My Very Real Wedding Budget

Weddings are expensive. Budgets are hard. The sky is blue. Fish swim. Yeah yeah yeah. But what are all of those teeny tiny details that add up to so much?? Here is my personal breakdown of exactly where my money was spent on my summer 2019 wedding.

Some additional details worth knowing before looking at this: I chose a very DIY venue because I love projects and I have a lot of connections with vendors given my career choice so I needed to be able to bring my own vendors. I was lucky enough to have some of my wonderful professional wedding vendor friends gift me services. Those vendors are still listed here as part of an overall checklist, but if you are using this as a guideline for your own budget definitely consider the actual cost. This wedding was planned in 2019. The exact same wedding today, even with all the gifted services, would easily cost another $10k.

Wedding Budget

Venue- Reptacular Ranch

  • Venue fee $3,995

  • Zebra $300

  • Petting Zoo Package $250

  • 2 Extra Hours $350

  • Cleaning fee for trailers $100

  • Extra people charge ($11x100) $1,100

Total: $6,095

Caterer- Rutt’s Catering

  • 175 people @ $1,293.03

  • 2 service staff for 2 hours @ $100/each

  • $300 tip

Total: $1,793

Hors D'oeuvres- TJ’s Charcuterie/Cheese/Fruit (Items bought independently - board assembled by a catering friend)

  • Brie 6lbs $36

  • Yellow mild cheddar 4lbs $20

  • White sharp cheddar 4 lbs $20

  • Blue cheese 4lbs $25

  • Goat cheese 4lbs $24

  • Charcuterie 16 packages $48

  • Plastic shot glasses $20

  • Mini plastic forks $6

  • Shrimp $40

  • Cocktail sauce $10

  • Chips $10

  • Mango salsa $15

  • Pasta salad (1-2 bites in plastic shot glass) $20

  • Crackers 12 packages $40

  • Spinach dip $20

  • Bread for dip $20

  • Fruit (berries, pineapple, figs, etc) $30

  • Olives $20

  • Tax & platters $60

  • Attendant (set up and break down- 2 hours) $60

  • Attendant Tip $20

Total: $540

Cake- Gelson’s Bakery 2 tier cake/Store bought or homemade pies

  • 2 tier cake (9” base, 6” top) naked design w/ succulents applied later @ $175

  • 5 pies @ $8/each + tax = $45

  • 20 mini pies @$4.50/ea. = $99

Total: $319

Bar- Self Made

  • 1 Bartender x 10 hrs @ $20/hr + $200 tip (+ tip jar for guests to tip) $400

  • Water & Soda $150

  • Beer 1 Keg $250

  • Beer 74 btls of beer for pre-ceremony $100

  • 2 cases of white wine $210

  • 2 cases of red wine $250

Old Fashion Materials

  • 10 btls Bulleit Bourbon $500

  • Oranges $30

  • 5 btls bitters $50

  • Sugar cubes $10

Moscow Mules Materials

  • 10 btls Kirkland $340

  • Five 4 packs of ginger beer $90

  • Limes $25

  • Lime mix $50

Total: $2,455

DJ & Photo booth- Electric Entertainment

  • 8 hours DJ $800 (FRIEND)

  • Coordinator $250 (FRIEND)

  • Photo booth (FRIEND)

  • Photo booth decorations (FRIEND)

Total: $1,050

Photographer- Ryuji Morita

  • 8 Hours w/ second shooter $800

  • Tip $200

Total: $1,000

Videographer- Light up Video

  • Videographer (FRIEND)

Total: $0

Officiant-

  • 30 Minute Ceremony

Total: $250

Hair & Make Up

  • Hair: Nikki (FRIEND)

  • Makeup: Sam (FRIEND)

Flowers- Los Angeles Flower Market

  • Bouquet flowers $100

  • Table flowers $200

  • Random other flowers $50

  • Succulents $125

Total: $475

Decorations

  • Table linen (white linens and lace overlay) $300

  • Empty wine bottles FREE

  • Weird vases/jars/decanters from Goodwill $70

  • Giant flower pots for alter $30

  • Big mirror $70

  • Miscellaneous free/cheap things $180

  • Teapots/teacups for centerpieces $50

Total: $800

Save the Dates & Invitations- Vistaprint

  • Save the Dates $200

  • Invitations $156

  • Thank you cards $30

Total: $386

Dress/Shoes/Alterations-

  • Dress $375 (Cocomelody)

  • Alterations $175

  • Cleaning $150

  • Custom converse $60

Total: $760

Suit/Shoes

  • Suit $250

  • Shoes $50

  • Accessories (tie, socks, etc.) $100

Total: $400

Miscellaneous-

  • Plates $350

  • Cups (rented from bartender)

    • 175 Water glasses

    • 100 Old Fashioned glasses

    • 100 Wine glasses

    • 175 beer/other beverage glasses

      = $440

  • Water carafes $50

  • Coffee & tea station (via bartender) $175

    Total: $1,015

Gifts

  • Bridesmaids: Robe, personalized Champagne glass, bracelet $15/each x 8 =$120

  • Groomsmen: Tie, pocket square, socks $35/each x 8 = $280

  • Nikki Thank You- Custom bath wine holder, wine, spa things $75

  • Sam Thank You- $75

  • Dave Thank You- $75

Total: $625

GRAND TOTAL: $17,963