museumgal
Junior Member
Joined: Jan 11, 2011 1:24:36 GMT -5
Posts: 164
|
Post by museumgal on May 5, 2011 17:11:51 GMT -5
A lot of the price estimates so far have used calla lilies -- they are one of the most expensive flowers, so the estimates may have looked a little high. Roses are actually (fairly) cheap. I used roses and had 6 to carry, 3 each for the bridesmaids, and singles for the guys, and also corsages for the mothers. (I had 3 attendants each gender) It was about $700 -- but we didn't use flowers for centerpieces. We had cakes for the center pieces -- mini versions of the big cakes so the guests could serve themselves.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on May 5, 2011 18:37:54 GMT -5
In Reno, you could get these amazing gigantic South American roses in this amazing lavendar.
Righteous. Do they come in red too? That sounds nice.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Jun 16, 2011 11:09:01 GMT -5
Update - Wedding Spending So Far:
Consultant: $100 Chapel Deposit: $500 Dress & Veil: $685 Photographer Deposit: $300 Cake Deposit: $115.00 Wedding Insurance: $50.00 Reception Venue Deposit: $1,000.00 Engagement Photo Session: $250.00 Catering Deposit: $500.00
Total: $3,500.00 (26.9% of estimated budget)
In the name of research, DF and I have been drinking a lot of wine lately ;D
|
|
ontrack
Familiar Member
Joined: Mar 21, 2011 9:44:36 GMT -5
Posts: 967
|
Post by ontrack on Jun 16, 2011 11:38:48 GMT -5
Firebird, here's what my spending so far looks like: Venue Deposit: $1300 Dress: $1250--i know this is high. I just fell in love with it :-) Catering Deposit: $2800 Florist Deposit: $200 Photographer Deposit: $800 Save the Dates/Invites/Thank you notes: $150 Cake Deposit: $50 Beverage Package Deposit: $500 Total: $7050 The budget got increased from $10K to $15K. I will cover the overage with a 0% card (through 7/12) Most of these deposits are about half what the total will be for the category (e.g. Venue, Photographer, Catering). I was surprised the deposits were so high.
|
|
shanendoah
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 19:44:48 GMT -5
Posts: 10,096
Mini-Profile Name Color: 0c3563
|
Post by shanendoah on Jun 16, 2011 11:55:10 GMT -5
Firebird: If you're still looking at flowers, ask the florist you're using (local to Tahoe, I'd think) to show you South American roses. They are bigger and more expensive, but beautiful. And yes, they come in red.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Jun 16, 2011 12:51:08 GMT -5
The budget got increased from $10K to $15K. I will cover the overage with a 0% card (through 7/12)
Ours too! ;D We're trying to cover the overage as we go, but the last few thousand will definitely be going on the card and being paid off with my parents' wedding gift to us.
Most of these deposits are about half what the total will be for the category (e.g. Venue, Photographer, Catering). I was surprised the deposits were so high.
Those do look high. Mine have been relatively tiny, thank God. I don't know how I'd be managing if they were as high as yours.
Firebird: If you're still looking at flowers, ask the florist you're using (local to Tahoe, I'd think) to show you South American roses. They are bigger and more expensive, but beautiful. And yes, they come in red.
I doubt we'll be using a florist. We're probably going to make the flowers. One of my bridesmaids has offered to do that.
I am constantly amazed at what people spend for weddings when the divorce rate is almost 50%.
No one actually thinks they'll be in that 50%, for starters.
Also, weddings are not just about the couple. I'm learning this as I go along. I didn't realize how stressful this was going to be, but I also didn't realize how much it would mean to everyone to come to our wedding. People I barely speak to are so excited about this.
That doesn't mean we HAVE to spend as much as we are but... I wouldn't feel right about eloping or keeping it to immediate family either. I would be cheating a large chunk of people out of celebrating something with us that means a lot to all of them.
This is one of those YMMV things. It's not very polite to criticize people for how much they choose to spend on their weddings - I personally can't imagine spending the "normal" amount for my wedding, which is about $35k around here, but different things matter to different people.
There are things that people spend on for weddings that I think are downright silly, but I try not to be judgmental because I think of how much the stuff I am spending on for mine matters to me.
|
|
NomoreDramaQ1015
Community Leader
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 14:26:32 GMT -5
Posts: 48,068
|
Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Jun 16, 2011 12:54:42 GMT -5
It's not very polite to criticize people for how much they choose to spend on their weddings I spent $3k on my wedding, clearly I love my husband and value my marriage more than you do yours. Got to get my "I am superior to all the little people" fix.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Jun 16, 2011 12:59:53 GMT -5
;D
|
|
kgb18
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 8:15:23 GMT -5
Posts: 4,904
|
Post by kgb18 on Jun 16, 2011 13:10:14 GMT -5
I had calla lilies for my wedding. Everyone's idea of expensive varies, but I thought our flower budget was reasonable. We spent $1,700 on flowers which included my bouquet, bouquets for the bridesmaids, a pomander ball for the flower girl (which was hydrangeas), flowers for the moms and grandmothers (which were roses), boutonnieres for the guys (which were just greens because that's what DH wanted), a toss-away bouquet, and centerpieces at the reception. We did not have flowers in the church.
