Put on a wedding for little ol’ us? How much?!
Howdy, partners! We’ve made it!
Ok, sorry, I lay off the country-isms for a while (at least until the end). This is the final of my recaps for our California wedding–second-time-around, just-like-new-all-over-again-wedding. As this wedding was US-based (i.e. I won’t have to convert pounds for dollars for a lot of you) and we were on a somewhat-tighter budget (and we contributed more), I thought I’d end with our budget.
How much we were spending frightened me continually throughout our year and a half planning for our 2 weddings. We were incredible grateful to have both sets of our parents fund the majority of both weddings combined. We also had few aunts/uncles/cousins flat out give us cash–without any strings attached–or have family or friends gift us everything from 5 jars of jam to a black and white photo booth. (Let alone, on top of that, contribute to our honeymoon-to-come on our registry through Deposit a Gift, SYE vendor.)
For all this explanation, I’ve broken it down for you into 2 categories: What My Parents Paid For and What We Paid For. After that, I give you THE GRAND TOTAL.
Well, I let you see for yourself, but after doing most of the number crunching with my mom I’m even more proud of what we pulled off with what we had.
Totals are for 140 person guest list for a wedding in Siskiyou County, California.
What My Parents Paid For…
Rehearsal Dinner: $400
Bridal Shower Tea (sandwich necessities): $45 + GIFT of tea, baked goods
Venue: $500
Rentals (linens, glassware, silverware, carafes): $972
Paper Products (plates, napkins, etc. for bridal shower & wedding): $75
Catering (Meat + Salads, etc.): $617.50 + $780 = $1,397.50
Almond Sparkling Wine: $120 — Trader Joe’s
Sparkling Cider: $48
Beer: $235, Mt. Shasta Brewery, Siskiyou County
Apple Cider: $54
Alcohol + Mixer (for Signature Cocktails): $100 — BevMo
Cake: $200 (with friend discount) — Maeve Makes Cakes, San Francisco
DJ (with ceremony audio): $830
Live Band: $75 ($25 friend discount)
Black & White Photo Booth: GIFT Paige Michel Photography + Photo Booth, Siskiyou County
Postage: $138
Printing (Programmes & Wedding Certificate): $76
Decorations (hoops, second-hand): $20
PARENT SUB-TOTAL: $5,285.50
What We Paid For…
Flights: $1,300 + vacation money…
Bachelorette Party: $50
Bridal Party Gifts (Books + Badges): $100 + $58 = $158 — Badges by ButtonEmpire, Etsy
Dress/Earrings/Boots: $230 + $38 + $75 = $343– Dress by Jenny Yoo from The English Depart & Earrings by Alaine Jewelry, SYE vendor
Suit/Shirt/Shoes: $1,150 + 40 + $100 = $1,290
Hair x 2: $50
Button Bouquet & Corsage: $48 + $5 = $53
Wedding Rings: $720 — Jesse Danger, SYE vendor
Engagement Rings: $122 + $160 = $282 — Alex’s by Beth Cyr Jewelry, Etsy
Photographer: $300 (with friend discount) — Wyatt Olson Photography
Save the Date (digital): $14.95
Invitation Design: FREE
Gift (Thank You for Invitation Design): $25
Wedding Certificate (digital): $20 — Ten Lines Pica, SYE vendor
Printing (Invitations): $100 — Vista Print
Red Buttons: $43 — TheStitchEnd, Etsy
Fabric (for hoops, second-hand): $20
Decorations (flags/bunting): GIFT
Decorations (jams, jellies, preserves, etc.): $50 + GIFT
OUR SUB-TOTAL: $3,528.95
ALEX’S PARENT’S SUB-TOTAL: $1,290 (Alex’s outfits + travel costs, etc.)
GRAND TOTAL FOR ONE WEDDING in Northern California: $10,104.45
Well, partners, I guess that’s it for this Americana love fest shindig. The last of the California Country Kitsch recaps…
I definitely couldn’t envisioned this day when I started on SYE in June 2009, newly engayged, nor when I finished re-telling the story of our beautiful, Cornish UK civil partnership in the summer of 2010. Even when I was writing about our reception at the Siskiyou Golden Fairgrounds just last month, I wasn’t really thinking about it. But wow… what a journey, eh?
Even as my wedding planning days are finished and I am very very very much enjoying being married to the lovely Alex, I’m still holding out that there will be a THIRD shot-gun wedding in San Francisco when California finally gets its act together. Ok, well, maybe I could review how much we’ve spent already and just appreciate my wife…
I am sad to leave you in this capacity, but wondered — would it be alright if I came back every once and a while with funny stories of this “Love Fest” duo or any awesome vendors I meet? I am so grateful to Kelly and Lara for getting SYE up, running and flourishing; to the bloggers and contributors for all that you do and ways you make me smile; and, well, to all of you dear readers–ever-hopeful, ever-enthusiastic, ever-believing in love…
(Photo by Wyatt Olson Photography)
I adore that picture!! It is great to read about someone who has made it to the other side! I, like you then, can’t imagine how it will feel to be at my wedding, but I just can’t wait!!
Wow, thank you so much for your dedication in sharing your thoughts, details, inspirations, plans, photos and heart with us. I have enjoyed not just one but both weddings. Best of luck.
I’m sad to say goodbye to my favorite wedding blogger! Thanks for taking us along!
Michael– It’s an amazing feeling!!
Anita & Kate– Thank you for your kind words!! I’m glad to know you enjoyed following us as we bumbled along! And, hopefully, I’ll be back one in a while to say hello… Good luck with whereever you’re at!
thank you for sharing your perspectives and memories!