Average cost of todays wedding?

[CelticBelle]

Hi Ive been engaged for a year and plan of getting married after I graduate college (about 2 1/2 years). Does anyone know about the average price of a wedding. I want to start saving up now. I'm not sure if our parents will help us out yet or not, but I would rather save up all the money to be self sufficient. I just want some sort of ball park number to use as a goal.

I would love to get married at disneyland/world, but I have the feeling they are ridiculously expensive. And I might be disneyed out after a honeymoon in WDW

 

[lurkyloo]

The figure you see in magazines as the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. today is $20,000-$30,000. Let me assure you that you can have a lovely Disney Fairy Tale Wedding for much less!

Escape weddings start at about $4,000, including tax and service charge, while Wishes weddings have a $10,000 minimum (and it IS possible to do it for just the $10,000, plus tax and service charge, of course....).

HTH!

 

[TamTab]

It all depends on what your must haves are and what you are looking for in your wedding. Also what the numbers of your guest list are going to be. Right now I think we are sitting at the $36,000 mark. Could be more then that but hoping it will be less.

 

[lpizzuro123]

Right now our Disney wedding is running in the $21,000 range. We are getting married in November of this year and that is for 50 people in Italy in Epcot (so we have added in the expense of transportation). Our brunch reception is in Atlantic Dance Hall (which is from 10:00 to 3:00). We are having a DJ. We are also having an Illuminations Desert party later that same evening. Hopefully this is the cost of our floral, photographer and video.

Linda

 

[CelticBelle]

We would probably have about 60 people, but how do you handle everyone traveling to florida? I like the idea of everyone being on even ground, not having to have some people travel and others not, but has it been an issue getting people to travel that far and spend the money?

 

[Disneybabe84]

We would probably have about 60 people, but how do you handle everyone traveling to florida? I like the idea of everyone being on even ground, not having to have some people travel and others not, but has it been an issue getting people to travel that far and spend the money?

I've been having this same problem actually. My family isn't much of the traveling kind & I was wondering the same. I won't be getting married for awhile as I started college late (so did my DBF) and we'll be dating for 7 years this July so we've been talking about it for the near future. We are both so in love with Disney & set on a Disney wedding but we'd need to fix issues of our family not wanting to travel for it. I'm curious to know some other responses as well.

 

[CelticBelle]

this may be OT but how do you tell your family that you want to have your wedding across the country and how have they reacted?

 

[helloirishkitty]

DFTW is absolutely wonderful at catering to your budget, whatever it may be. My wedding is going to cost above the national average, but when I originally called DFTW, I had planned on doing it for less than the average and they were very accomidating to me. When my budget doubled, my coordinator was very excited to help me spend the money...

Anyways, if you really want a DFTW, it is affordable. Escape's start at A wedding for me in my mother's or fiance's hometown would have been twice as much as our disney wedding is going to be, for the same number of people.

Price things out, its definitely possible!


Oh and my parents semi-freaked out about having my wedding halfway across the world. My parents live half of the year in Ireland, and my DF's parents live in England, so they assumed we'd just have it in Europe somewhere. But, I have cousins all over the US and we figured that if it was a destination for everyone involved, it would be fair. They warmed up to it... I don't see how a parent can say no to anything that makes their daughter/son truly happy

 

[Desnik]

We are having a Vow Renewal at WDW and in Disney's eyes it's the same as a wedding. We are doing a Wishes wedding and with everything, I'm looking at about $20,000. We originally planned on having an Escape wedding(20 people including us) but when our family and friends found out, they all wanted to go and be a part of it!! We were shocked. They just asked for a good amount of notice so they can plan and save, so we will have it in June 2009. Disney will give your guests a 30% discount on their room and a small discount on the park passes. If you were to have your wedding in value season, they would get great rates. My guests have said they go on vacation every year anyway so it was no big deal for them to plan on a few days at WDW and get to share our special day with us. My parents, grandparents and siblings would go anywhere for us so they had no problems with it at all. I'm sure that would be the same for most people.

 

[lurkyloo]

this may be OT but how do you tell your family that you want to have your wedding across the country and how have they reacted?

We were scared to tell our families, and we had mixed results. His family (who live in California) thought it was great and got really excited. My dad and brother (one in CA, one in OH) were VERY negative about it, but considering my brother got married in The Middle of Nowhere Maine, 2 hours from the nearest airport, and didn't invite family - only college buddies - I'd say at least one of them has nothing to complain about

The rest of my family is scattered around the country. I was surprised how many are able to come! We have a nice, manageable 34 of the 55 we invited.

HTH!

 

[hope1826]

We're having a wishes wedding with about 45 guests from 7 states, most in NY and NJ.

We were positively surprised by the response. More than half of our guests would have had to pay for flights, hotels and rental cars to attend a NJ wedding anyway. So they weren't an issue. However, both of our immediate families live in NY and NJ, so we were worried about telling them but they ended up doing the most ridiculous stuff because they were so excited about it. We got engaged... immediately told our parents we were thinking about a Disney wedding and before I had even called Disney, my dad had book his Bonnet Creek timeshare for 16 people (some I didn't even want to invite). He actually had to change that reservation (for a fee) because we didn't end up getting the date we originally wanted. And I forced him to uninvite 6 of the original 16 he invited.

Everyone who was invited wanted to go. There are about 3 out of 46 people who may not be able to come because of previous engagements on that day. Also most people are staying waaaaaaaaaaaay longer than we expected them to.

