In total, we spent about $20,000. The wedding was held on Friday September 25, 2009 in Austin, TX. My husband's family is from Texas. The average American wedding costs $35,000.
The reception is the bulk of the money. I saved about 15% on the total cost by having my wedding on a Friday. Saturdays between late April and mid June are prime time and you will pay the most. If you're willing to have your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday during the fall or winter, you'll save. I personally feel mid autumn is a fantastic time to get married, but that's just my opinion.
I had an outdoor wedding. It was set in an English style garden and we were married by an ordained non-denominational minister. Our reception and wedding venue were in the same place, which saved time and money (we didn't need a limo), since people could just walk to the party.
I had hydrangea and wild flowers in various shades of blue and purple with a tall white candle set in the middle for center pieces. I made them myself so I only had to pay for the flowers. I didn't do favors because they're a waste of money. No one ever takes them home and if they do, they end up in a junk drawer or in the back of a closet.
For food... Cocktail hour: crab-stuffed mushrooms, roasted pepper rolls with herbed cheese, crostini with white beans and basil-roasted shrimp. Not that I got to eat any of it... it took an eternity to put up my train. For appetizers: caprese salad skewers, assorted Italian dinner rolls with olive oil dipping sauce. For the main: zucchini and goat cheese stuffed chicken breast with white wine sauce. roasted beef tenderloin with ham provolone and mushroom sauce and rack of lamb For desert: the cake, obviously. It was a standard white cake with strawberry and cream filling and was iced with butter cream and stacked 4 tiers high, topped with fresh flowers.There was also fresh fruit salad with mint sugar, a chocolate fountain, agua fresca (which is like a light fruit punch) coffee and tea.
I had an open bar all night. I don't recommend doing that. It cost me a lot of money. I would have a free cocktail hour and a pay bar for the rest of the reception. You also might want to factor in your rehearsal dinner if a family member isn't paying for it when you consider the food budget. I spared no expense with the food because it was one of the most important things to me.
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Date: 2010-09-29 07:59 pm (UTC)The reception is the bulk of the money. I saved about 15% on the total cost by having my wedding on a Friday. Saturdays between late April and mid June are prime time and you will pay the most. If you're willing to have your wedding on a Friday or a Sunday during the fall or winter, you'll save. I personally feel mid autumn is a fantastic time to get married, but that's just my opinion.
I had an outdoor wedding. It was set in an English style garden and we were married by an ordained non-denominational minister. Our reception and wedding venue were in the same place, which saved time and money (we didn't need a limo), since people could just walk to the party.
I had hydrangea and wild flowers in various shades of blue and purple with a tall white candle set in the middle for center pieces. I made them myself so I only had to pay for the flowers. I didn't do favors because they're a waste of money. No one ever takes them home and if they do, they end up in a junk drawer or in the back of a closet.
For food... Cocktail hour: crab-stuffed mushrooms, roasted pepper rolls with herbed cheese, crostini with white beans and basil-roasted shrimp. Not that I got to eat any of it... it took an eternity to put up my train.
For appetizers: caprese salad skewers, assorted Italian dinner rolls with olive oil dipping sauce.
For the main: zucchini and goat cheese stuffed chicken breast with white wine sauce. roasted beef tenderloin with ham provolone and mushroom sauce and rack of lamb
For desert: the cake, obviously. It was a standard white cake with strawberry and cream filling and was iced with butter cream and stacked 4 tiers high, topped with fresh flowers.There was also fresh fruit salad with mint sugar, a chocolate fountain, agua fresca (which is like a light fruit punch) coffee and tea.
I had an open bar all night. I don't recommend doing that. It cost me a lot of money. I would have a free cocktail hour and a pay bar for the rest of the reception. You also might want to factor in your rehearsal dinner if a family member isn't paying for it when you consider the food budget. I spared no expense with the food because it was one of the most important things to me.