Misaki and Amir ended up coming in under budget, spending just over $80,000.
Misaki and Amir managed to stick to their preferred spend of $80,000 almost perfectly.
Misaki told BI that telling their planning team a lower budget than they actually felt comfortable spending helped keep their costs low and prevented her and Amir from getting stressed out when surprise costs came up.
“We actually felt good about it because we were kind of under budget,” she said. “Obviously, you can always have a cheaper wedding; you can always have a backyard wedding. But for what we wanted, which was at a five-star hotel with all of our guests together having Nobu food, I think we saved a bunch of money.”
Misaki advises other couples who are just starting to wedding plan to have an intentional conversation with their partner about what they want to prioritize financially before they start making wedding decisions.
“Everyone has different priorities,” she said. “If you don’t care to have a wedding, then obviously spending $80,000 on a wedding doesn’t make any sense.”
“Talk with your partner on where your priorities lie, whether you even want to have a wedding,” she said. “And then if it is something you want to do, then think about all the other priorities in your life. For us, it was owning a home and having kids in the next few years.”
Total: $80,230.78
- Catering and drinks: $28,860
- Wedding planner: $4,640
- Flowers: $4,595
- Ceremony rentals: $275
- Bride’s first dress: $3,027.78
- Bride’s shoes: $130
- Bride’s second dress: $165
- Gloves: $7
- Veil: $152
- Hair and makeup: $300
- Tuxedo: $200
- Groom’s shoes: $1,000
- Rings: $5,820
- Invitations: $549
- Dance floor: $3,300
- Fairy lights: $2,800
- DIY materials: $100
- Tables, chairs, linens, flatware, and bar: $5,740
- Seating chart: $1,440
- Guestbook: $400
- Welcome bags: $700
- Photographer: $4,400
- Videographer: $3,364
- Content creator: $1,500
- DJ: $3,646
- Champagne tower: $320
- Fireworks: $2,800