Help with a Realistic Budget for a DCL VR

[mamilovesdisney]

Okay Ladies,

Now that you have so kindly helped me with my stress over a VR vs a wedding. I am trying to see if I can really swing my DCL wedding without getting into any debt. I have been through a bankruptcy so I am trying to make better financial choices. Can you help me come up with a realistic budget planner for the wedding. What are the catergories of stuff I need to account for and about how much for each. I'd hate to figure out I don't have enough money and no credit to help bail me out. Plus, Math and I have never bonded. I need a calculator to add 2 plus 2. So, this is what I have come up with so far....

Cost of the Cruise $ 2,600
Airfare $325 x 3= 975
Transportation
Cost of ceremony $ 2000 (assuming VR increases)
My attire $ 1000
Photography $350 (VR photo pkg starts at $175 for one hour of service and about 30 prints)
Flowers (included in package price)
Hubby and son's attire
Spending money for cruise
WDW hotel for before and after cruise (I will use my DVC)
WDW activities
Desert Party (Not a must but it would be fun)

Now I know there is stuff I need to budget for that I am missing. What else is there? Now keep in mind, I am a simple gal. I mean, isn't that one of the big reasons for a dcl wedding? Of course. So far, it looks like it will just be my cousin, one niece, DF, my son, and myself. When this is all done, I am totally willing to share for any future DCL brides.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Flowers are included in the package

VR photo package starts at $175 for one hour of service and about 30 prints

 

[WishingMom]

My DCL wedding, including airfare, land & sea cruise package, ceremony and photograph package will cost roughly ...

1500 for airfare (3 people, me, DF and DD)
2500 US for ceremony (translates as of right now to about $3175 CDN)
3200 for land/sea package (again about $4000 CDN)
and 450 for pictures

close to 7600 (and considering the exchange I'll tack on another $1000)

 

[disbridemimi]

Invitations?
Wedding bands?
hair &makeup?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

they don't have makeup people on the cruise...Hair yes, makeup no

 

[29apr00]

I haven't broken this down yet.....i'm sure i'm going to faint in a few seconds.

Cruise cat 6 for 4 people - $2050
CC VR Ceremony - $2500
Photo package - $175
Airfare for 4 - $700
Fresh Floral Topper for cake - $50
My Dress and accessories - $550
Dh attire - $250
DD/DS attire - $250
Rose Wand for DD - $25
Boutineer for DS - $12.50
Private Palo room for 14 - $210
Hair for me and DD - $100

Now that doesn't include any spending money on the ship, or our land portion at WDW before the cruise, or the cost for the invitations i got (only 10) or the welcome bag stuff, the Sand Ceremony Kit, Toasting Flutes, dd's Flower Girl basket, or the Epcot Shoot and Bouquet for that.

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Hey Jen!! $250 for his attire?!? Are you not going with the TB shirt?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Don't forget taxes..The tax the extra floral but I don't think there is tax for things on the ship like hair and Palo

 

[WishingMom]

Invitations?
Wedding bands?
hair &makeup?

I'm only having 1 couple as guests (and they don't even know it yet) so the invite I made up cost about $6

My WB cost $280 and DF's will be about $350

Doing my hair and make up myself.

 

[29apr00]

Hey Jen!! $250 for his attire?!? Are you not going with the TB shirt?

Oh we are! But i still have to get him pants for the Epcot shoot AND shorts for the CC ceremony, plus shoes. the linen pants ain't cheap! and i have no idea about shoes for him....he's worse than a woman!

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

I got DH's pants at Macy's for $27!! I think they were the Macy's brand

I was going to post on your PJ, but since you are here..Are you doing DD's hair? They won't let kids into the Spa..My bridesmaid tried to get her 14yo DD's hair done (through concierge ) and they said no one under 18 can go into the spa..there is some liability thing

 

[Pooh_Girl]

When DH and I were thinking about having one after everything we (I) wanted we were looking at around $7500-$8000. We were also looking at having a day or 2 before at WDW and having the MK photoshoot and having pics done at the WP with Randy Chapman in wedding attire. We've decided on not having one anytime soon, but one day I will have my dream wedding!!!!

 

[mamilovesdisney]

I am off to a late start this morning. I just got to my office and I have to pretend to work for a few

I will put all the info I have gotten so far. Then maybe we can share ideas on getting better deals on stuff so we can help our budgets a bit.

p.s. I am breaking down and going to start a pj. This is fun stuff

 

[mamilovesdisney]

Cost of the cruise in a Category 6 Cabin: $2600
Airfare x 3: $975
Transportation: $ Unknown
Cost of Ceremony: $1500
Fresh Floral Topper $ 50 (gotta have)
Boutonniere for son $13
Palo $ How much is Palo pp?
Photography: $350
Flowers: $0 (included in VR pkg)
Spending money & Excursions: $ hmmmm…..
Toasting Flutes:
Welcome bag for guests:
Epcot Shoot:
Sand Ceremony Kit:
Extra bouquet:
Flower Girl basket:
Taxes:
Cruise Tips:

WDW Lodging prior to cruise: $0 DVC
WDW Lodging after the cruise: $0 DVC
WDW Activities: $ unknown
Desert Party: $ Need to research
Wedding Bands: I have my claddagh ring and I love it!
Invitations: $ 0 (don’t need them)


My attire
Dress: $330
Hairdo: $?
Makeup: $0 (not available on cruise)
Hair Clip: I want fresh flowers. Still looking.

DH Attire: $200
Son’s attire: $100


Now I know there are “must have” for some that I don’t need but I added them as categories anyways. I wish I was having a flower girl

You girls can tweak it if you find it useful.

Now one thing I am doing to try to cut on my expenses is actually with my bank. I have a citibank checking account and I have it linked with my american airlines frequent flyer program. I pay for everything that I need to and can pay with a cc. I get miles for it. I have enough for one tix now. If I use it then I can cut my airfare expense with that and believe me, I have used this perk quite a bit. I sent my mom to Kauai last year for a funeral with my miles. It would have cost us an arm and a leg.

 

[29apr00]

I got DH's pants at Macy's for $27!! I think they were the Macy's brand

I was going to post on your PJ, but since you are here..Are you doing DD's hair? They won't let kids into the Spa..My bridesmaid tried to get her 14yo DD's hair done (through concierge ) and they said no one under 18 can go into the spa..there is some liability thing

Is the hair salon considered the spa?? No way! OMG she's going to be so upset! Ugh...i guess i can take that off the list because if she can't go, there's no way she's gonna let me go get mine done. oh that sucks!

 

[LittleStinkerbelle]

Another item I was budgeting for is tips on the cruise.

 

[mamilovesdisney]

Oh, good one. I will add taxes and tips.

 

[29apr00]

Oh yeah tips!

Betsy did you tip Rufaro??

 

[Bride-to-be]

There's no makeup on the cruise???!!!!

What am I supposed to do? I can't do my own makeup, its a skill I never mastered (along with hair). I really don't want to have to bring someone just to do my makeup.

Any suggestions - what are you guys planning to do?

 

[29apr00]

I'm bringing my own make up girl.....my sister. She did my makeup for our original wedding 10 yrs ago too! She's good, and wears lots of makeup on a daily basis as opposed to me....foundation and blush that all wear off by the time i get to work!