Wedding Cost Poll

by **Adare** » Sat Jul 25, 2022 9:32 pm

We didn't want to be in debt due to our wedding day so here's what we did:
Once we set our date, we calculated what we could save every month between then and the wedding and multiplied it by 15 [months to the wedding date]. We then added an APPROXIMATION of what we would get for gifts...that's what our budget was.

We [prob should read I :o0

] then did out a budget as to where we would spend this - deciding on what were priorities for us. [music, photography, decor]. Feel it's very important to stick to budget [but you can "steal" from one area for another]. There were times when I would have just said "yeah, let's go for it", but am glad that we did stick to in-and-around our original plan

SuziQ · by **SuziQ** » Sun Jul 26, 2022 8:00 pm

We didn't think it would be a good idea to factor in what we might get as gifts for our budget, considering you wont get the majority of your gifts until the wedding and you cant spend what you dont have!!! Also in this day and age with the big R ya cant really guess what ppl will give you as gifts.

So for our budget we just decided how much MAX we were willing to spend on each area and as you said if we saved on 1 area we could go up on another but we decided if we save on 1 area then its simply a saving and we're coming in waaaaay under budget on everything so far thanx to ebay and lots of time to spare hehe....

by **lurganbride2010** » Tue Jul 28, 2022 1:34 pm

Our budget at the min is £7,000 but thats not including honeymoon, which will prob bring it up to £10,000. My fiance and I both come from large extended families but we've decided to just have immediate families (mums, dads, brothers & sisters and their partners) for the mass and meal (27 guests) in a local bar/restaurant, then we're inviting everyone to the evening do.

I didn't want to scrimp on the entertainment so we getting a 5 piece band which will hopefully get the night off to a good start seeing as the majority of the guests won't have starting drinking til later, i thought if it was a good enough band people would get up to dance without needing to get drunk first!!! My aunties and uncles have said that i'm just right doing it this way, otherwise it would easilily been triple the budget,and with trying to save for a house as well it seemed like an awful lot of money to spend on one day!!! both my fiance and I like the idea of having a more intimate ceremony but I just hope some people arent offended by not being invited to the entire day, and maybe don't come to the evening do :weep

by **veryv** » Wed Aug 12, 2022 9:47 am

The way I see it is this: You wake up the morning after your wedding and the only things you get to keep that you spent your hard earned money on are: (a) wedding dress (b) shoes (c) jewellery. Everything else is rented!!

Why spend 30k+ on renting things for one day?
Band-rented
Food-eaten
Drink-drank!
Suits-rented
DJ-rented
Cars-rented
Beauty/hair-washed off and messy!!

Im not being mean but Im a realist. Its nice to say Ill have the fairytale wedding but the next day after spending that amount of money Ill wake up and think 'Holy Jesus'.

Im spending 10-15K on ours and thats including honeymoon of 4,500. We're having 60-80 at our wedding and are not cutting on food/drink/band but have searched around for things within our budgets. Nobody 'has' to have the big wedding, you can still do it within a budget and not cut corners.

ria2011 · by **ria2011** » Mon Aug 31, 2022 10:32 pm

I did a budget out there the other day and it came to about €26k (not incl. honeymoon), and that's for 200 people and included us doing the bouquets / invitations etc. ourselves, and bringing in wine (€5 corkage).
I don't know how other people are able to do it for so much less.......
I suppose we'll have to cut our numbers if we want to spend less.... :eek

cremebrulee · by **cremebrulee** » Mon Sep 07, 2022 11:23 am

Little Miss Chatterbox wrote:
"no resession around there"!!!!

i think all phrases concering the recession should be banned. O:|

by **princessbride2010** » Tue Sep 15, 2022 12:10 am

OMG Im stunned at the cost people are going to in organising their wedding. Im spending about 14k on ours and not scimping on anything just adjusting a little. I couldnt justify spending that amount of money on the added extras. Its after your wedding you will need the money not splashing out on a huge expensive day.

by **Junebride2011** » Wed Sep 16, 2022 10:38 am

Hey Wollies We paid the deposit to the hotel a few weeks ago so now just trying to work out some sort of budget. Anyone recommend how you do this?? I have no idea what im doing.. ha ha..

by **mrsfisherman** » Wed Sep 16, 2022 1:28 pm

The hotel meal is crazy as it is €17000 no matter what we do. Everything is ready in envelopes but the hotel part is just nuts. And the hotel meal is never amazing so i find this part the hardest to digest.

by **Mrs09** » Wed Sep 16, 2022 1:48 pm

mrsfisherman wrote:The hotel meal is crazy as it is €17000 no matter what we do. Everything is ready in envelopes but the hotel part is just nuts. And the hotel meal is never amazing so i find this part the hardest to digest.

This is whats bugging me too. Our is just over €20,000 just for the meal :eek

. The afters is costing between €500 and €1000 extra ;o(

by **mrsfisherman** » Wed Sep 16, 2022 2:28 pm

yeah our afters is €900. and i wouldnt mind but the hotel is now doing special deals for new bookings so it looks like i am paying the new rates but that is not the case. The hotel has overheads of course but they are creaming it with the meal. drink reception, nibbles, and the usuals of photos, dvd, band etc all add up to serious money!!! A good photographer really is the bones of 2 grand by the time you are finished. When booking the wedding, I had none of these factored in.

by **Junebride2011** » Wed Sep 16, 2022 2:31 pm

MrsFisherman your really near the big day I see?? Are you excited..
Wowzers I cant believe how much your hotel is costing.. Do you mind me asking what hotels they are and how many numbers?

Im just trying to work out some practical stuff at the moment and everyone wants deposits so its quite hard as Im sure you all know.
How did yous come across your band or are you's having one?
A rough idea of the cost of a band/?

by **mrsfisherman** » Wed Sep 16, 2022 3:51 pm

We expect about 300. thinking big wedding big discount doesnt happen with hotels. Hotel in south Kerry. all the little extras so add up.

Our band is €1600 and seems to be the norm for a decent band. Deposit for this was €400. we have all these little envelopes ready apart from the big one for the hotel :eek

Just had the hen the weekend and it was super.

by **Junebride2011** » Thu Sep 17, 2022 11:43 am

you would think with them numbers they would do something for you.. Ah but im sure it will all be worth it...
Best of luck on your big day.

by **grar** » Thu Oct 01, 2022 9:01 pm

I only got engaged at the weekend and am traumatised by the prices I'm seeing for venues :ooh

After reading these posts, it's just dawned on me that it doesn't stop there either.
Can people give me average figures for my priority areas as I am finding it impossible to figure out my budget!;
1. Venue (based on ~130ppl)
2. Church costs - priest/music/flowers
3. Cars
4. Band
5. DJ
6. Dress
7. Suit hire

I'm already terrified of the answers.... :eek

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