When I mentioned in Chandra and Daniel's real wedding album that they threw a majorly pretty party on a $10,000 budget, you guys were all, "Um, HOW?" So I went back and asked her. Here's the bride's dollar-for-dollar breakdown for their 100-guest party:
VENUE $0
Chandra's uncle is a member of the country club where they held their wedding, so the $6,000 venue fee (which included chairs, tables, china, and linens) was waived. Obviously not everyone has a family member who's conveniently a country club member, but it's worth asking if, say, your grandfather's Elks Lodge or your godmother's beach club offers a family discount. (Yes, in my experience, godparents count!) Even if you don't get the venue for free, chances are you'll get a steep discount. If you don't have a well-placed family member, consider state- or city-run historical sites or parks for an on-the-cheap venue. (After a two-second Google search with no city or state, I found Claytor Lake State Park in Virginia for $1,000!)
FOOD $3,000
Chandra and Daniel served their guests "an amazing dish that included grilled chicken breast topped with a honey Dijon sauce, rice pilaf, a zucchini and squash medley, mashed potatoes, a garden salad and dinner roll, and a drink." Their party had a cash bar, which is obviously a MAJOR money-saver. (39 percent of Save the Date readers say a cash bar is a wedding DO.) If you'd rather pay for your guests' booze, it will probably run you roughly between $15 and $35 per person for five hours, depending on what you serve. (I got those numbers from the company that catered my wedding, A Thyme to Cook, which has packages from $18 to $33.)
PHOTOGRAPHY $800
Chandra happens to be a pro photographer, so she was able to enlist the help of a friend in the biz, Megan, with Megan Nolan Photography, who gave them a major discount. Not all of us have pro photographers on speed-dial, but like Chandra, you can ask people you know to lend a hand. Maybe you know a graphic designer who can help print your invites at a discount, or you have a just-married friend with leftover reception decorations she'll let you borrow.
FLOWERS $1,400
A self-proclaimed girly girl, Chandra knew her wedding would have "FLOWERS—and lots of them!" she says. "They're just my favorite things on earth!" Flowers generally take up less than 10 percent of a wedding budget (based on this budgeting tool, which I'm always referencing), so they definitely splurged here, but it worked since they'd already saved a bundle elsewhere. "I wanted beautiful bouquets, centerpieces, and arrangements all throughout our ceremony and reception."
MUSIC $1,500
If you can find a small local band that's not typically booking huge gigs, you might be able to hire them at a major savings. When Chandra heard the San Antonio-based Stan Wayne Band play years before her wedding, she knew right away that she had found her wedding band.
BRIDE AND GROOM'S ATTIRE $900
With just $3,300 left in her budget, Chandra went to David's Bridal, where she got her dress, undergarments, and shoes for just $700—including alterations! Her groom's tux was $200 from Men's Wearhouse.
DECORATION RENTALS $700
To up the romance factor, Chandra then decided to hunt down chandeliers and twinkly lights, which she was able to rent from a local company, Great Event Rentals, for just $400. Four sequined tablecloths set them back another $300.
WEDDING CAKE AND CUPCAKES $600, including delivery and set-up
Their desserts, from Cakes by Cathy Young, were reportedly a big hit with their guests. The "most delicious cake I have ever had in my entire life," Chandra says.
PHOTO BOOTH, $500
Chandra really wanted to wow her guests with a photo booth, but the rental companies were giving her quotes from $1,000 to $4,000—"WAY out of our price range." So imagine her delight when she found a Groupon for a $500 photo booth rental.
EXTRAS $500
The rest of their budget went to candles, grand-exit sparklers, thank-you notes on everyone's seats, and custom matchbooks.
Here's how it all added up:
Venue $0
Food $3,000
Photography $800
Flowers $1,400
Music $1,500
Attire $900
Rentals $700
Cake $600
Photo Booth $500
Extras $500
------------------------
$9,900
So they actually wound up with $100 to spare! Whew!
Obviously Chandra and Daniel were very lucky on several fronts (namely, venue and photography, but I think this gives you an idea of how a wedding can cost WAY less than the national average, which is pushing close to $30,000.
Thoughts on Chandra and Daniel's dollar-for-dollar breakdown? How much do you plan to spend on your wedding?