Fab4Runner;1743085 wrote:Photographer is our biggest issue right now. Cheapest I can find that isn't shitty is about $2,000. I would have absolutely no problem spending way less as long as they are good. I am trying to get info on the photography programs at nearby colleges so I can contact students there. I do not want to spend a fortune, but I refuse to settle for someone sub-par. Wedding pics are one of my top priorities.

The whole timeline thing is another issue. Fiancé thinks I am being a bit crazy because I want to do things now (wedding is 9/24/16), but a lot of vendors are already booked. I make him sound like an ass, when truthfully he is the best person I know. He is just pretty clueless when it comes to shit like this.

Fab4Runner;1743085 wrote:Photographer is our biggest issue right now. Cheapest I can find that isn't shitty is about $2,000. I would have absolutely no problem spending way less as long as they are good. I am trying to get info on the photography programs at nearby colleges so I can contact students there. I do not want to spend a fortune, but I refuse to settle for someone sub-par. Wedding pics are one of my top priorities.

The whole timeline thing is another issue. Fiancé thinks I am being a bit crazy because I want to do things now (wedding is 9/24/16), but a lot of vendors are already booked. I make him sound like an ass, when truthfully he is the best person I know. He is just pretty clueless when it comes to shit like this.

ZWICK 4 PREZ;1743095 wrote:Best of memory

we paid 2 grand to photographer
250 to priest
150 to pianist
100 to servers
750 to the dj
8 grand for food and alcohol
cake was a few hundred.. cant really remember exactly.

Al Bundy;1743098 wrote:That was smart to pick a Buckeye's bye week if you are having a fall wedding.

ts1227;1743101 wrote:If you want your DJ to serve as an emcee too, then you have to make sure your person with a laptop isn't too much of an idiot, and has a mic to hook in as well

power i;1743103 wrote:My oldest daughter got married 2 years ago. She had almost 2 years to plan. Get your venue and vendors booked ASAP. Then you have time to do everything else at a leisurely pace and can actually enjoy the process.

Her wedding was at The Old Stone Church in Cleveland and the reception was at the House of Blues. 150 guests with open bar. We splurged on the photographer, food booze and band. The flowers and cake weren't as important to her so we saved some money there. RTA has a 'trolly' we rented to take the wedding party around the city for pics before the wedding. It really was a beautiful wedding, and everyone had a blast. It was just over $40,000.

Commander of Awesome;1743105 wrote:LOL, that's a house in Cleveland. She'd be much better off financially using that as a down payment, etc....What a waste, but I guess there's one born every second.

This wedding shit is insane.

Commander of Awesome;1743105 wrote:LOL, that's a house in Cleveland. She'd be much better off financially using that as a down payment, investing, etc.... That just seems CRAZY to me to spend that much for a day.

This wedding shit is insane.

Automatik;1743123 wrote:I went to one in Ohio last July. It was 75% senior citizens. It sucked.

sleeper;1743121 wrote:The most important thing is not having a bunch of boring people at your wedding and having a decent mix of single men and women for some mingling.

sleeper;1743121 wrote:$40k is nothing. One of my co-workers spent $40k just to rent out a venue here in the city. Their wedding was in the high $100k's total as my best guess but wouldn't be surprised if it went into the $200ks.

My thoughts; I've had just as much fun at a ~$20k wedding as I had at a ~$100k wedding. The most important thing is not having a bunch of boring people at your wedding and having a decent mix of single men and women for some mingling.

Automatik;1743123 wrote:I went to one in Ohio last July. It was 75% senior citizens. It sucked.

I used to think they were somewhat selfish and dumb, but after going to one in Jamaica, destination weddings are awesome. I'm most likely going another next June.

sleeper;1743125 wrote:This is spot on. If you look at your invite list and it contains more than 50% old people, your wedding will blow. Sure, you might get more $$ if gifts from old people but your wedding will suck and I will leave as soon as possible.

ptown_trojans_1;1743072 wrote:We eloped.
Best decision we have made.

Went down to New Orleans in October 2014. Went to a courthouse across the river, paid $130 and got hitched by the Judge on a balcony overlooking the city.
Told all of our friends and family afterward. We hinted we would do that (as we have been together 10 years beforehand).

We held 3 parties for each our families and friends. One in my hometown, one in her's and one for our friends here in DC.
All told, costs for the trip to NOLA, costs of the parties, and fees, about $2K, which we have already paid off.. And....no family drama!

ts1227;1743091 wrote:Our photographer was a college student, definitely good bang for the buck

power i;1743103 wrote:My oldest daughter got married 2 years ago. She had almost 2 years to plan. Get your venue and vendors booked ASAP. Then you have time to do everything else at a leisurely pace and can actually enjoy the process.

Her wedding was at The Old Stone Church in Cleveland and the reception was at the House of Blues. 150 guests with open bar. We splurged on the photographer, food booze and band. The flowers and cake weren't as important to her so we saved some money there. RTA has a 'trolly' we rented to take the wedding party around the city for pics before the wedding. It really was a beautiful wedding, and everyone had a blast. It was just over $40,000.

Scarlet_Buckeye;1743142 wrote:Jesus... who in the world has $40,000 to spend on a wedding?!?! Are you a Hilton or a Kardashian?!

Scarlet_Buckeye;1743140 wrote:Does this mean you banged your wedding photographer?