Section 1 - Pre-wedding budget guestimate
-What is the most you're willing to spend on your wedding?
-Where do you live? (city and province/state)
-What is your wedding date?


Section 2 - Post Wedding - Actual Budget
After your wedding day, please come back to your post, click edit and anwer the questions below. Be sure to leave your pre-wedding guestimate so that we can compare.
-What was your final wedding day expense?
-Where did you go wrong in your initial calculations?
-Was the extra expense worth it? Did it make a difference?

The budget amounts should only include wedding day expenses. Do not include showers, rehearsals, honeymoons, etc.

Pre-Wedding Budget Estimate:
When we first started planning in late 2007 our budget was $10,000 for 100 guests. The wedding was taking place in Nanaimo, BC.

Actual Budget:
85 guests cost us $12,800.

Where we went wrong with the budget was not including a large enough amount for the photographer (it was very important for us) and the cost of liquor had gone up from our initial visit to the venue. While we were able to get the 2007 prices on food, we couldn't on the liquor. It wasn't a big difference, but a couple hundred dollars here and there add up quickly.

We also included 1 drink ticket per person and all non-alcoholic drinks, which came out to a touch more than I had anticipated.

All in all it was well worth it.

Original budget for 120 people, in Oshawa (but using a lot of Toronto-based vendors) was $15,000. At one year until the wedding we increased that to $20,000. We were married on July 4, 2009.

Actual amount was just over $24,000. We went over mainly because of things we couldn't control. When our original venue went bankrupt, we lost a lot of money in deposits, and at our new venue we had to pay slightly more per person, and the new venue didn't include a lot of things the old one did (centerpieces, cake, etc.), and we didn't have these in the original budget because of this. We also lost money on a photographer who disappeared. And an officiant who charged us more than the contract stated (long story...).

The only thing we added that was within our control were limos. I wanted to give the bridal party something fun for all their help and expenses. A lot of things we were well under budget on - the videographer, my dress, invitations, the photographer, the ceremony musicians....

Was it worth the extra? I suppose so since I ended up having a reception. But I still would have preferred by original venue and budget!

Our budget is $15,000 for approx. 100 people
Wedding is taking place in Victoria, BC, August 21, 2010

At just under a year to go, I am sort of anticipating that we might go over a bit, but I'm hoping not to! We'll see...

Section 1
Our budget is for $20000 for 100 people.
I'm in Markham, Mississauga.
Wedding is in less than 3 weeks!!! September 12 in Markham.

ETA: Section 2
Post Wedding - Actual Budget
-What was your final wedding day expense?
$25000
-Where did you go wrong in your initial calculations?
We ended up buying things that we had originally nixed but ended up changing our minds about.
-Was the extra expense worth it? Did it make a difference?
It added the extra special touch to make it our wedding.

Our wedding is done, but I still have all the figures from the pre-wedding guestimate.

Section 1 - Pre-wedding budget guestimate
-What is the most you're willing to spend on your wedding? $7,500 total, including help from DH's parents, but $5000 out of our own pockets
-Where do you live? (city and province/state)
Regina, SK
-What is your wedding date?
August 22, 2009


Section 2 - Post Wedding - Actual Budget

-What was your final wedding day expense?
$7216 and that was including the food, linens and chair covers, which DH's parents covered for us, so in reality, we paid ~$4600 out of pocket
-Where did you go wrong in your initial calculations?
I feel like I was pretty bang-on with knowing/researching how much things were going to cost and deciding if they were worth it or not.
-Was the extra expense worth it? Did it make a difference?
N/A We didn't have an extra expense. I was very strict about our budget and was careful that we didn't go over. We just didn't spend what we didn't have. The day we had was so perfect for us. We have received dozens of compliments about what a unique, fun, and genuinely "us" wedding it was. We had ~70 people there.

Well done Beckylein! You're my hero!

Thanks, FD!! It can be done Just don't let the industry dictate what you need. It took a lot of stepping back on my part and realizing that I could do what I wanted and still have a wedding without what the industry said I "needed" to have a "real wedding."

Section 1 - Pre-wedding budget guestimate
-What is the most you're willing to spend on your wedding?
We originally set $12,000 for 55 people. My parents ended up giving us that amount and we added an addition $3000 for a total of $15000
-Where do you live? (city and province/state)
Toronto, ON
-What is your wedding date?
May 30 2009


Section 2 - Post Wedding - Actual Budget
-What was your final wedding day expense?
$15,800

-Where did you go wrong in your initial calculations?
We didn't go wrong, we were under budget on food, decorations. What we did add in though was Day of Coordinators (so glad we did!), dance lessons (again - happy we did!)

-Was the extra expense worth it? Did it make a difference?
Yes! We probably spent more than necessary for a 50ish person wedding, but we spent where we thought was most important (gorgous venue, great food, hotel rooms) and saved in other areas (dress was around $600, used ipod instad of dj, cupcakes instead of cake, no transportation).

Wedding Date - August 22, 2009
$20,000 for 120 people was my original budget. Got married at the Hockley Valley Resort in Orangeville. Total after the wedding - $22,500 for 110 people. Spent a bit more than originally planned on flowers, hors deourves (sp), paid for the hair and makeup for the bridal party etc. One thing I didn't want to compromise on was the open bar. I think that it was a hit! Getting married in the Toronto-area is a little bit more expensive but our beautiful day was well worth it!

What is the most you're willing to spend on your wedding? 10,000
we are having 50-60 people max.

-Where do you live?
Toronto, but we have chosen Niagara Falls for our wedding location.
-What is your wedding date?
June 5, 2010

Section 1 - Pre-wedding budget guestimate
We had budgetted $30,000 for a wedding of 200 guests. The wedding was held in Markham on August 15, 2009, and we used vendors from around the GTA.

