Weddingbee Blog

Our $10,000 budget was a huge consideration when wedding planning, especially as our guest list ballooned from an anticipated 150 people to more than 220 invited guests (in the end, about 170 attended). To be honest, our strict budget was in the driver’s seat for every single wedding-related decision; it was more tiring than you can even imagine.

Of course there were things we wished we could have spent more money on, but we’re pretty happy with our spending decisions overall. The best compliment we received (other than the raging drunks coming up to us that night telling us it was the best wedding in history) was hearing that people thought our rumored “budget” was $20,000 or more. High five to the Jams!

So, as promised, here’s our (almost) $10K budget breakdown:

Rental Fees:

• Venue Rental: $500
• Ceremony chairs: $90
• Coffee pot rental: $15

Total $605

Vendors:

• Officiant (church donation): $150
• Photography: $2,000
• DJ: $1,300
• Tips and helper gifts: $300
• Trolley gratuity (no rental fee): $100

Total $3,850

A mere fraction of the homemade cupcakes and cookies made with love by my mom’s very best friend.

Food & Drink:

• Reception food: $1,500
• Alcohol, pop, gratuity: $3,000
• Supplies for cupcakes, cookies, yummy treats (see above, commence drooling): $95

Total $4,595

The Look:

• Rings: $227
• Wedding dress, alteration, shoes: $130
• Mr. Jam’s shirt and pants: $40
• Guys’ accessories (sunglasses, suspenders, socks, vintage bow ties): $98
• Gals’ accessories (vintage purses and jewelry, hankies, sunglasses, Lush cosmetics): $100

Total $595

Extras:

• Guest log and vintage frame: $50
• Votive candles and holders: $100
• Supplies for DIY bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages: $30
• Papergoods (invites, STDs, escort cards): $150
• Grocery store flowers for ceremony: $15

Total: $345

= GRAND TOTAL: $9,990

What we got discounted or free:

• Hair and makeup, which we DIY’d with the help of an incredibly talented stylist bridesmaid
• Videography discounted by a fabulous “friendor” and film school student
• Instrumental music and ceremony singing provided by my uncles
• Bridal jewelry borrowed from my grandma
• Screen door for escort card display from my dad’s childhood home
• All ceremony decor (old door, chair, mini jars, basket of silk flowers, program table, Pepsi crate) borrowed from my parents
• Card box made by my dad out of wood scraps and old chicken wire
• Bird nest to hold rings during blessing ceremony taken off one of my mom’s wreaths

Just a teaser picture of our collection centerpieces–every one was totally different and filled to the brim with our real-life household decorations and favorite vintage finds.

What we didn’t even count in the grand total:

Our decorations, because we used a lot of random goodies that we already owned, and everything my parents and I bought will be split up and used to decorate our houses after the wedding. What we did buy was mostly dirt cheap or even free, and I didn’t care to add up a dime here or a quarter there. (However, if we had added it all up, we’re confident it would have been a relatively small amount.)

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And there you have it: Our $10,000 wedding, neatly wrapped up and tied with a raffia bow. Most of what we learned was gained through trial and error, and we’d absolutely love to swap thrifty stories with the hive. Did you have a good experience abiding to a budget? Or did you try to stick to a budget, then rip your hair out and hurriedly run the other direction?