4 posts shown.
Olivia Gomez2 said:We actually rented the venue and the service staff, but we handled most of the other details ourselves... so based on our math for about 200 guests, it worked out to roughly $20 per head$0.00. That covers absolutely everything—soup, salads, platters with three kinds of meat and sides, lamb, pork, a late-night snack spread, all the desserts plus the wedding cake, and all the booze, including wine and spirits. Basically, everything you eat and drink... it was just like those classic menus you'd find at a nice hotel or an event hall.
As for the photographer, it really just comes down to what you're looking for and how much you want to set aside for it. Usually, they have different packages based on how many photos you get or how many cameras are shooting, so you can negotiate everything... just take a look at their work first, most of them have websites or profiles on Facebook. Our photographer ended up being $8,000, which included thank-you cards and a big album where they'll arrange all the shots.
For decorations—things like balloons, bows, and even boutonnieres—I bought everything myself at a local craft store back in Arizona... there’s a huge selection and the prices are actually reasonable, unlike some of the shops around here. Flowers cost us $2000 (this includes centerpieces, car decor, my bouquet, the head table, the dessert table, and boutonnieres/corsages for the wedding party). Of course, you could spend way less, but flowers are super important to me and I wanted a lot of them, so that’s why it ended up that way. It all depends on what kind of blooms you want and how many... you can even tell a florist your specific budget, and they'll try to make it work within that.
Band prices range from $8,000 up to $4000, but a decent average would be around $3333. You shouldn't skimp on this part. Reach out to bands, go hear them play live, or have them send you recordings of past gigs. And whatever you do, don't go reading those "Wedding Bands in the Midwest" threads... or honestly, don't believe anything you read on those forums.
For invitations, there's a great selection over at Adobe in Des Moines, and the prices are pretty fair too. They have their own site so you can browse their styles. For our thank-you notes, we used a photo from our photographer with the names, date, and a "thank you!" printed on it.
They came out to $2.25 each.
Anyway, sorry for such a long post, but I hope it helps... if you need someone's number or any other info, feel free to shoot me a PM.
Nah, it wasn't "too long" =) we've been doing a ton of research... but we still haven't nailed down an exact total budget... what I'm most curious about is how much food and drinks cost at a venue when you have two dinners and EVERYTHING (food and drink) is provided for 200 people... does anyone know a ballpark figure? Because in my opinion, that's where the bulk of the money goes (besides the band and photographer).
rustybadger9 said:Hey everyone!
So, I’m currently staring at a blank page trying to actually "set a budget" for this wedding we're planning...
Is there any kind soul out there who can give me a little "guidance" on how to tackle all this?
Here’s the deal... we’ve already got a nice little fire station hall booked up in a small town in rural America.
But now I need EVERYTHING—from the tiny details down to the suits—and honestly, where’s the best place to shop for all this stuff around the Midwest?
1. How much food should we even get? Like, if we’re doing lamb and pork, what’s the right ratio for about 200 people? And what kind of ballpark figure am I looking at just for the catering side of things?
2. Drinks and booze
3. Videographers and photographers
4. Decorations (for the hall, the church, ribbons on the cars, etc.)
5. The band (please, send your best recommendations!) and obviously, they'll need to include those traditional musicians to play for the bride during the entrance
6. Invitations
7. Suits and the wedding dress
8. And basically anything else I haven't thought of yet... and PLEASE, let me know roughly how much certain items cost. THANKS! =)
anyone else interested in chipping in with more info? roughly how much does it cost you guys total per guest at a venue where EVERYTHING (food and booze) is included?
neonridge38 said:Here’s my rough breakdown for you... You can probably find a photographer or videographer starting around $5,500, if I recall correctly. If you're looking to save a bit, maybe check out some of those local outlets in the suburbs? Everything is usually half the price there. For the band, expect to pay closer to $7,500—I think that might even include some live musicians. As for invitations, it really depends on your style; just browse a few sites like Minted or Etsy to get an idea. Flowers should run you about $2,000. Honestly, if you want, I can send over the rough budget I'm putting together for next year.
I hope nobody holds me to these exact numbers, as this is all just a ballpark estimate... You might find things cheaper, or perhaps more expensive... but that's the gist of it.
Oh, definitely, please do... just send over that estimate of yours! We're just starting to crunch the numbers and figure out the smartest way to do this, so any input at all is super helpful... thanks a bunch! =)
Hey everyone!
So, I’m currently staring at a blank page trying to actually "set a budget" for this wedding we're planning...
Is there any kind soul out there who can give me a little "guidance" on how to tackle all this?
Here’s the deal... we’ve already got a nice little fire station hall booked up in a small town in rural America.
But now I need EVERYTHING—from the tiny details down to the suits—and honestly, where’s the best place to shop for all this stuff around the Midwest?
1. How much food should we even get? Like, if we’re doing lamb and pork, what’s the right ratio for about 200 people? And what kind of ballpark figure am I looking at just for the catering side of things?
2. Drinks and booze
3. Videographers and photographers
4. Decorations (for the hall, the church, ribbons on the cars, etc.)
5. The band (please, send your best recommendations!) and obviously, they'll need to include those traditional musicians to play for the bride during the entrance
6. Invitations
7. Suits and the wedding dress
8. And basically anything else I haven't thought of yet... and PLEASE, let me know roughly how much certain items cost. THANKS! =)