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2/9/10 5:26 A

we don't have a budget or any financial assistance so we are paying for everything upfront as i book it ... we have 3 guest lists the A list (50 ppl) B list (100ppl) and C List (150ppl) and a venue that holds 150 max so depending on costs of caterers as they come up we will decide which list to go with :P

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2/8/10 2:50 P

We are going to try and have our dream day for $25000 and 120 - 130 guests

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2/5/10 8:14 A

we are having 80-85 people. Our budget is $13,500. Both of our parents are helping with the cost. This is for EVERYTHING- the dress, the venue, food, photographer, rehearsal dinner, flowers...
I am doing it very classy, but keeping cost reasonable. I'm sure I could do it cheaper if I did a big BBQ, but it's not my style. I think spending 20-30K or more on 5 hours is insane. We decided to put money into having the nice venue, and less on bar and food (we're having an elegant brunch- which is what we want and WAY cheaper than a plated dinner)
Also, if you want some advice, a lot of places do special winter rates. We're saving money on the venue, the photographer, and doing a winter theme (think white branches instead of flowers on the tables) just by doing things in winter. I'm fine with it and I am excited about the theme- ice blue, snowflakes- it will be lovely. Also, I use to work wedding banquets- don't go overboard spending on food. Half the people barely touch it and don't particularly remember anything unless it was awful, and don't do prime rib or steak, everyone wants it done differently and can't special order, so they aren't usually happy with the temperature- there aren't that many end cuts.
also, if you are renting a venue, and bringing catering in, like we are, see if you can hire a bartender separately. I got a fully insured service for $20/hour and we are purchasing our booze from a place that reimburses you for unopened bottles. We're saving over $1,000 just on that!

Edited by: GETTINSEXIBACK at: 2/5/2010 (08:26)

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2/4/10 11:25 A

I have been married before, and we spent over $40K on the wedding, only to have it end in divorce 3 yrs later (He was physically abusive...which I was embarrassed and hid, until I finally ended up pregnant with our son. Then when he through me against the wall when I was pregnant...I knew I had to end it)
I will NEVER invest that sort of money into a wedding again...It's just not worth it.
My fiance and I are looking to have a nice quiet outdoor wedding, and then a reception to follow. We aren't paying anything for our wedding "spot" as we live near 3 rivers...one of them leading into the Pacific Ocean and it's a beautiful area!
Food....Luckily with my mom, his mom, and my step mom...we are going to have it completely "catered" for just the cost of the food itself. My dress...I haven't found yet, but after having the Cinderella wedding...I want a short party length dress, in white/Champagne. I found one...just NO idea where they sell it (google search lol)
Invitations will cost around $60 I'm guessing. I'm HUGE in computer graphic design and scrapbooking etc, so I'm going to make them myself so that cost includes materials and photo prices.
The minister is a family friend. He's married and buried everyone in my family. He recently did my daughters service when she passed away Sept 18th 2007 to SIDS. He's a wonderful man and will not allow us to pay him at all, he gave my father the check for the memorial services back.
To make things simple...here is a basic list...
My dress - $150 (rough guesstimate)
Food - $150
Drinks - $150 (My brother is a bartender) =)
Photography - FREE! (My fiance's niece is a photographer in the making!)
Tux Rental - $65 (x 3 for groom, bestman, groomsman)
Bridesmaid dresses - $25-50 (x 2, we are just going to have the girls in Summer type dresses)
Flower girl dresses - $35 (x2)
Decorations - $75
Cake - My friend is a baker, and does a beautiful job! $50
Basically...all together with possible little expenses we are not thinking about....about 1,000 dollars. We already took 7,000 and paid off EVERY bill we had. And we are taking the other 9 we would have spent and going on an amazing honeymoon!
Starting off our marriage debt free, (cars paid off and everything! 100%) And with prob a lot of extra cash in our pockets! Makes me happy happy happy!

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2/3/10 11:49 P

I was hoping to keep my budget under $20K but with 300 invitees I am not sure that will be accomplished. Lots of family and friends.

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2/3/10 8:26 P

My budget is about $20K more or less for about 80-90 guests.

I'm considering a Saturday afternoon vs night wedding as the venue will be almost half the cost (will be on a yacht) for the dinner and ceremony.

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1/21/10 10:35 P

Our budget is between $20K (give or take) for 100 guests.

