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