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Sarah
Just Said Yes December 2017

What is a typical budget?

Sarah, on February 20, 2017 at 12:36 AM Posted in Mississippi Planning 0 37

So I have no idea what a normal/typical budget is! I know the national average is around $35,000 but I am from Mississippi and getting married in a college town. Most things are pretty reasonably priced here, so I think $35,000 is a bit much for my budget. What is a realistic small southern town budget?

37 Comments

Latest activity by Erika, on March 25, 2018 at 1:32 AM
  • Brittany
    Expert October 2017
    Brittany ·
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    It will depend mostly on your guest list and also on the cost of your vendors. You can check this website to get an idea of a price range for weddings in your area. http://www.costofwedding.com

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  • Aquarius13
    Dedicated August 2018
    Aquarius13 ·
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    I'm trying to figure out a budget as well. What can you two reasonably afford?

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  • Brittany
    VIP May 2017
    Brittany ·
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    I'm from southern California, our budget is 10k. But I didn't pick things based on that budget. That is just everything added together. We did comparison pricing if something looked reasonable and we could afford it, we booked them. We made sure we could afford to pay everything off 60 days before the wedding without using credit cards.

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  • Sarah
    Just Said Yes December 2017
    Sarah ·
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    My fiancé can definitely afford way more than I can. His family is extremely wealthy and has offered to pay for more than what the groom's family "typically" would pay for. My family isn't necessarily hard up but my dad recently recovered from a serious illness and we are still paying those medical bills. Since I know my fiancé will be picking up some of the slack I don't want to be too extravagant with my budget.

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  • Sarah
    Just Said Yes December 2017
    Sarah ·
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    We are planning for about 120-140 guests.

    That website listed above was SUPER helpful! Thank you!!

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  • Ali
    Master June 2017
    Ali ·
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    Your budget is going to be dependent on what you can afford. Sit down with your future spouse and determine a budget that is reasonable for you to save for, then from there decide a guest list. Don't go into debt for your wedding, or get caught up in the average price for America. My budget is no where near 35,000, where some peoples are that or higher, to each couple their own. Just worry about properly hosting your guests on a budget you can afford.

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  • TIFFANY
    Super July 2017
    TIFFANY ·
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    You can Google what people in your city spend but a budget is always based off what you can afford

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  • Jesikah
    VIP October 2017
    Jesikah ·
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    Mines definitely wasn't $35k or else I'd be putting that down on our house & we would be going to church. I think it depends on everything you have to shop around. Our budget is $10k. We're under still as of now

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  • Futurebride2018
    Devoted June 2018
    Futurebride2018 ·
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    The realistic budget would be what you and your FH can afford without going into debt. We are spending about $10k and the average price in my town is about $25k

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  • Gracelyn
    Super October 2025
    Gracelyn ·
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    Also use the Wedding Wire budget checklist--it helps to see each item, which you can adjust based on your preference and priorities.

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  • wifeytobejuly17
    Super July 2017
    wifeytobejuly17 ·
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    My wedding budget in Wisconsin is 6k for 120. It just depends on what is important. We're getting married at a floral garden park

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  • JerseyGirl
    Master May 2017
    JerseyGirl ·
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    Be aware....if FH family is picking up the tab they have a say in the decisions. Whoever is paying has a choice. I would rather have a smaller wedding knowing I can do whatever I want rather than have to please whoever is paying

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  • OG Dianna
    Master March 2017
    OG Dianna ·
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    Www.costofwedding.com will give you an average in your area.

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  • Amanda
    VIP May 2017
    Amanda ·
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    @wifetobe how are you feeding 120 guests on a 6k budget?

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  • Brittany
    Devoted September 2017
    Brittany ·
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    Ours is 3500 for 100 and we are still under as well

    I'm In Florida though

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  • Meet_The_Clarks
    VIP June 2018
    Meet_The_Clarks ·
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    Typical budget will vary a: couple to couple, b: on location and c: on guest count. Ours is $20-25k for 120. Venue being the most expensive. Good luck!

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  • G
    Dedicated March 2017
    Gabrielle ·
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    I decided on my budget by checking around with different venues and vendors based on the time of season I was open to , as well as # of guest.. It was hard for me to come up with a realistic budget , for what I wanted without shopping around a bit.

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  • RaeGin
    Master September 2017
    RaeGin ·
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    Take a look at your finances and see what you can reasonably afford, then take a look at the cost in your area of the different elements you'll need (photographer, venue, catering, etc.). I learned very quickly that what I wanted to spend and what things actually cost were very different. We had to increase out budget, but will not be going into debt from our wedding. The cost of anything and everything wedding related came as a huge shock to me.

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    There is no such thing as a typical budget; your budget is what you can afford. From there, you figure out how many people you can invite. (And I'll warn you, cost of living website is low in many, many specialties).

    In NJ, outside of NYC, you can do 12 people with a fabulous officiant, a gourmet meal with drinks, photgrapher for several hours, flowers and a musician for under 5000. Or you can spend 35,000 on 100 people in a grand venue with a fabulous officiant, multi course meal, full bar, a dj or band, flowers for you and a bridal party, video and limos.

    There are so many ways to produce a wedding, but the surest road to stress is to invite too many people with not enough money, plan on too much DIY (often when you've never DIY'd anything more than painting your nails) and spending too much time on pinterest.

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  • Celia Milton
    Celia Milton ·
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    Sarah; money comes with strings. Always.

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