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1/21/10 3:15 P

Our budget is around $10000, and we're having over 250 guests. We both have huge families!

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1/15/10 10:09 A

Its awesome to see all the brides to be getting active on SparkPeople.com!! :O)

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1/14/10 8:21 P

We are having our ceremony in Ft Worth, TX, with approx. 150 guests. Our budget is $5000--and that includes my dress.

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1/13/10 11:31 A

I live here in Las Vegas, but I'm getting married in Newport Beach, CA. My whole family lives there, so it would be more much logical to have it there. Our budget is 15k, for 150 people. The place that were getting married at is all inclusive. Includes food, cake, DJ, photographer, linens, minister, yatch fees, crew fees, etc. I mean it includes everything. If you're looking for a Venue go to www.electracruises.com. Check out the Destiny, thats the yatch were getting married on. Congratulations to all that are getting married!!!

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1/13/10 11:23 A

We're inviting about 250 but only expect about 150 to be able to show up. We live in California but are having the wedding back in Pennsylvania where all of my family lives and don't think a lot of our Cali friends will be able to take time off to make the big trek.... but you never know.

The budget stands at about $10k but my parents have been throwing in money here and there which is always a very pleasant surprise.

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1/13/10 10:44 A

I am having about 270, (invited 400). Not including the honeymoon we are spending about $10,000. We have done everything ourselves. It is turning out to be great!

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1/11/10 3:42 P

We are inviting 200 and figuring 160-170 will come. (most live in town) Our budget is 15K-18K not including my dress. Both parents are helping and I got a 2nd job for the past year to save money. We live in Minneapolis.

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1/11/10 1:21 P

well we are estimating 110-125 people and the budget is $12,000 for New Rochelle, NY

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1/6/10 3:02 P

We never set a dollar amount of what it would cost, I really need to get on that :P
We're inviting about 150 people, but for food, we still have to count ourselves, the photographer, the dj, and the wait staff.... Bonus - we're doing it in a small town, which is keeping the cost WAY down, but we're still having something nice :)

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1/5/10 11:54 P

Our wedding is for approximately 350 people (very big families)...we are having an outdoor ceremony and reception at a lodge. Our budget began at 15K and is now around 20K. Atleast the parents have contributed 7K of that and we are not to worry about the rehearsal dinner. BTW, that includes the honeymoon.

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1/4/10 7:44 P

for 100-130 people, 6-7K.

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1/4/10 7:02 P

I'll be spending about $8,000 for 70 people for a Saturday afternoon wedding in Houston.

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1/1/10 6:56 P

We are getting married September 2010 on a Sunday $1000 Cheaper!!

We are planning on 250 people with a budget of $15000

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12/24/09 10:24 A

Next December, St. Louis, MO
80 peeps, budget is about 8K

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12/23/09 4:43 P

Our Wedding is June 5, 2010, My birthday! We are having 250 at the Church Wedding Ceremony; which is free thanks to my long time family ties to the church! We will make a donation though, about $200. The Reception, however, is more intimate. Just VERY close family and friends, simply because he has a HUGE family that spans across the country and honestly, I am NOT interested in paying for a lavish reception to feed the masses that I barely know and he barely talks to. I'd rather spend those thousands on our down payment for a house that we plan to buy mid summer (July to be exact) & all the odds/ends to fill it: Stainless Steel Appliances, granite countertops and a few 48in flat screen tv's. He wants to build a theater room w/surround sound, and so that's where that money's going!

Our reception is very modest, 50 people (56 including us & our wedding party) at a beautiful italian tuscan restaurant in our neighborhood (Polaris/Worthington, OH) and instead of spending crazy for a dinner, we're saving on a plated luncheon. 3 appetizers, 3 course meal, drinks and desserts all for $1800 for 56 people! THAT. IS. IT!

Good luck everyone! Either way, remember, continue the fitness passed the nuptials and say "I DO" to fitness!!!

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12/14/09 12:15 P

Our budget is 5K right now and that may get a little bit bigger, maybe up to 10k depending on some factors. Our guest list is at 80 right now but i want to cut that down to 50-60 if possible. i have a very large family and i am trying to decide if i am going to invite kids or not (i have a lot of young cousins) and if i am going to invite people like great aunts and uncles. We will have the wedding in/around Seattle, WA.

