Wedding on a Budget Breakdown...can we stay within our budget?

So my fiance and I are paying for the wedding ourselves, therefore we need to be a bit thrifty. But just because it's thrifty and a lot is going to be DIY doesn't mean that it's going to be any less classy and perfect!

We've saved up a little, not much, but we figured with the average cost of a wedding being around $30,000 we can do it with a third of that with a budget of $10,000. We plan on having 75-125 guests (we're really struggling with the guest list right now so those numbers keep changing) and the ceremony and reception will be at the same location.

 Here's my breakdown of what I hope to be spending on vendors and such:
 

     Budget...$10,000

       Reception...58%...$5800

       Bride's Apparel...10%...$1000

       Groom's Attire...1.25%...$125

       Photography...8.8%...$880 (Accomplished...that's what we're paying)

       Music/DJ...8%...$800

       Floral...3.25%...$325

       Cake...3.5%...$350

       Rings...2%...$200

       Ceremony...1%...$100 (Accomplished...that's what we're paying)

       Invitations...2%...$200

       Misc...2.2%...$220

 Granted these numbers are a work in progress since anything that goes under budget will be put towards something else to bring that percentage up higher. I'm not aiming to be under, as awesome as that would be, I just figure that it's going to be tough enough planning a wedding at that budget in the first place.

First smart move we did was decide on a Friday wedding. Though I will admit it was supposed to be a Saturday but we waited too long to get a place on a Saturday and all that was left were Fridays. But score, we got the venue for half off and the vendors we've been dealing with seem to also give Friday discounts!

We have an appointment with the florist on Saturday, and I'm determined to stay on budget with that. If I have to I'll get bouquets of just carnations. And we're not getting any floral centerpieces or decorations so that should save us some dough. 

But I'm already figuring in that the "Misc" category will be going over budget since that deals with all the decor we're making. But I've spent $9.66 on a whole ton of pumpkin seeds. And my mom has converted her upstairs spare bedroom into a mini greenhouse...and those little baby seedlings are actually growing! If they make it to end, we'll have lots of homegrown pumpkins to put around.

I have no idea what a tux/suit costs so I put the groom's attire pretty low, but that can very easily be wrong.

I'll keep you updated on my Halloween Wedding Planning Adventures! Cross your fingers and wish me luck! Only 150 days to go!

Wedding DIY List!

So it's somehow almost the end of May! So much has happened since I last wrote. We officially moved in and got the house, for the most part, situated. Though it did just flood in the basement last week due to an insane rain storm...but oh well, we didn't lose too much stuff. Made and sold lots of new Fat Cat Pincushions during the holiday season on my Etsy shop. Almost got me and my pincushions into a Superbowl commercial...unbelievable but true. Came so close to getting that spot but just missed it. But...I did get one of my pincushions in an Australian crafting magazine. Pretty cool! And have started the mad wedding planning hoopla. Which is mainly where I'm at now. October wedding so under 5 months to go...

We have a small budget for this wedding so the majority of the decor and such will be made by us. Such as:

     *Centerpieces

      *Archway

      *Lots of decorated pumpkin décor

      *Memory table banner and display with pictures

      *Guestbook

      *Card box

      *Invitations

      *Garlands/hanging paper décor

      *Bride and Groom Fat Cats

     *Spider web "Words of Wisdom" for the couple

      *Misc decor and anything else I can come up with

Though the first project I'm taking on is the guestbook. My mom found her old one from when she got married in the 60's. Which she forgot about so it was never used. I'm going to take that book, cover it in fabric and scrapbooking paper and make a fancy Halloween Wedding Guestbook.

As soon as I find some fabric, I'm starting. Pictures soon to follow...hopefully successful ones!