Budget Review: Stationery

What I Did & What It Cost: 

Save the Date Postcards

{75 Postcards printed at Wondergraphics}

$27.00

Wedding Invitation Suite

{supplies used}

HP Printer & Ink (purchased additional ink)
$10.00 
Ribbon
$5.00
Envelopes from Paper Plus
$21.00
cream paper
(from work "fire sale")
$0.00
black paper from work
(from work "fire sale")
$0.00
two hole punches
(one purchased, one borrowed)
$3.00
adhesives
(won a Walmart gift card & purchased all with that)
$0.00

{my crappy picture of the whole shebang}

{rendering of the map - see above shot}

 Bridal Shower Invitations

{extra paper & home printing}

$0.00

Photo Share Cards

{free paper and home printing}

$0.00

Postage
{We had a ton left over, so it's hard to say exactly. We spent $69 on postage}
$69.00
Total Cost: around $130

Budget Review: Decorations

Decorations
Let's be honest: I can't account for everything that was purchased for the purpose of decorating. Occasionally, I'd forget to use our wedding account card on a spool of ribbon or a box of straight pins. I didn't cheat by much, though. This is a rough estimate of what we spent.

For the Ceremony
Shepherd's Hooks
$24 at Joann's

Aisle Runner
$17.50 at Hobby Lobby

Coffee Filter Pomanders
Supplies ran around $15

Photo Book Guest Book
$27 on Shutterfly

Program Holder
 $2 at Goodwill & $5 in supplies

Wedding Wands
Supplies ran around $30

"Love" Word Art
$1 at Michael's plus paint on hand

{© Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

Reception

Card Box

supplies ran around $10 or less

Bud Vases

$32 (I purchased WAY too many & they're for SALE)

Table Linens
$232 (these are also for SALE)

Black Picture Frames

$4 at Dollar Tree

Cake Server
$0 - my company makes them

Toasting Flutes

$2 at Goodwill & embellished with supplies on hand

Candles

$38 (purchased too many here as well)

Tissue Paper Pomanders, Lanters & Lights

$0 - my planner did this for us, yay!

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

 {© Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

{© Epic Image Photography}

Total Cost: approximately $450

Budget Review: Photography & Videography

Videography

Naomi Heilmann

What We Got:

7 hours of video coverage, disc of raw footage with minor edits and a highlight reel

{I met Naomi, a recent film school grad, at a party in May. LUCKY find because we otherwise were not going to have a video. $100 of the cost was a gift from a family friend.}

$125  $25

© Epic Image Photography

Photography

Affordable Wedding Photography of Nashville aka Epic Image Photography aka Derek Lee

What We Got: 

5 hours of wedding day photography, outdoor engagement session, DVD of all images

& album of 300 prints (will receive album & prints shortly)

$1,524.04

Total Cost: $1549.04

Budget Review: Miscellaneous Expenses

The Little Things (And Some Big Things)

{© Epic Image Photography}

Marriage License $39.50

Wedding Night Hotel $123.20

Postage $69.00 

Bridal Party & Officiant Gifts $156.61

Things That I Didn't Count In the Budget

My Engagement Ring

My Wedding Dress (given to us by Little Spoon's parents)

Our Honeymoon (given to us by Big Spoon's parents)

Our Rehearsal Dinner (given to us by Big Spoon's parents)

And the few spools of ribbon and occasional bud vase I cheated.

Total Cost: $388

*EDIT: Budget weddings seem to be taking a lot of heat these days for things like the above mentioned "gifts" from our parents or the gift of labor on our flowers by my friend. The fact of the matter is, they WERE gifts. That's the way we see it.  They weren't part of our budget.

Had Big Spoon's parents not paid for rehearsal dinner as part of our wedding gift, we probably wouldn't have had one.  I fundamentally don't see honeymoons and engagement rings as part of the wedding budget. 

Lastly, my wedding dress was a gift - plain and simple. My parents couldn't really get us anything or help us in any way. Mom made me a quilt and bought me a dress. The only reason I've shared our budget is to help others plan fiscally responsible weddings. If you don't like how I've laid it out, tough. You'll get over it. 

As a side note, even with all the "gifts" included, our wedding still cost less than $10K. I'm proud of us for not getting carried away or pissing away more than a down payment on a home for one single day. 

Budget Review: Flowers

Flowers

Artisan Flowers & Import Flowers

Florist: Jasmin Trenary

{This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

{© Epic Image Photography}

What We Got:

Jasmin is my best friend. She gave us the wonderful gift of her talents as a wedding gift. We paid for the flowers, which were purchased at wholesale cost through Import Flowers. I provided *most* of the vases in the decorations category
(she brought some as well). 

My flowers were hands down my favorite part of our wedding.

Total Cost: $385

Budget Review: Wedding Day Beauty

Leyla's Hair Studio

Stylist: Leyla Slayton
Hendersonville, TN

{© Epic Image Photography}

What I Got: 

Last minute hair trial & bridal hair.

{she opened her shop on a Sunday to accommodate my needs}

$160 including tip

Princess Brides by Christy

Artist: Christy Vandervort

 

{photos above owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

What I Got: 

A full make up trial at Sephora & wedding day makeup

{I am designing Christy's company logo & business cards
in exchange for her services}

$175

Total Cost: $160

Budget Review: Attire, Accessories & Rings

Wedding Dress

{My dress was a gift from my parents & bought as a sample}
 $600 cash

{© Epic Image Photography}

Alterations
Something Old Designs/Sarah Mallory
$60

{© Epic Image Photography}

Veil, Fascinator, Shoes, Jewelry & Undergarments
{veil & fascinator designed by TruLu Couture}
 $219.66

{This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

Tuxedo Rental
{Men's Wearhouse}
$84.11

 {This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

Custom Cufflinks
{made by the bride}
$5.00

{© Epic Image Photography}

  Bride's Wedding Band

{purchased online & sized locally}
$83.52

 {This photo is owned by Natosha Benning. All rights reserved. Not for personal use}

Groom's Wedding Band

{purchased on Amazon.com}
 $180.73

 {© Epic Image Photography}

Total Cost: 633.02
 ($1228.02 with dress)

 Just as a side note, many of the pictures that say "this photo is owned by Natosha Benning" were taken my sister, mother-in-law or family friend. I want to give them proper credit without using their real names.