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12/8/09 8:25 P

Inviting 100-120 people. Right now, budget is about 11k, in Cincinnati, Ohio.

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12/8/09 11:22 A

We are getting married in 2011 and plan on having around 100-120. Our budget is 15K (10 from us 5 from my parents.. thanks mom and dad!)

I live in Toronto so a big city wedding on a budget will be a challenge but I am confident we can do it!

Edited by: ANMARI_T at: 12/8/2009 (11:24)

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12/8/09 11:01 A

We are inviting approximately 200 and planning on about 130 actually coming (a lot of my guest list is out of state and more than likely won't make it). Our budget is $15,000 in Columbus, OH (not including honeymoon). The wedding ceremony, reception, and food is running just over $6,000. We get to provide our own alcohol.

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12/3/09 1:56 P

I'm in New Jersey and I'm having about 87 people on a budget of 11,500 dollars. I hope that helps you. (We're paying about 75 dollars a head for a sit down meal including open bar, decoration and cake).

Hope that helps! Also, remember, the DJ and photographer will be quite expensive.

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12/3/09 1:35 P

NICKNAT - With 50 people you should be well under budget but be careful with beginning photographers. Make sure you see their work and ask if they have worked a wedding or event before. This really is the one thing you don't want to skimp on because after it's all over you're going to want to be able to look back over the day through your pictures!

Good luck with your planning! It really is a lot of fun to pick things out together!!


Edited by: EWIELAND84 at: 12/3/2009 (13:37)

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12/3/09 1:29 P

Inviting 130 and we're spending $20,000 dollars (not including my dress and shoes). We are paying for it ourselves and coming out with NO DEBT!!! Thanks in part to My Mom who picked up the bill for the flowers and my FI Mom is paying for the rehearsal dinner!

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12/3/09 12:54 P

inviting 350
Budget is 30,000
Lots of ppl lots more money to spend! :S

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12/2/09 9:30 A

Not quite sure the budget yet. We are waiting a cuple year to get married so it will probably be whatever we can save in that time. I think I can get a little help but not much. I know the average wedding is about 30k. I am not prepared to spend that much.

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12/2/09 8:42 A

We are inviting 310 people, and we have a total budget of $45k. Our parents are footing the reception bill, but FI and I have a big chunk of responsibility and we've just been saving and budgeting responsibly. It can be done without going into any debt, just a bit of stress. :)

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11/19/09 9:49 A

We're inviting 100 people and spending probably $12,000. (Most of that going to venue and catering, honestly. Those are our two biggest expenses. I'm crafty, and we have crafty friends, and I found my wedding dress and bridesmaid dresses for a steal!)

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11/19/09 6:38 A

Our budget is $10,000 with approximately 100 people invited. We know not all of them will show up though.

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11/16/09 12:33 P

I just got married 3 weeks ago. Our budget was $13,000 for 175 people, but we ended up spending only $9,500. Good luck!

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11/16/09 2:20 A

150-200 people, dessert reception, my overall budget is $8000. That's miraculous, too, especially for a huge city (Houston, TX).

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11/15/09 3:50 A

I'm performing a miracle. Having a sit down dinner for 85 and the entire budget is 12,000. (In New Jersey).

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11/14/09 10:35 P

125 people, $25,000

i really wish it were a lot less than that.

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11/13/09 6:10 P

Wow, a lot of you girls saved so much on your weddings! That's great! My husband and I got married last year (we live in Northern CA). We had approx 160 people at our wedding, and it cost right around $60,000. My parents paid for a good majority of it. We got married at a resort in Monterey. It would have been nice to save a little money, but the experience was amazing! Good luck to all, I love hearing about weddings! So much fun

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11/13/09 1:26 P

We want about 100 and we don't want to spend much. That said, we've been planning the ceremony now for about 3 years. The delay? We really don't want to spend the money or edit our tastes. Maybe in a decade. It's hard - already getting another little panic attack!

We live in Los Angeles where everything is expensive, we and our people are foodies, wine enthusiasts, we even have a ton of botanists and designers in the family with a touch of hollywood producer-types as well. I hate to think of it as people being judgemental but it kind of is how we've begun thinking of it. Everyone will know where we cut corners.

I wish it could just be a dinner party size but families are too big.