The other thing we found is that MOST of our guests are bringing their extended families and friends to Orlando and making it into a family vacation. Initially they all assumed that they would be invited (we do know them) but we had to explain that due to a limited budget we had to have a very limited guest list. so the extended family members and friends will not be coming to the wedding even though they will be down there. <<<--- insert smiley with fingers crossed

We are having an at home reception that everyone is invited to though. 250 guests. So that made people feel better.

Right now our Disney estimate is just above the minimum, at $10,300 ( I was trying to beat Lurkyloo's amazing $60 over, but no dice.) It's approaching $12,000 with service fees and taxes. And we are spending an additional $5000 on non-Disney stuff (rehearsal dinner, an outside photographer, my gown, DF's tux, favors, invitations, programs, etc...) So all in all, mine is less than $17,000 for about 45 guests. It could have been a lot less if I had made different choices (fewer guests, using a disney photographer, fewer Bridesmaids and groomsmen- we have 5 BMs and 4 GMs, having brunch or lunch instead of dinner, no dessert party, less floral, or even choosing to have an escape wedding...)

 

[lurkyloo]

Right now our Disney estimate is just above the minimum, at $10,300 ( I was trying to beat Lurkyloo's amazing $60 over, but no dice.) It's approaching $12,000 with service fees and taxes. And we are spending an additional $5000 on non-Disney stuff (rehearsal dinner, an outside photographer, my gown, DF's tux, favors, invitations, programs, etc...) So all in all, mine is less than $17,000 for about 45 guests. It could have been a lot less if I had made different choices (fewer guests, using a disney photographer, fewer Bridesmaids and groomsmen- we have 5 BMs and 4 GMs, having brunch or lunch instead of dinner, no dessert party, less floral, or even choosing to have an escape wedding...)

WOW! You're having 45 people, five bouquet-requiring bridesmaids, a DP and dinner -- and you're only $300 over minimum?!

 

[hope1826]

WOW! You're having 45 people, five bouquet-requiring bridesmaids, a DP and dinner -- and you're only $300 over minimum?!

LOL, you were completely my budget inspiration!! But, I don't have massive transportation like you do. More than half of my guests are coming in rented cars from Bonnet Creek. So I only need one round trip motorcoach into and out of Epcot. And my dinner is only $70 for 35 adults. We have 10 babies and kids coming. You should see all of the blacks lines all over the menus they gave me. Also, no videography, so no audio system setup fees. My BM's bouquets are only $50 each (5-7 roses each).

The extra $300 is actually because I fell in love with the stupid 3" Chocolate Mickey Favors and like you I wanted one ridiculously expensive flower for my bouquet- peonies (mine is in season in May, but it's going to be $400 anyway- ridiculous!!) .

I cut out a lot more, but those two things I could not give up.

 

[lov2b@disney]

LOL, you were completely my budget inspiration!! But, I don't have massive transportation like you do. More than half of my guests are coming in rented cars from Bonnet Creek. So I only need one round trip motorcoach into and out of Epcot. And my dinner is only $70 for 35 adults. We have 10 babies and kids coming. You should see all of the blacks lines all over the menus they gave me. Also, no videography, so no audio system setup fees. My BM's bouquets are only $50 each (5-7 roses each).

The extra $300 is actually because I fell in love with the stupid 3" Chocolate Mickey Favors and like you I wanted one ridiculously expensive flower for my bouquet- peonies (mine is in season in May, but it's going to be $400 anyway- ridiculous!!) .

I cut out a lot more, but those two things I could not give up.

You and lurkyloo are an inspiration!!!

I patiently await my BEO after my planning session last week! I hope I can be as lucky! I chose peonies too- I didnt realize they were expensive- I figured big=less flowers=less $

 

[caryndisneydiva]

More than half of my guests are coming in rented cars from Bonnet Creek. So I only need one round trip motorcoach into and out of Epcot.

it is really good that you gave transportation this much thought...had i done that, i would have saved on over half my transportation cost.

 

[PrincessBrideKatie]

Well... I am trying to stay within the budget my Dad gave me, but its so hard. My florals alone are $5500. Then with everything, including my dress and stuff I bought that isn't from disney I am looking at just under 40000. This is for 75ppl, at the Yacht Club Gazebo, and the reception at the Yacht Club Convention center. I have no idea how others are keeping their costs down, but I have cut out just about everything I can. I even cut the champagne toast cause that was 1000.

 

[TamTab]

Well... I am trying to stay within the budget my Dad gave me, but its so hard. My florals alone are $5500. Then with everything, including my dress and stuff I bought that isn't from disney I am looking at just under 40000. This is for 75ppl, at the Yacht Club Gazebo, and the reception at the Yacht Club Convention center. I have no idea how others are keeping their costs down, but I have cut out just about everything I can. I even cut the champagne toast cause that was 1000.

It must be a Canadian thing to spend too much money. I have a budget my dad gave me too and I'm all ready over it by at least $1000

 

[helloirishkitty]

It must be a Canadian thing to spend too much money. I have a budget my dad gave me too and I'm all ready over it by at least $1000

Well, I live in Buffalo (which is very close to canada) and I have the same problem. I thought I'd have enough room in my budget for everything I wanted but I guess not... 150 guests at ADH does not come cheap

 

[TamTab]

Well, I live in Buffalo (which is very close to canada) and I have the same problem. I thought I'd have enough room in my budget for everything I wanted but I guess not... 150 guests at ADH does not come cheap

150 Wow. That's crazy. It's so nice that so many of your guests are going to make it. Good luck with your budget

 

[helloirishkitty]

150 Wow. That's crazy. It's so nice that so many of your guests are going to make it. Good luck with your budget

That's my guesstimate... we're inviting 230 and hopefully 80 or more don't show up... My FMIL is inviting most of the UK so we'll see how many of them will come