Our centerpieces were these large hurricane vases with glass stones at the bottom, a single lily inside and then filled with water with a floating candle on top.
|
|
Deleted
Joined: Oct 5, 2024 11:31:36 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2011 13:13:51 GMT -5
I couldn't imagine spending $25k on a wedding, yet, somehow I did.
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Jun 16, 2011 13:16:12 GMT -5
I couldn't imagine spending $25k on a wedding, yet, somehow I did.
Yup. $10k was my original budget. I "couldn't imagine" spending more than that for a single day. Now I will be elated if we can manage to keep it under $15k.
|
|
kiskis
Initiate Member
Joined: May 18, 2011 13:26:36 GMT -5
Posts: 59
|
Post by kiskis on Jun 16, 2011 13:27:50 GMT -5
Dang, DH and I (well our parents) spent $4k total on our wedding. We opted for cash gifts instead and put them towards a 20% down payment on our forever home. Honestly, I just didn't want to be the center of attention, and I knew I wouldn't enjoy being responsible for a large scale event. It always looks like so much stress on the bride and family. I'd much rather be invited to a fancy wedding than throw one myself! However, it was a very nice wedding weekend, and everyone had a great time because it was so low key. The wedding ceremony and dinner reception were quick and cheap, but we rented a couple condos on the beach (off-season) for the out-of-town family coming in, and we just hung out there, drank wine, and chatted. It was so relaxing.
But, I'm sure yours will be fabulous, and congratulations! Just when you feel the urge for upgrades and realize you're getting carried away, remember that the marriage itself is really so much better, and having more money to spend in private as a married couple is also more enjoyable.
|
|
startsmart
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 12:45:52 GMT -5
Posts: 4,504
|
Post by startsmart on Jun 16, 2011 13:50:39 GMT -5
weddings are one of those things that everyone has a different take on and we all tend to think "I won't have a big/expensive/flashy wedding" until you're the one getting married. Doesn't make it wrong, it's all a matter of perspective.
I think the same of funerals - some people have gorgeous caskets with custom lining and flowers galore. Other people get cremated or have a pine box. The only reason we don't bitch about it so much is by the time most people die they can't remember their friend's names and the dead person won't listen to any complaining!
So for firebird and all brides/grooms, it's your life, it's your event, do what you want, be careful about getting into trouble financially (no one here is planning $80k wedding on a credit card right? budgeting and 0% credit lines are awesome btw) and enjoy it. It's your life and decision so why not have fun? Don't feel guilty either.
|
|
kgb18
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 18, 2010 8:15:23 GMT -5
Posts: 4,904
|
Post by kgb18 on Jun 16, 2011 14:02:37 GMT -5
I don't care if someone s$100 or $100,000 as long as they're happy and can afford whatever they do.
|
|
CarolinaKat
Junior Associate
Joined: Dec 21, 2010 16:10:37 GMT -5
Posts: 6,364
|
Post by CarolinaKat on Jun 16, 2011 14:08:27 GMT -5
My BFF could have written post number 249 on Monday. I am going over next week to spend several HOURS re-making all wedding plans. She started to get into a spiral of 'everyone expects X' and then it became a wedding monster. The guest list has nearly tripled! I feel bad for her because her DF can't stand up to his parents (who decided not to like her after he proposed) and he keeps agreeing to things they want that he/she don't
|
|
Firebird
Senior Associate
Joined: Dec 29, 2010 12:55:06 GMT -5
Posts: 12,452
|
Post by Firebird on Jun 16, 2011 14:14:35 GMT -5
However, it was a very nice wedding weekend, and everyone had a great time because it was so low key. The wedding ceremony and dinner reception were quick and cheap, but we rented a couple condos on the beach (off-season) for the out-of-town family coming in, and we just hung out there, drank wine, and chatted. It was so relaxing.
This is actually very similar to the vibe we're aiming for ourselves. The wedding is happening on Saturday but we have nothing planned for the rest of the weekend (except my bachelorette party on Thursday night ;D). We want everyone to relax, hang out and enjoy themselves.
weddings are one of those things that everyone has a different take on and we all tend to think "I won't have a big/expensive/flashy wedding" until you're the one getting married. Doesn't make it wrong, it's all a matter of perspective.
So true! Haha. I really don't feel guilty at all about how much we're spending, and I kind of shrug when people try to make me feel that way. Ain't gonna happen. I know the day will be incredible and we'll remember it forever and everyone will have a smashing time. That's important enough to spend a large chunk of the money I was planning to save this year.
Also, one of my bridesmaids has taken to calling me the "anti-bride."
|
|
urdoingit
Established Member
May the road rise to meet you ...
Joined: Dec 23, 2010 8:04:56 GMT -5
Posts: 480
|
Post by urdoingit on Jun 17, 2011 7:13:29 GMT -5
When DH and I got married we were so broke, we didn't even have rings to exchange. We got married at the local court house. Did I love him madly? You bet! Thirty years later we are still going strong. Stick to your guns and do what you think is best for you and DF - the rest of it really does not matter in the long run.
|
|
Colleenz
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 20, 2010 8:56:39 GMT -5
Posts: 3,983
|
Post by Colleenz on Jun 17, 2011 7:24:50 GMT -5
Enjoy every minute of it Firebird - it goes by too fast. We got married ten years ago this September. ;D
|
|