Budget Review: Day-Of-Coordination

Details By Margaret
Margaret & Jeannie

{an example of the team's hard work!}

What We Got

Unlimited emails and phone calls, personal assistant during our wedding week, contract confirmations, vendor coordination, timeline assistance, set-up, tear down and day-of coordination.
She also made my tissue paper pomanders for the reception!

Deposit

$250 reserves your day and applies toward your balance.

Total Cost: $550

Budget Review: Food, Cake & Favors

Catering

Down South Delights

Contact: Rita Rowland

{photo courtesy of DSD - thank you, Rita!}

What We Got

Six hors 'd oeuvres on beautiful serving dishes; choice of two beverages; all cutlery, plates & napkins; back of house staff & complimentary cake cutting

$2100

Deposit

{required to book your date & applied to your balance}

$100

Total Cost: $2100*
 *This total does not include gratuity
______________________________

 Alcohol

There wasn't any! We had a dry reception. It was a personal choice based on the budget, proclivities of our family & friends and the shortness of the reception itself.

 Total Cost: $0.00
______________________________


Cake

Hermitage Bakery

{another photo courtesy of DSD}

What We Got
3 tier wedding cake with cream cheese butter cream icing
{two traditional white tiers and one chocolate; 
included ribbon decoration}

$167 (plus tax)

Delivery
{Our wedding was on a Sunday, thus additional charge on delivery}

$50

Cake Accessories
Cake stand, monogram cake topper and cake bling
{purchased or made by yours truly}

$48

Total Cost: $289.51
______________________________

Candy Buffet Favors

 {shot before the jars were filled, but it's all I got at the moment - thanks MIL!}

Candy

We purchased way more candy that was used. Thank goodness our coordinator didn't open all of it - smart lady! I returned half of what I purchased to Sam's Club.

(1) 56 oz bags of classic M&MS
(1) 56 oz bags of classic Hershey's Kisses
(1) 44 oz bags of Reese's Pieces
(1) 54 oz bags of original flavor Skittles
(1) 6 lb bags of gummy bears
(1) 290 ct tub of soft peppermints

Accessories & Favor Bags
100 favor bags with hand-stamped "thank you" tags and tiny spoons

 {I did not include the apothecary jars purchased. They've become household decor or sold.}

Total Cost: $70.62 
______________________________


Total Food, Cake & Favor Costs: $2850.13

Budget Review: Venue & Rentals

Wedding & Reception Venue

Rose Mont Mansion

810 South Water Avenue

Gallatin, TN 37066

Contact: Erleen Blount

{download rental information}

What We Got

Ceremony & Reception

{includes an 8 hour rental period, use of grounds, house & reception hall}

$600

Rehearsal

{includes 6 hr use to decorate & rehearse}

$100

Event Security

{required}

$160

Table & Chair rentals 

{300 white chairs, 10-5' round tables, 35-6' banquet tables, setup & tear-down)

$150

breakage & damage deposit

{refundable}

$100

deposit

{required to book your date & applied to your balance}

$100

Total Cost: $1010

Budget Review: Overview

 source

I still enjoy thinking back over the course of our two year relationship and realizing that we only knew one another for three months before we began talking about marriage and six months before we made that official. Like they say, when you know, you know, right? And I knew. But we also realized that a long engagement would be good - both financially, stress wise and for the health of our relationship. I can't say that planning was always a breeze with Big Spoon, but he made it better and we did a few things right that I would recommend to anyone planning a wedding.

First, our budget was set before we were officially engaged. I shot high, he shot low and we met in the middle at $8,000. I spent $500 of that before we set up our wedding checking and savings account. Big Spoon contributed $4000 and I contributed $3500 initially. I later added another $500 to cover the cost of our coordinator, but we did not end up needing it all. More on that later.

Secondly, we set our priorities early on because it was obvious that we valued different aspects of the wedding. We bargained, we grumbled, we compromised. It was a VERY IMPORTANT step. 

I've really patted myself on the back for those above two things - budget and priorities. Everything else fell into place once we had those things in place. Big Spoon and I learned a lot from planning our wedding together - about each other, about our families and friends - but especially about the wedding industry, some of which we'll be sharing as we do budget and vendor reviews. We will start with budget and move on to the vendors later, because that is where you will learn all the things we did wrong. And yes, we did some things wrong.

What I won't do is give you a "to the cent" breakdown. I don't have time and I don't want to go back through a mound of receipts and do math. I hate math. What I will do is tell you what we budgeted and a really close, sometimes rounded up estimate of what we actually spent. 

I will be covering the following categories: 

Venue 

Photography

Videography

Catering (Food & Cake)

Attire & Accessories

Gifts & Favors

Wedding Rings

Stationery

Flowers

Beauty (Hair & Makeup)

Decorations & Miscellany (linens, rentals, licenses, hotel)

Again, I'm very hesitant to start anything - vendor reviews, budget breakdowns or wedding day overviews until we get our pictures. I really, really want to include pictures as we do the reviews. We've been married three weeks today, so I expect them any day now!

Happy Halloween!