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10/28/09 2:43 P

140-150 ish and about 20,000 - 25,000 budget. I would like to stay at no more than 20 but I don't see it happening with all the costs that I have found to accompany a wedding.

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10/26/09 9:42 P

the minimum for the vineyard hall we reserved for is 150 adults, and we're looking at a 30-35k damage all in all

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10/25/09 8:06 P

I have no definite budget but I'm thinking between $10,000-15,000 will be enough just because of the difference in currencies when I fly home for my wedding.I don't know how many people will be there, maybe 150-200. I just know that as the time approaches, I will start making definite budget plans.

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10/24/09 6:49 P

150 guests and about 40,000

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10/23/09 3:54 P

Ughhhh no darn clue yet?!?!?

Think we want around 150...(my side is PORTUGUESE...so LARGE FAM)

I want to keep the Budget low though...

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10/23/09 8:43 A

30,000....250

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9/18/09 4:17 A

We are in the early planning stages, but I know we don't plan to spend more than $2000 for the whole wedding. We plan to have 50 guests or less, mostly family and close friends. I currently want to have the wedding and reception at the same place and preferably somewhere that doesn't need much decoration. We aren't doing a sit down dinner, but cake and appetizer's/hors d'oeuvres. I'm planning on using a local photography student for the pictures, and local student musicians because we're in a college town so you can get great help at a great price! I plan on doing invitations and any necessary decorations myself and with the help of friends and family. My fiancé and I are paying for the wedding ourselves.

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9/9/09 11:25 A

We are having between 180-200ppl and have budgeted about 10k. That being said though we have had alot of help from my mom who is a wedding decorator/planner/florist so we dont have to pay for the decor,flowers,etc as well as my dress. We are saving a ton because of her business and the people she knows otherwise I think we would be having a much smaller wedding!

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9/8/09 11:26 P

your parents yard must be beautiful......

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9/8/09 11:27 A

We are having about 100 guests and trying to keep costs under $10,000. We are having an outdoor wedding and reception in my parents backyard. This is actually not as cheap as people may think once you rent tents, table, chairs, dishes, glasses, silverware, etc., etc., etc.... but it is what I have always dreamed of.

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9/6/09 10:48 A

Our total budget was $25,000 for 200 people.

In the end, the total was around $20,000 and we had 100 people who actually came to the wedding. Due to the lower guest count, we splurged in a few areas (like upgrading the photography package).

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9/5/09 8:56 A

If you can or want to for a photographer, call the local college they have students who need class projects....you end up with awesome pictures for just the price of the film. think about it....

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9/5/09 8:01 A

Our budget is about $7,000 for 100 people. We might be going under because we aren't sure how expensive our invitations and decorations will be yet. We want the wedding to be elegant but simple and low-cost. It's the cost of the photographer that's getting us! We haven't chosen one yet because we're having trouble accepting that it's going to cost at least $1,000. The wedding is in four months!

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8/31/09 9:01 A

I just got married two weeks ago, we had about 150 people and we only spent $6500. It was a beautiful wedding. And I found easy ways to be Thrifty.

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8/31/09 7:37 A

we are bugeting our wedding as cheap as we can. My mum is a florist so is doing the flowers for us as we wedding gift, my fiances parents are putting in $1900 as a wedding gift. As for the cake just getting 2 sized round mud cakes and deocorating it. The venue and food and drink are the most expensive. We inviting 50 Minimum at $85 per head drinks included. we budgeting about $6000 into the wedding. Oh and our photographer is a friend of ours so that is handy as well :D

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8/26/09 10:38 P

you can keep the cost down at the bar if you so desire....you can give each guest 2 tickets for drinks then make it a cash bar. Just remember one thing if a guest leaves too wasted you are responsible.

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8/26/09 3:22 P

My wedding guest list has grown! Originally, it was at 120, but my parents have invited the neighbors and extra friends and now it's up to 150-175. Luckily they are helping out with the costs!

I am aiming to keep the budget at $20k, less if at all possible. The biggest expenses are the food and drink, since it's a sit down dinner provided by the country club, and open bar. If it weren't for the food/drink, the costs would be cut considerably. I am saving money on many other areas. I only need to buy bouquets because the country club already will have many poinsettias as my decorative flowers, as it's a holiday wedding. I also have been finding good prices for my photos, cake, and music.