Realistic Budget

[LuluLovesDisney]

I am hoping for a Disney Wedding with a budget of under 30,000.

I want the Wedding Pavilion and a lunch reception at Cali Grill, Narcoossee's or ADH and a dessert party at Fantasmic.
I want Cinderella's Coach, MK photo shoot and Mickey and Minnie.
As far as music, DJ's fine, and I intend on making things like favors, chair swags, place cards, programs, centerpieces, welcome bags, etc. myself.

Is this realistic or would something like this go way over my budget? Has anyone had something comparable for a comparable price?

Oh Wishbook, I'm at 18,000 but I know there are "hidden costs" and that doesn't include any of the stuff I'd make myself.

Thanks!

 

[Skylarr29]

Well you didn't mention how many guests you are having but I think that is very reasonable. You can probably do it for under that. And I LOVE the Cali Grill so my vote goes there as a reception venue!!!

 

[SRUAlmn]

I am hoping for a Disney Wedding with a budget of under 30,000.

I want the Wedding Pavilion and a lunch reception at Cali Grill, Narcoossee's or ADH and a dessert party at Fantasmic.
I want Cinderella's Coach, MK photo shoot and Mickey and Minnie.
As far as music, DJ's fine, and I intend on making things like favors, chair swags, place cards, programs, centerpieces, welcome bags, etc. myself.

Is this realistic or would something like this go way over my budget? Has anyone had something comparable for a comparable price?

Oh Wishbook, I'm at 18,000 but I know there are "hidden costs" and that doesn't include any of the stuff I'd make myself.

Thanks!

We are doing very similar things to you with 40 guests. We are having the WP, Cali Grill for lunch, and an Illuminations Party. Our BEO (which includes taxes and service charges) is at $14,500 without the coach. Disney floral is taking care of our centerpieces and we are making the favors, placecards/holders, programs, welcome bags, etc... So it seems like your $18,000 is pretty accurate (if not high.)


I'm tracking our entire budget on top of that including everything we're making/buying ourselves, attire, honeymoon in WDW, tips/thank you gifts, etc... and it's looking like after all it's said and done it will have cost about $20,000 or slightly above.


Hope that helps

 

[purplegirl247]

SRUAlum, I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one tracking everything so precisely. Every time we buy anything wedding-related, I run home and drop it into my ridiculously-organized Excel worksheet. DF just shakes his head and is like, "Do you NEED to keep track of the fact that you just spent $2.74 on tulle from Michaels?"

The answer, of course, is yes, I do.

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

I'm thinking of about 70-75 people. It's really hard to cut back further than that, esp. since I have three brothers and 5 nephews and a niece.

 

[SRUAlmn]

SRUAlum, I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one tracking everything so precisely. Every time we buy anything wedding-related, I run home and drop it into my ridiculously-organized Excel worksheet. DF just shakes his head and is like, "Do you NEED to keep track of the fact that you just spent $2.74 on tulle from Michaels?"

The answer, of course, is yes, I do.

Mine is in an Excel spreadsheet too!!!!!!!!!



To the OP: If you are thinking of 70-75 people, then the $18,000 might be a little low. I guess it depends on which Cali Grill menu you're choosing. Be warned, the sample menu they send you may very likely have the wrong prices. They sent ours to us in December and the price for the one we chose was $36 per person. When we got our BEO in February it was listed as $45. They said the restaurant has recently changed a lot of management staff and they were unwilling to honor the price they originally gave us. While $9 doesn't seem like that big of a deal, when you're talking about 40+ people, it makes a difference of $360 or more.

 

[Kashmir104]

I agree that it's important to over budget! I've been in constant contact with my site coordinator and have asked her a billion questions on pricing and she's been sooo helpful!!!! (even 1.5 years out!) However, everything is minus tax and service fee. I'm scared to find out what that is (I imagine 6% tax and 20% service fee???), but based on the initial budget of our wedding I imagine it could easily be a few thousand dollars! AHHH!!!!

I keep track of EVERYTHING! DF and I were at the WOD store in NYC and I saw the cutest glass mickey wedding champagne flutes and he made fun of me because I specifically asked a cast member for the price and then immediately added it to our budget list. He was like "hunny, we can afford $95 for our flutes, you don't need to add it in" but i think it's imporant! That super cute white mickey purse (I think I saw it on ForKeep's trip report) for $35 is also included in my budget!

Of course, everything minus the outrageous tax and service fee I'm sure!