Anyone have their wedding budget @ 8k and stick to it?

[WeLoveLilo05]

We'll be probably 20 (maybe under), doing an escape wedding, would like to try and do some sort of small reception after, is under 8k or under doable or am I delusional? When I say 8k I mean ceremony site, reception, flowers, food, officiant, photos, etc. Not dresses, hair, make up.
And someone mentioned a discount for the 40th anniversary? Is this open to everyone booking a wedding package?

....the questions just keep coming lol, I think I need to buy the e-book lol.

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

I am TOTALLY planning on sticking to an 8k budget! I'm doing the same kind of event that you are. From what I can tell, there is a 20 month window for the escape discount--- 8am and 10am at all sites but Canada and the WP. (That's really helping me be able to stay at that lower budget!) And then we're going to do a lunch reception, which is naturally cheaper than a dinner one.

But, let's wish each other luck!

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

I am TOTALLY planning on sticking to an 8k budget! I'm doing the same kind of event that you are. From what I can tell, there is a 20 month window for the escape discount--- 8am and 10am at all sites but Canada and the WP. (That's really helping me be able to stay at that lower budget!) And then we're going to do a lunch reception, which is naturally cheaper than a dinner one.

But, let's wish each other luck!

Good Luck and Congrats!!!
I really like the WP b/c if it rains we wouldn't have to be relocated (someone here pointed that out to me). But I like the Gazebo @ YC and SeaBreeze Pt. What exactly is the discount, I can't remember?

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

It's 20% off! So for the SBP package it's going to be only $3800! And I also love that site because you don't really need to decorate it--- I'm probably just going to do rose petals down the aisle.

 

[Nikisha421]

My idea was not to go past the 7500 minimum but I have recieved either my floral BEO or my BEO...I will post to let you...and we are using the WP with small reception after so I let you know...if it works out...
...if it doesn't im sure there are ways to make this happen especially with the new discount that is available...

 

[GoldieSaysMeep]

Cake - free, FMIL is a baker and cake designer…. FI designed it and FMIL is bringing it to life
Photos - free, we have 3 friends who are semi pro and do weddings all the time
Music - free, we own PA equiptment and are music snobs who put together our own lists and have a friend to run it/DJ
Transportation -- free… no need to pay insane amounts of money for a limo no one will see but me
Honeymoon -- mostly free, we had complimentary nights and already had WDW passes… the rest is covered with gift cards we got at the shower.
Bride's accessories - gifts or already owned
Rehearsal dinner -- free, the banquet hall didn't charge us to walk through and we had dinner at FMIL house

Banquet Hall & Buffet for 70 people - $2500 (includes renting place that was our #1 choice & 3 buffett entrée selections)
Dresses -- $1000 (I'll get part of that, probably $300 or so, back when I sell the bad dress)
Favors -- we would have spent $250 so we instead donated that money to charity & my workplace matched it.
Table décor for 9 tables -- $40 (all dollar store… FI's an artist so he designed and put them together)
Attendant gifts - $250
Grooms tux - $200
Brides hair - $200 (cut/dye a week before + someone to put my combs in the day of)
Flowers -- $80 (buying them at grocery store as we're just using simple red roses and I don't want anything fancy)
JP fees -- $150 (rehearsal + ceremony)
Marriage License -- $30
Invites -- $150
Candy & trick or treat bags for children at wedding (it's on Halloween)-- $30

== $4880 + whatever postage cost.


The only wild card is the open bar during the cocktail hour. We don't know how much that will run us yet, obviously, but with 70 people, 10 of whom are under 21 and the vast majority of whom don't consume alcohol, I'm not too worried about it. I am also spending the night at

 

[Belle2Be]

An option I'm looking into is having the wedding at the swan and dolphin (1600 for the ceremony and chairs etc) and then having a reception in a park through Disney catering for about 5k, includes bar, a little decor and transportation This way I can get what I want, not get what I don't and not have to worry about minimums.

 

[2nd Time Bride]

We just got back from our Escape wedding and our wedding total was just over $8000. It was just the two of us and we got married at Sunset Pointe. Why was it so pricey? Photography - we upgraded to the Cindy D package for $750 and had a MK/Epcot photo shoot for $1400.

In addition, we extended our Limo service to pick us up after dinner ($188.32) and had an additional $853.49 in floral and cake upgrades. Oh, we also spent $200 on our officiant and $200 on dinner at Shula's so that brings us up to about $8400.

I think it could be done, especially with the 40th discount and cutting the extra photography. Good luck!!

 

[Boston Disney Bride]

I got married this past June when there was no minimum amount you needed to spend. I wanted to not go above $6,000 and we actually were successful. The only upgrade we did was toss petals and petals lining the aisle and we hired Randy Chapman for his CD only package. We even had a lunch reception at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian and with all that it still did not cost us more than $6000.

With that being said, the $6000 did not account for our DW trip (flight, hotel, food) or our honeymoon to Jamaica.

 

[Nikisha421]

I got married this past June when there was no minimum amount you needed to spend. I wanted to not go above $6,000 and we actually were successful. The only upgrade we did was toss petals and petals lining the aisle and we hired Randy Chapman for his CD only package. We even had a lunch reception at Kona Cafe in the Polynesian and with all that it still did not cost us more than $6000.

With that being said, the $6000 did not account for our DW trip (flight, hotel, food) or our honeymoon to Jamaica.

Boston Bride,
Your wedding was so beautiful. I can't believe you only spent $6000 for all of that...

 

[WeLoveLilo05]

Boston Bride,
Your wedding was so beautiful. I can't believe you only spent $6000 for all of that...

I agree, it was beautiful!!

 

[Boston Disney Bride]

Boston Bride,
Your wedding was so beautiful. I can't believe you only spent $6000 for all of that...

Thanks! I did not do any upgrades to the package other than adding the toss petals and the petals that lined the aisle. Our lunch reception for 13 people at Kona Cafe cost around $300. Instead of renting out a place we just made reservations for Kona for lunch time...it was not busy at all so we basically had the room to ourselves anyways. And Randy cost I think around $500. Rev. Tim cost $200 and Beaute Speciale was $75 I think.


Wedding: $4,750
Floral: $103.50
Randy Chapman: $500
Reception: $300
Rev. Tim: $200
Hair/Makeup: $75
Total= $5853.50

 

[Nikisha421]

Thanks for sharing all of your details. I totally admire the beauty of your wedding and for that price I am starting rethink some of my frivolous decisions. I wanted to stay as close to the minimum as possible...but with so many options I just keep saying YES...smh