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Nvsforza
Beginner September 2024

Affordable nyc Wedding? Is it possible?

Nvsforza, on May 31, 2022 at 10:32 AM Posted in New York Planning 0 9
My fiancée and I had our hearts set on creating a weekend wedding experience for our guests, and though it might be better for our budget, I’m having a hard time justifying asking over 150 people to travel 4 hours outside of the city.


I am in love with the idea of a Brooklyn wedding, but always knew that 150 guests in Brooklyn will likely be well above my budget of $30,000. Is it possible to plan a wedding under $30,000 in Brooklyn or the city?
I always planned on DIYing everything, so the raw space doesn’t scare me. What scares me are all the other vendors I have to take into consideration.

9 Comments

Latest activity by Michelle, on June 6, 2022 at 1:42 PM
  • R
    Rockstar
    Rosebud ·
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    Congrats to you and happy planning! I think you can plan a nice event with your budget but you may have to compromise on a few things and find some creative ways to lower cost(winter wedding or any day but Saturday evening usually can save you a bit of money). Some times raw spaces end up costing more so check into a bunch of different options. I went to a wedding last spring at Gargiulo's in Brooklyn, I don't know how much it cost exactly but the hosts said it was pretty reasonable. The food was delicious too! Best of luck to you!

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  • Kelly
    Rockstar October 2023
    Kelly ·
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    It's likely possible. A wedding planner could help keep costs down. Be mindful of DIY though, it's not always cheaper.

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  • Lynnie
    WeddingWire Administrator October 2016
    Lynnie ·
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    Hi Nicole! The biggest cost to consider is food & booze for each guest, which in NYC easily starts at $150 per person!! To save money some couples try to plan a reception during a non-mealtime, like an afternoon reception or a late evening reception with just cocktails and desserts! Check out this Cost Guide which has tons of information on average wedding costs for your area, and these helpful articles on budgets:

    Wedding Cost Guide


    This WeddingWire article has great tips on how to shrink your budget: 9 Go-To Ways to Save Money on a Wedding, and you should also check out this discussion with input from lots of different couples: Just Engaged, Need Tips!

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  • Nvsforza
    Beginner September 2024
    Nvsforza ·
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    Thank you so much! This is super helpful!
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  • M
    VIP August 2021
    Michelle ·
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    Hi Nicole. This will be tight for a 150 person Brooklyn wedding day, and very hard for a full weekend unless you get creative. Your largest cost will be f&b per person and as Linny notes, in NY it is $150 and up. Some venues do not have a rental fee. Venues that are not all-inclusive allow you to select catering of your choice. Overal, $5k per vendor seems the guide, but you can prioritize some vendors over others and you've already crossed out decor with diy. Smiley smile Of the remaining, I would invest in a strong photographer as your photos will preserve your memories. Attire can be consignment or rented. Guests can cab it. You're in Brooklyn, so you can be alternative as you like! Maybe playist over DJ or band? Best wishes, Bride.

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  • Claire
    Savvy September 2022
    Claire ·
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    Hi Nicole - unfortunately from my experience it will be extremely difficult to plan a wedding for 30k in the city or in BK. Vendors here are so much more costly (as an example, I was told my photographers were an extremely good deal and they're over 5k, and my flowers which I specifically didn't want to spend a ton on are almost 5k. HMU artists are also very expensive). I'm getting married in jersey, which also is very pricey, but you might want to look into it as it if possible. It's still convenient from the city (the train is like an hour for city guests) and compared to my friends who got married in BK, the cost per head is about half. Most city weddings I hear about are smaller than average because of the prices. If your heart is set on BK, I'd definitely recommend a brunch-time wedding.

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  • Nvsforza
    Beginner September 2024
    Nvsforza ·
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    Thank you for your input and honesty! I was expecting all of this to be true but there’s nothing like hearing it from others who have been going through this same process.
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  • Nvsforza
    Beginner September 2024
    Nvsforza ·
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    Thank you so much for your input!
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  • M
    VIP August 2021
    Michelle ·
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    Oops 2 more, don't forget to account for taxes and fees. Mine was 24% service charge which included staff gratuity, PLUS, that city tax 8.875%. I had my day in Queens. I hear there's more bang for your buck in Jersey, which is not a bad commute from BK. Depending on your venue, they may have off-season pricing for Summer and Winter. Good luck!

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