Keeping A Wedding Affordable.... How Much Did Yours Cost?

Quote from zzyzzx : Those costs for a photographer seem excessive.

I'm not having any luck in finding a photographer under $2,000 in my area and we're a relatively small town. I've even called the surrounding areas!

Quote from MoonAssassin : I'm not having any luck in finding a photographer under $2,000 in my area and we're a relatively small town. I've even called the surrounding areas!

We had a similar issue, but kept at it. Most wanted to include photo books and all that, which we did ourselves online (e.g., mixbook). We were able to find one who just took pictures and gave us the digital copies, for what we wanted to pay. Many also include assistants, which we figured we didn't need.

Quote from mmathis : We had a similar issue, but kept at it. Most wanted to include photo books and all that, which we did ourselves online (e.g., mixbook). We were able to find one who just took pictures and gave us the digital copies, for what we wanted to pay. Many also include assistants, which we figured we didn't need.

the assistants are very very very useful. different angles of the same scene.

the photo books, though, are mostly useless. how many times does anybody ever go back and look through them?

Quote from Insider07 : My wedding was approximately 50k. I was freaking out about all the unexpected costs, but in retrospect, it was an excellent investment. ...

investment?

Quote from fyu : investment?

Not sure how a wedding could be classified an investment. Maybe they meant investment in the intangibles, like the great memories they had. Maybe it was the tangible items; the gifts, the photos, the videos. You certainly spend a lot more on the wedding than you get back between cash and gifts. I am planning a wedding now and it will run between $200-250 a person once you factor in music, flowers, and photo/video. I know I will be paying more than I will be taking in, but you do it to share a happy moment with friends and family.

Quote from fyu : the assistants are very very very useful. different angles of the same scene. the photo books, though, are mostly useless. how many times does anybody ever go back and look through them?

It is a little ironic that you claim having more photos are very useful, but then claim you never look at them I know, the books are different than framed pictures or whatnot, but still made me laugh.

There is a tradeoff. For a smaller ceremony / reception, you may not need the extra cameras since it won't be hard to capture what you want. OTOH, you may want pictures of both the bride and groom's faces as they see each other when she walks out. One guy may be able to get both (not simultaneously, of course), maybe not. Depends on the layout of the venue. We didn't want the camera guy up next to the wedding party in everybody's view, but he was still able to get pictures of us both. You may have a very large venue that makes it difficult to get around to different angles. Everything depends on the specific circumstances, but if it works out, cutting the assistant may be a way to save some money.

After weeks of researching, I've finally found one who would do it for $300 for 4 hours. The next lowest was $500 for 4 hours. Then $750, and then it jumps up to $1,500 and beyond. That is just for the photos and a disc of them all.

Quote : My wedding was approximately 50k. I was freaking out about all the unexpected costs, but in retrospect, it was an excellent investment.

Investment, into what?

Don't rember the numbers but not more than $3000 for everything (around 45 guests). Party started at 2 pm and last guest left at around 5 am the next morning. Was hell of a party :-)

Quote from Buckyball60 : Investment, into what? Don't rember the numbers but not more than $3000 for everything (around 45 guests). Party started at 2 pm and last guest left at around 5 am the next morning. Was hell of a party :-)

I'm pretty sure they meant an investment into the event being exactly as they wanted it. Some people think it's worth 50k, others think it's not worth it at all. No point in telling someone else their opinion is wrong.

I do agree with you, though, in that you don't need to spend a lot to have a great time. To get the location you want, top-notch DJ/photographers/cake/etc, you're gonna have to spend a little more.

We spent 12k on our wedding. I wanted a courthouse wedding and my wife wanted a large wedding so we settled on a 30 person family affair. I really didnt want to spend a lot of money but my wife is usually very frugal and I am not so I decided she can spend a few bucks since she wanted a nice wedding.

It was at a winery in Napa Valley. We got married outside in a garden area near a pond and had dinner in wine cave. Almost everything was included in price. Planner, food, venue, photographer, pianist and cake. It was short and sweet.

I got married in August and our wedding was roughly $12,000. The largest cost was definitely food and alcohol. Our church was nearly free because we were both members, flowers from wholesale, wife's dress was only $200. We had 250 guests at our wedding and I believe it was $13/person for food plus $300 per keg (Bud Light!). We got married in Nebraska and venues were very limited so we ended up using one that only allows you to purchase food from their preferred caterer, which is definitely more expensive.

My wife and I don't have expensive taste so it was easy for us to cut costs at places. We didn't buy anything extravagant or frivolous. We had a friend do our engagement pictures and videography but paid for a photographer (at my mother-in-laws request).

If you and and your wife are focused on saving money, I really believe you can have an awesome wedding that is still affordable. I thought $12,000 seemed like a lot but it was hands down the best day of my life, and we were happy to have so many of our friends and family there to share it with us.

Quote from fyu : investment?

maybe they invited and impressed some really rich people who gave them 100k in gifts and hired them for their dream jobs?

Quote from Buckyball60 : Investment, into what? Don't rember the numbers but not more than $3000 for everything (around 45 guests). Party started at 2 pm and last guest left at around 5 am the next morning. Was hell of a party :-)

15 hour party and less than $3000 in booze for 45 people? Couldn't have been that much of a hell of a party


i kid, i kid

Attending a cheapo wedding sucks. Just sayin...

Quote from bonkman : 15 hour party and less than $3000 in booze for 45 people? Couldn't have been that much of a hell of a party

Well, that party was over in Europe and you can trust me on what I said. It wasn't a fancy place but good food, good trinks (too much) and good music and people that enjoyed a party and not some formal shit.