Real Life Weddings

Money money money (continued)

budget image 1 Stacey Ross and Shane Lee
Ceremony & reception: Palm Court Hotel, Aberdeen
Wedding date: Friday 15 October 2010
Photographer: Janie Barclay Photography
www.janiebarclay.com Tel: 07719 306047

Wedding Budget
£10,184
Fashion: £1,999
Wedding gown: £621
Bridal accessories: Shoes £75, underwear £25, headband £28
Bridesmaid/flower girl dresses: Dresses £190, shoes £75 (two pairs)
Hair and make-up: Hair £175, make-up £360,
nails £50
Menswear: Kilt hire £110, jacket hire £25
Ceremony: £69
Ceremony room hire: Included in hotel package
Registrar/celebrant fees: Free
Marriage Licence: £69
Planning: £4,284
Photographer: £700
Rings: £1,225
Stationery: Our friend did them as a wedding gift
Flowers: My Mum is a florist, so these were a gift too
Cake: £425
Favours: £99
Transport: £800
Gifts for bridal party: £800 (set of golf clubs for the best man put the cost up!)
Gifts to bride and groom: £200 (new perfumes for each other and a private car number plate with the date of our wedding on it)
Fee to council for photos in gardens: £35
Reception: £3,845
Wedding meal, evening buffet and drinks package: £2,700
Function suite hire: Included in package
Venue decoration: £400 (fairy lights, candles, candy table)
Day music: £150 (piper)
Evening music: £425
Other entertainment: Glow sticks £60
(went down a storm!)
Linen hire: £110 (chair covers, sashes and
table runners)

“We expected to spend around £5,000 but spent approximately £10,000, not including the honeymoon. Shane and I paid for it, with a £1,500 contribution from my parents. To pay for the day, Shane did a lot of overtime at work, we cut back on some things and I got an unexpected bonus from work. Budgeting wasn’t too bad; we really saved in some areas and then just went mad in others. We paid things bit by bit and always made the payments on pay days so that the money was out of our account. We kept costs down by having 37 people to our service and meal and then a total of 90 at night. Because we had such a small amount for our meal we were able to pay for all the alcohol until the evening reception, plus offer canapés, four courses and have steak as a main meal option. Also the flowers were free as my Mum is a florist. My good friend is a graphic designer and did our invites as a gift, one of my best friends is a DJ and did the disco for free as part of our gift. My Mum’s friends surprised us and took a DVD of the day for the cost of a meal at the venue on the wedding day – we were so, so lucky!”

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