This is the song I think of when my fiancé' and I decided to set our budget. The budget I thought we could do our wedding under was quite unrealistic for our size wedding and location. So after many many visits to find the perfect venue with a reasonable budget for our size wedding, we locked and loaded on it. However, the budget we wanted was doubled. We just saw that in order to do and have most of the things that we wanted, we needed to be more realistic with our budget.
Who would have thought that weddings would be sooo expensive! Its no wonder people elope in Vegas or fly off to the Caribbean to have a Destination wedding. If it were up to my fiancé, we would have already eloped or had a destination wedding. But the reason we havent is because I am such a family-oriented person and we both have very large families (meaning parents, siblings, nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and first cousins) that included half of our guest list, instead of jetting it somewhere in Jamaica or Hawaii, we will be in Douglasville, GA.
What has been really helpful to our budget is that fact that the price for an all-inclusive package at our venue is extremely reasonable. It is a great price point for the number of guests and what all is included in the package. It has made planning more efficient and easier on me.
Our budget which is under $20,000, which is extremely reasonable for our guest count of 200, (this will include photographer, ceremony w/ stage and décor and chairs, tables and covers, table runners, decorated buffet table, cake table, cake, cake cutting, flowers, dress, engagement rings, table centerpieces, food, tux, alcohol, hors devours, wedding coordinator, and DJ) but if the number of guests that RSVP back saying "No" is reduced to 175 or even 150, you will not see any tears from us. Reduced head count equals more money saved in our pockets! :)
After stating all of the above, I am satisfied with our budget even though it doubled from what we originally thought would be satisfactory. But the budget we have set out is reasonable for our guest number, and we are going to remain strict to that budget. Wish us luck on have a smaller guest list in attendance than our upper limit of 200...our pockets will be very pleased! :)