Shortly after the planning / booking began, we knew it was going to be tough to keep it under $30K, cuz we wanted everything!

Section 2 - Post Wedding - Actual Budget
Towards the end, I kind of lost track of our expenses, especially since there were little things here and there that I'd have to pick up. I reckon that we ended up spending around $32,000, and this does NOT include bridal party gifts, rehearsal and appreciation dinners. We did, however, pay for the bridal party's attire(4+4), and the girls' makeup + hair, and that's a chunk of money.

On paper it doesn't seem like we went over by a lot, but at one point we were hoping to go lower, and forgo a videographer and a second photographer. We also went in under our budget for invitations because we went DIY, so that helped balance out the final damage.

Other things that we "splurged" on were flowers and decor (decor wasn't on the initial budget). Decor was worth it, cuz the lobby would have looked plain without, and flowers I couldn't do without, though I did spend more than I wanted on that. In hindsight, I'd go with smaller bouquets / centrepieces to save money, or trade them in for larger arrangements for the ceremony. And we're glad that we kept the videographer and 2nd photographer. Haven't seen the pics yet but it should be priceless

We're aiming around $8,000 for 90-ish guests, that's everything (including rings) except the honeymoon. The wedding will be in Owen Sound, Ontario on September 4, 2010.

Since we're now less than 3 weeks away, I thought I'd play this game. We've budgeted 30K (eep!) for 150 guests; including everything except honeymoon. The wedding is in Toronto (is that a mitigating factor?) on Sunday Oct 11, 2009. I'll be back in a month to update with the reality check, once all the bills are in.

... I mean paid.


EDITED TO ADD:
We're back from the honeymoon, and all the bills are in. We did pretty well, I think.

In total, we spent just over 33K. It was worth it, but yikes! What a reality check to tally it all up.

We went over for a few things - like rings, splurging to treat all the moms to H/MU, and on the hotel for 2 nights. And we were under on a few things too - like stationary, florals and photography.

But in the end, the biggest under estimate in our budget was tipping/gratuities. We were so thrilled with many of our vendors, that we wanted to express our gratitude, and thus - nearly $1500 of our total expenses were for tips!

For those really interested here's the general breakdown: SPENT (BUDGETED)

His and hers (and their) Apparel & Appearance: 1615 (1500)
Decorations: 440 (500)
Gifts for parents/attendants: 360 (240)
Flowers: 520 (600)
Music: 1350 (1200)
Photography: 1650 (1800)
Reception (venue, catering, bar, etc.): 23,500 (21,000)
Stationary: 350 (500)
Transportation: 240 (200)
Ceremony (incl rings): 2800 (2000)
Hotel: 400 (200)

Two years ago when we got engaged, I budgeted $20,000 for 200 people in Toronto, but then plans changed and now my budget is $12,000 for 120 people in Peterborough and so far I'm on budget, *fingerscrossed&.

I budgeted $30,000 for 150 guests in Toronto.

I haven't tallied everything up yet, but the final bill is probably about $33,000 for 152 guests.

I went over on decor (which I hadn't budgeted for) and I hired a band at the last minute. I got great deals on some things (favours, videographer, dj, cake) but splurged on others (band, string trio, lion dancers, hair and make up). It was well worth it though. I'll come back with a more precise analysis of the budget and where we went wrong once I tally the final totals.

Hey Becky, where did you rent your chair covers from?

Section 1 - Pre-wedding budget guestimate
-What is the most you're willing to spend on your wedding?
10,000 and we are inviting 142 ppl

-Where do you live? (city and province/state)
Etobicoke, Ontario, Wedding will be held in Mississauga, Ontario

-What is your wedding date?
April 10, 2010

I know a wedding under 10k seems impossible but its totally going to happen. We are having a normal sit down meal, 90% real fresh flowers by a florist, cupcake wedding cake. We dont have things like a limo but to us it was more important to have other things we would remember. Having a wedding within the budget is going to happen, so far we wont be going over and Im very proud of that

That's awesome Julz! Thats definitely something to be proud of:) 2010 is creeping up fast!!!

Section 1 - Pre-wedding budget guestimate
-What is the most you're willing to spend on your wedding?
$22,000 and that's with the help from the parents, for 130 guests.
-Where do you live? (city and province/state)
We live in Georgina, Ontario (think Newmarket/Lake Simcoe). Wedding will be in Kettleby, Ontario(think King City/Vaughan)
-What is your wedding date?
November 6, 2010.

I really hope everything is on budget. I don't think we can afford too go too much over budget.

Our original budget was $15,000 for a wedding in victoria, approx. 100 people. Now that its done, we spent about $17,000 for just over 80 people. The biggest factor in going over was the HST we ended up paying but obviously hadn't accounted for 2 years ago. Besides that, it was just a few little things here and there, but overall I found my estimate to be pretty accurate. We received very high quality services for what we paid, in my opinion.

Our original budget was $5,000, and our wedding was to be either in Peterborough or Toronto, with 70 guests, last November. We actually managed to come in a hundred or so UNDER budget, much to everyone's surprise. Things that helped:
1- Having the wedding in Toronto instead of in Peterborough meant that out-of-town guests could use the guest suites in the condo building (the one in which we had our reception) and the building next door, for $50-$60 a night. We did pay for some of the rooms ourselves, so that formed part of our costs.
2- Having our cake made by family.
3- Having the reception in a condo party room instead of renting a hall.
4- Forgoing a limo in favour of borrowing an SUV and having a friend chauffeur us.
5- Well, too many more to count, but I will say that the one thing we did splurge on which we hadn't originally planned for was the hotel room for the wedding night, and transportation there. It added a couple extra hundred to our final tally, but we went for it since we had managed to come under budget with everything else. Can't complain!