Our Budget (or, how a backyard wedding adds up)
Please note, this budget does not include the cost of paint, mulch, gardeners, and plants, all paid for by my in-laws. These are generally expenses they would have had anyway, but it easily added at least $2000 to the overall budget. This is something to keep in mind if you are having a backyard wedding and have deferred maintenance on your landscaping or want to kick it up a notch.
Alcohol (Self Serve)
Beer - $73 [3 cases]
Wine/Champagne - $162 [1 case red, 8 bottles of champagne; 1 case of white wine was a gift from a friend]
Attire
Gown - $499
Alterations - $120
Shoes - $69
Heels Above - $15.99
Groom's Suit - $0 [already owned]
Suit rentals - $290 [for my father, my stepson, and Jason's shirt, tie, and pocket square]
Beauty
Makeup - $80 [purchased from Macy's; applied by friend for free]
Hair - $100
Hair Flower - $8 [materials purchased from Michaels]
Nail Polish - $10 [friend gave me a mani/pedi during my hair appointment]
Cake - $162 [for 50 people]
Catering - $1,578.31
$24.55/person; children under 5 free; punch was $90; service, gratuity, and delivery were additional; cake cutting was free
Favors and additional decor - $180
Flowers - $488; however, I did not pay the balance of $194 at delivery due to the poor quality of the flowers.
Invitations and Stationery
Calligraphy set - $19.99
Invitations - $230.46
Postage - $26.40
Thank You cards - $37 for 100
Lighting - $135
Marriage License - $61
Officiant - $0 [gift]
Photography - $500
Rentals - $913.28
Chairs - 100 @ $1.30 = $130
60" Round tables - 6 @ $9.75 = $58.50
120" Round tablecloths - 6 @ $13 = $78
90x132" tablecloth - 1 @ 13 = $13
Napkins - 60 @ $1 = $60
Water pitchers - 6 @ $4 = $24
Dinner plates - 60 @ $0.45 = $27
Cake plates - 50 @ $0.45 = $22.50
Forks - 8 packs of 7 @ $2.88 = $20.16
Dinner knives - 8 packs of 7 @ $2.88 = $20.16
Salad and Dessert forks - 12 packs of 7 @ $2.88 = $34.56
Steak knives - 45 @ $1 = $45
Water goblets - 2 packs of 25 @ $10 = $20
Wine glasses - 2 packs of 25 @ $10 = $20
Champagne flutes - 1 pack of 36 @ $14.40
Galvanized beverage tins - 3 @ $15 = $45
Banquet tables - 4 @ $9 = $36
90 x 156 tablecloths - 4 @ $15 = $60
Delivery - $55
Strike fee - $130
TOTAL: $5,758.43
Alcohol (Self Serve)
Beer - $73 [3 cases]
Wine/Champagne - $162 [1 case red, 8 bottles of champagne; 1 case of white wine was a gift from a friend]
Attire
Gown - $499
Alterations - $120
Shoes - $69
Heels Above - $15.99
Groom's Suit - $0 [already owned]
Suit rentals - $290 [for my father, my stepson, and Jason's shirt, tie, and pocket square]
Beauty
Makeup - $80 [purchased from Macy's; applied by friend for free]
Hair - $100
Hair Flower - $8 [materials purchased from Michaels]
Nail Polish - $10 [friend gave me a mani/pedi during my hair appointment]
Cake - $162 [for 50 people]
Catering - $1,578.31
$24.55/person; children under 5 free; punch was $90; service, gratuity, and delivery were additional; cake cutting was free
Favors and additional decor - $180
Flowers - $488; however, I did not pay the balance of $194 at delivery due to the poor quality of the flowers.
Invitations and Stationery
Calligraphy set - $19.99
Invitations - $230.46
Postage - $26.40
Thank You cards - $37 for 100
Lighting - $135
Marriage License - $61
Officiant - $0 [gift]
Photography - $500
Rentals - $913.28
Chairs - 100 @ $1.30 = $130
60" Round tables - 6 @ $9.75 = $58.50
120" Round tablecloths - 6 @ $13 = $78
90x132" tablecloth - 1 @ 13 = $13
Napkins - 60 @ $1 = $60
Water pitchers - 6 @ $4 = $24
Dinner plates - 60 @ $0.45 = $27
Cake plates - 50 @ $0.45 = $22.50
Forks - 8 packs of 7 @ $2.88 = $20.16
Dinner knives - 8 packs of 7 @ $2.88 = $20.16
Salad and Dessert forks - 12 packs of 7 @ $2.88 = $34.56
Steak knives - 45 @ $1 = $45
Water goblets - 2 packs of 25 @ $10 = $20
Wine glasses - 2 packs of 25 @ $10 = $20
Champagne flutes - 1 pack of 36 @ $14.40
Galvanized beverage tins - 3 @ $15 = $45
Banquet tables - 4 @ $9 = $36
90 x 156 tablecloths - 4 @ $15 = $60
Delivery - $55
Strike fee - $130
TOTAL: $5,758.43