How Much to Spend on Your Wedding | REAL Numbers from My Wedding!

TL;DR

Spend only what fits your budget without taking on debt, then direct the most money toward your three wedding must-haves. Justine spent $22,756 in total, including $11,828 on the reception, because food, drinks, and a live band were the couple’s priorities. Read on for the complete expense breakdown and practical ways they reduced costs.

Transcript

gay it's wedding season if you are getting married congratulations it's so exciting and if you are planning a wedding please for the love of God go to the nearest liquor store and get yourself the best bottle of wine that your budget can afford you're gonna need it hey what's up it's Justine with that free Millennials B channel for all things mille... Read More

Key Insights

• 🤵 Weddings can be expensive, with the average cost reaching $30,000.
• 😫 Setting priorities and sticking to a budget can help you have a memorable wedding without overspending.
• 🧑‍🎓 DIY projects and hiring college students can help cut costs in certain areas, such as flowers and photography.
• 🤲 Communicating expectations with vendors, such as photographers, is crucial to getting the desired outcomes.
• 😋 Prioritize what is important to you on your wedding day, such as food, drinks, and entertainment.
• 🤪 Cash flow your wedding expenses to avoid going into debt.
• 😥 Consider using points or discounts for honeymoon travel.

Questions & Answers

Q: How much should you spend on your wedding?

Spend an amount you can cash flow without going into debt, based on the three things that matter most to you. Justine’s wedding cost $22,756, while she cited an average wedding cost of upwards of $30,000.

Q: What were the couple’s three wedding budget priorities?

Their three must-haves were drinks, food, and a live band. They used those priorities to decide which expenses deserved more money and where they could cut costs.

Q: How much did the wedding reception cost?

The reception cost $11,828, making it the largest listed expense. That covered priorities including a live band with a three-piece horn section, barbecue catering, a wedding cake, and a party bus with drinks.

Q: How much did the wedding attire cost?

The wedding dress cost $879 with alterations, exceeding the original $500 dress budget. Other attire expenses included Kyle’s tux, bridal shoes, and headpieces, socks, and bow ties for members of the wedding party.

Q: How did the couple spend only $355 on wedding flowers?

They completed many of the flower arrangements themselves and hired a local grocery-store florist for the bridal and bridesmaid bouquets. They skipped boutonnieres because those were not important to them and used the money elsewhere.

Q: How much did the ceremony cost?

The ceremony cost $1,900. It was held in a small church outside Justine’s hometown, and the venue was not too expensive.

Q: How did they keep wedding photography to $1,000?

They hired neighbors who were college students majoring in photojournalism and skilled at photography. Justine recommends setting clear expectations and providing a shot list because inexperienced wedding photographers may offer less direction for poses and family photos.

Q: What other wedding expenses did the couple pay?

They spent about $1,300 on gifts and decorations and decorated the reception themselves with help from family and friends. Additional expenses included invitations, the groom’s wedding band, an $86 marriage license, hair, nails, a hotel, and a $2,000 honeymoon partly funded with points.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Planning a wedding can be expensive, with the average cost being $30,000.

• Breakdown of wedding expenses: wedding attire ($879), flowers ($355), ceremony ($1,900), reception ($11,828), photography ($1,000), gifts and decorations ($1,300), miscellaneous expenses ($450), and honeymoon ($2,000).

• Setting priorities and budgeting can help you create your dream wedding without going into debt.