can!
Edited by tracies 2017-10-27 2:54 PM
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