the mula

You're told a lot of things in the wedding business.

1. engagement ring should cost 3 months salary
2. venue/food will make up 50% of your total budget
3. etc, you get the picture

These things are what I hate about the wedding industry. Who's to tell you how much things should cost, ie, who should tell you what's important to you? Puhleeease. The extravagance that's expected, the traditions that you're expected to adhere to. In the end, it's all really up to you. I picked up a total of 0 wedding magazines and watched 0 wedding shows on TLC. I knew enough of what I wanted from going to a few weddings that I didn't want to pay any attention to what others were saying you need to do. My inspiration stemmed from google images. I figured out costs based on my research skills that were built from my general frugality.

This is the breakdown from our wedding, and it was about what we wanted to hit. Basically, we wanted to spend in areas that were most important to us, which were venue/food and photographer. So for the other main vendors, we wanted to hit below budget to make room for the many many other little things that we knew needed to happen but couldn't think of during the budgeting process.

Ending up 50% below budget on music was soooo helpful! And with the help from a few helpful worker bees, invitations, all things paper, and favors fell below budget too.

This was the most I ever spent on any single thing. I was stingy throughout the whole process, but now, I miss having something to spend on! Spending is fun!!