Here it is, the full kit-n-kaboodle....everything we paid for the wedding, including attire, venue, food, photography and extras. This list doesn't include my engagement ring, Shaun's shoes, shirt or tie (all of which he needed anyway). Prepare for an exorbitant number of photos!
Invites: $268.40 including postage
- Paper and More for cardpockets, cardstock, envelopes, rsvp envelopes: $155.87
- Cards and Pockets red invite mats: $24.78
- Postage: $78.75
- Adhesives: $9
Yes, the chairs were plastic - and nobody gave them a second look! You don't need to upgrade chairs, ladies.
Ceremony and Reception Hall: $8200 at Hubbard Park Lodge. This price included everything, plus service fee/gratuity and taxes: Chairs for ceremony, 7 appetizers during cocktail hour, buffet for 85 ppl, open bar all night with premium beers and call liquors, after-dinner appetizers 
Cupcakes: $335 for 200 cupcakes (almond pound cake with almond buttercream frosting, and chocolate with cream cheese frosting) including delivery and set up on my own stands.
Cupcake stands: about $35 from thrift shops and TJ Maxx, that tall tower is a round shelving unit from Goodwill that I spray painted...holla!
Centerpieces: $58.33 for 18 ball jars on ebay, $156 for hydrangeas from Sam's Club. The flowers lasted almost two weeks after the wedding, too!
Table runners: $35 (for 15 turquoise satin runners) on ebay
Votives: $48 (includes cost of Xyron machine, ribbon, votive holders, candles)
Favors/placecards: $180 for 86 mini gumball machines and leftover cardstock for name tags.
Table numbers: $20 for Anne Taintor postcards, used leftover cardstock from invites to assemble.
Card box: $20 for cardboard boxes, ribbons and spray paint
Wedding party and parents flowers: $240 for two bouquets, 4 boutonnieres, 2 corsages - all roses.
Photographers: $1400 for 8 hours with two shooters (that is Sarah in the pic), and engagement session
Music: $160 - I used my computer/itunes, borrowed speaker/soundboard equipment, bought some music on Amazon, and paid hotel and gas for friend to run setup. I would do it again in a heartbeat!!
My dress: $548 including alterations (The Edmonton from Dolly Couture!)
My hair flower: $34 on Etsy...and AWE, golden retriever!!!
My shoes: $32 from beallsflorida.com
My clutch and wrap: $48, I really wish I hadn't bought these! Hardly used them at all...as you can see by the lack of photos. ps - I love how my Miller Lite can coordinates with the aqua theme!
Maid of Honor dress: $114 incl shipping from lightinthebox.com
Shaun's suit: $250 incl alterations from Men's Wearhouse
Best Man suit: $255 incl alterations (they are the same one)
My wedding band: $567
Shaun's wedding band: $56 (just sized his father's old band, which was a gift)
Marriage license and certificate: $110 (as I'm writing this on June 13, we STILL don't have the certificate in the mail! Another story for another day, my friends!)
Party bus for taking guests back to hotels, and for going to the bar after reception: $335 for 4 hours
Our hotel room: $100
Photo booth setup: $15 gift card given to friend who borrowed me the backdrop frame and umbrella lights. White curtains were mine. Camera, tripod, remotes were mine.
Personalized thank you cards: $117 from weddingpaperdivas.com
TOTAL:
$13,726.73 not including honeymoon
Honeymoon: $3004.13 for 7 nights all-inclusive in Couples Negril (including airfare from Milwaukee)
TOTAL with honeymoon: $16,730.86
** BARF **
Misc notes:
- We paid for the attendant's attire
- We did not have a guest book, that's what the photo booth was for
- My mom paid for my mani and pedi the day before (thanks, mom!)
- My mom did my hair (thanks again, mom!)
- I did my own makeup
- A friend married us for free (obviously he wouldn't charge us!)
- We did get generous gifts from our parents to help with the wedding costs, but we paid for most of it ourselves.
- We paid about 3k more than I wanted for the venue, but they had a minimum charge that we had to meet, so it was either pay the money or pick a different place. Obviously, this is where all our expense went as the other items are pretty reasonable. If I had to do it over, I would probably pick a different venue for many reasons, mostly because I didn't realize that about half of our invited guests would decline - that made the cost per person pretty ridiculous to meet the minimum charge. Having a wedding with 120 or more guests would have been much easier to swallow! Also, the backup plan for a rainy ceremony was less than ideal - and it was pretty cold that day. I think we could've found a pretty place a little closer to home for less money. However, the place looked great, the food was fab, and I'm happy with almost everything. Just not the hit to our wallet! At least we have photos like this to remember it by:
