First off, picking a budget for your wedding is HARD. I really underestimated almost every aspect so our budget has already increased by about $3,000.
I know there are so many articles out there on Pinterest for how much to expect for each category/what percentage of your budget to allocate to each, however, I assumed those were not applicable for the Midwest. Wrong.
So, this is what you should expect to spend in Iowa..and we are still going fairly 'cheap' with everything so if you're wanting something that resembles a Pinterest wedding, double this!
Guests: BE FIRM! We started with a strict 300 people and suddenly we're inviting nearly 375. What we didn't consider when adding to the guest list was each person is 1 more mouth to feed..aka $13.92.
Venue: Originally I really wanted a hotel, but I quickly found out even with the waived rental fee the prices of food were around $20-30/person. We are renting a reception hall at our local fairgrounds for under $1,000. Make sure you consider additional costs for your venue, for example, we are required to pay a security guard as well as rent our linens from the venue.
Food: I think this is where I saved the most money from not choosing a hotel venue. We're saving about $15/person by veering from our original plan. Be sure to ask your caterer about a kids buffet! We are saving some money by having chicken nuggets & mac and cheese for the littles who aren't going to want the pork roast and vegetable medley anyway.
Flowers: Whatever you have in your mind to spend on these, double or triple that number! This was the area I underestimated the MOST. Also, Pinterest flower creations are expensive and most likely unattainable for the average bride. I took a few Pinterest pictures to my florist but I was flexible with the specific flowers, I just wanted the general look.
Photographer: This is an area where I was OK with splurging a little, after everything is said and done pictures are the one thing you'll have forever. I ended up finding a photographer that is fairly new, but still takes amazing pictures. So, her prices were more reasonable than the seasoned photographers who can charge $3,000+ for the day
DJ: I think this is another one that I was surprised at the cost (I'm surprised at ALL wedding costs haha). We went with a friend, but I've found DJs are all just about the same cost. I'd suggest asking for references or being familiar with their work, a DJ is the one who keeps the party going so they can really make or break your reception.
Most importantly, enjoy this time! Planning can be stressful, but also really fun!
