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Real Budgets Feature Launched: July 3, 2007 About: Real wedding budgets submitted by former brides.
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Real Budgets: Maureen & Adam

June 17th, 2009 @ 4:32 pm by Real Budgets

Maureen & Adam - August 16, 2008

Location: Rural Michigan
Budget: $15,000 ($10,000 gifted from bride’s parents)
# of Guests: 125

Wedding Day Costs

Ceremony Reception Site Fees/Type of Venue: $4,500/ Bride’s Childhood home (farm)- I’ve always known I would get married on their property. We had a tented reception, and the ceremony took place right on the dance floor. Very informal, but it fit our personalities. The 4,500 dollars includes: tent, chair, table, linens, flatware, dinnerware, dance floor, bar, lighting, and glassware rental fees.

Caterer/Food/Drink (per person if available): Approximately $5,000- My parents raise Black Angus cattle. For our main course we provided our caterer with several premium cuts of Angus beef ['grown' on the farm]. Guests chose what cut they wanted and it was cooked on a large grill to their specification. We also hired a local caterer who provided side dishes, vegetarian options, and fruit pies. We spent around $2,000 stocking a full bar, and appetizers were provided by a local chef.

Servers/Bartender: $500

Bridal Gown & Alterations: +$50- I found the my Nicole Miller dress on eBay for 250.00, and paid 50.00 in alterations. After the wedding, I listed it on eBay and it sold for $350 for a profit of 50 dollars (I got really lucky).

Bridal Accessories (Veil, Undergarments, Shoes, Jewelry): $200- my only accessories were shoes (that I already owned), and the Badgley Mischka blue green earrings I found at Nordstrom.

Groom’s Attire: $40- He wore a navy blue suit he already owned- we paid $40 for alterations. His accessories were purchased with a Macy’s gift card one of his mother’s friends gifted us for our wedding shower.

Stationery/Postage: $250

Photography: $1650

Ceremony Music: $0- My brother played his acoustic guitar as I walked down the aisle

Reception Music: $800

Flowers: $500- All the flowers were DIY - I ordered from fiftyflowers.com and flowersandfreshness.com

Favors: $30- My mother in law baked our favorite almond cookies and placed them small boxes. Our favors also served as seating cards.

Cake: $500-$300 for cupcakes and $200 for stand and cake topper

Officiant: $200- the Mayor of the city married us for a donation

Hair: $100 with tip

Wedding Party Gifts: $500

WEDDING DAY TOTAL: $14,220
TOTAL COST PER PERSON: 113.76

All Inclusive Costs:
Wedding Bands:
$200.00

Rehearsal Dinner/Day After Brunch: $0- Gift from Groom’s family

Honeymoon: $1500- Traveled to Northern Michigan and stayed in family cottage on a lake.

ALL INCLUSIVE TOTAL: 1700.00

GRAND TOTAL: $15,720

~~~

We’d really love for hive members to share their budgets with us for this series! If you’d like to participate, check out our past real budget features, and submit your own budget and pictures with the information provided here!

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22 Responses to “Real Budgets: Maureen & Adam”

1.
Guest Icon
Guest
Vancouver wedding photographer

That is so amazing that you were able to host your whole wedding for around 15K! And you kept it close to your budget! A Wedding of this type if you had to do it at another venue and the caterer provided all the food would cost $20-30K! Good job on the wedding planning and everything looks great!

 
2.
Miss Mary Jane
Bee
Miss Mary Jane (message)  1,520 posts, Bumble bee

Beautiful! Love the cupcakes and the topper!!

 
3.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Joey (message)  829 posts, Busy bee

Nice job on the dress!

 
4.
Jessie516
Hostess
Jessie516 (message)  4,039 posts, Honey bee

Maureen, your dress is amazing! Thanks for sharing your budget. You did a wonderful job keeping the budget managable AND making everything beautiful!

 
5.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Quiche (message)  2,186 posts, Buzzing bee

Beautiful wedding!! Thanks for sharing :)

 
6.
Miss French Bulldog
Bee
Miss French Bulldog (message)  6,077 posts, Bee Keeper

Thank you so much for sharing your budget! and your dress is amazing!

 
7.
Gilneas
Member
Gilneas (message)  1,029 posts, Bumble bee

Not only is your dress awesome, but you made a profit on it! I think that is the first time in the history of weddings that a bride has made money while purchasing her dress.

Those cupcakes look delicious, and the colors are awesome. I love seeing how different people spend their wedding!

 
8.
Guest Icon
Guest
Cat

The dress is STUNNING. Seriously.

 
9.
Miss Bear Cub
Bee
Miss Bear Cub (message)  1,354 posts, Bumble bee

way to go on your dress deal!

 
10.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss Star (message)  1,291 posts, Bumble bee

Thanks so much for sharing your budget and beautiful day with us! You looked gorgeous and what a steal on that dress ;)

 
11.
Member Icon
Member
West Coast Bride (message)  672 posts, Busy bee

Stunning!

 
12.
Member Icon
Member
BA (message)  197 posts, Blushing bee

This whole wedding had my jaw dropped at how stunning it was, in both its details and its simplicity. I’ve said this before, but that dress is drop dead gorgeous and absolutely perfect, and I cannot believe you made a profit to boot. You guys did an amazing job.

 
13.
Member Icon
Member
mlindsey (message)  349 posts, Helper bee

I remember this wedding from last year! It doesn’t get any more fabulous….to be able to use your family’s property (which takes a HUGE chunk out of the budget) is awesome. I remember thinking that this wedding was simple, but yet so full of nice details. This lady is the epitome of a bride doing it big on a budget!

 
14.
laurajane
Member
laurajane (message)  320 posts, Helper bee

I think it’s awesome you profited off of your gown-that just shows what great tastes you have!

Love the cake topper too. The linen colour is so vivid too! What a lovely wedding!

 
15.
mrspaetz
Member
mrspaetz (message)  1,707 posts, Bumble bee

wow gorgeous stuff. can’t believe the flowers were DIY! amazing!

 
16.
pvaulter718
Member
pvaulter718 (message)  1,604 posts, Bumble bee

Your “cake topper” is great!

 
17.
Member Icon
Member
FireFlyNad (message)  101 posts, Blushing bee

The flowers looked amazing, beautiful wedding. Fantastic that you made a profit on your dress - it is gorgeous.

 
18.
Golden139
Member
Golden139 (message)  340 posts, Helper bee

Beautiful wedding and how meaningful that you were able to have it at your childhood home. Michigan is such a beautiful state! Thanks for sharing your budget with us!

 
19.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Hot Cocoa (message)  1,721 posts, Bumble bee

What a fabulous couple . . . and you know I can’t turn down a cupcake.

 
20.
Bee Icon
Bee
Mrs. Taffy (message)  2,605 posts, Sugar bee

Your wedding was lovely! And yay for Michigan brides!!! :)

 
21.
Bee Icon
Bee
Miss D'orsay (message)  1,295 posts, Bumble bee

Wow, what an amazing wedding! Thank you so much for sharing your budget with us!

 
22.
Keladry
Member
Keladry (message)  184 posts, Blushing bee

Where did you guys find that cake topper?!! It’s ridiculous! I must have one!

 


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