Welcome to our real wedding budget breakdown series! There's nothing worse than being blindsided by your wedding budget. So, with this series, we're taking the guesswork out of planning the finances around your wedding and sharing how other real life couples allocated their own wedding budget - how they splashed out and where they cut back, regardless of how much they had to spend. Hopefully it'll help you make more informed decisions on what to prioritise for your own big day!
Today's couple are from Meath, they are aged 31 and 34 and both work in education. They got married at one of the most popular country house hotels in Ireland.
Budget: €45,000
Guests: 140
Venue: Five-star Country House Hotel
Wedding Budget Breakdown
Venue: €20,000
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Photography: €1700
Videography: €1250
Music & Entertainment: €6000
Flowers: €1000
Wedding Cake: €500
Decor: €2000
Rentals: €120
Stationery: €850
Transport: €500
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Wedding Dress €2500
Groom's Suit: €800
Groomsmen's Suits: €500
Bridesmaid's Dresses: €520
Shoes & Accessories: €300
Rings: €1300
Hair & Makeup: €800
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Gifts: €500
Accommodation: €2000
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Honeymoon: €8,000
More or less than you expected to spend?
More! All the little things don't get included. For example, the sacristan in a church, people who skip dinner even though you’ve included them, cards, gifts, stationery, getting the car valeted, second day outfit, hen! I never even considered these costs in the budget.
Where did your wedding budget come from?
Extra money from mortgage/savings
Biggest Splurge?
The venue, the honeymoon and the dress.
Biggest Savings?
A friend and student did music for church.
Honeymoon
We went on a Caribbean Cruise.
Were you happy with what you spent on your wedding?
No, I definitely did not do enough research in the beginning. I saw something I liked and booked it. There were some things we cancelled in the end as money was too tight.
Any Tips or Advice?
Do your research, don't book too quickly. Our venue was amazing so I don't regret it one bit but afterwards we were like, 'did we just spend 40 grand on one day'. Oops!
Get more wedding budget tips and advice, and check out more real wedding budget breakdowns!
Got your own real wedding budget breakdown to share? Help other couples and fill in our anonymous Q&A!
Feature image: Memento Photography via One Fab Day | All images are from a mix of real weddings, not the one featured in this budget breakdown.
