Weddings are expensive!

So here is our Wedding budget:

Reception $10,350.00 (set price - $115 per head)
Dress $1,800.00
Bridesmaid $400.00
DJ $430.00 (set price)
Suits $750.00
Rings $1,600.00
Garden Permit $500.00 (set price)
Celebrant $400.00
Garden Decorations $330.00 (set price)
Alterations $500.00
Flowers $- (friend making bouquets for me for gift!)
Cars $800.00
Make Up $255.00
Hair $255.00
Wedding Night Accom $400.00
Photographer $1,500.00
Personal training $1,500.00

Honeymoon Flights $1,500.00
Accommodation $3,000.00
Spending Money $2,000.00
Passports $440.00
Vaccinations $200.00
Insurance $400.00

TOTAL $29,310

They’re almost all estimations, so I’m looking for ways to make them cheaper. The honeymoon is pretty much $7500 which is a pretty expensive 10 day holiday. But this is what we WANT and are working towards it. (Yes I know it’s not a need, but come on, it’s our honeymoon) We are not going to accrue any of these costs on credit cards, I am confident of this, so it feels pretty good.

Note the dress is listed as $1800 plus $500 in alterations. Here’s hoping the dress I get made for $255 (made to my own measurements) works out well and I can say that I potentially saved over $2000. Then I won’t feel so bad about have a luxurious honeymoon as that will be more than enough to cover the difference between a 3.5 star hotel and a 4.5-5 star hotel that we’re hoping for.

This coming month we’ve got some big payments coming up – Car insurance (I'll save $200 off $1100 if I pay for the whole year upfront), Footy annual fees ($170) quarterly rates ($280) and a speeding ticket that BF racked up ($260!) – So there’s not much making its way into savings. I put $1500 onto the wedding fund (via CC#2 as mentioned early), paid $255 for the dress and $500 for personal training so our total is now $2345. I'll put $2500 into savings next pay day (15th march) and then pay a chunk off the reception in the coming months (hopefully another $2500), as well as pay for the garden decoration hire ($330).

It’s all very exciting but I’m no where near as excited as some of my friends think I should be. Most of them are shocked I haven’t booked a photographer or a celebrant already! Come on, it’s 8.5 months away! I got PLENTY of time…