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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]It depends on your HHI and your budget. Don’t go into debt for an extravagant party.

How much was your engagement ring?[/quote]

OP here. We will be getting married in Chicago ( my hometown). We have two contenders for a reception hall. Both are more of a rustic warehouse kind of vibe.

I make $120k/yr and fiancé makes $150k + bonus. We have a little over 500k combined savings.

I’m not sure how much my engagement ring costs. It’s a 1.5-2ct round diamond with 6 prong solitaire band. Possibly 15-20k.

We are also not sure if we cover bridesmaids/groomsmen costs or if that’s on them? Our bridesmaids will either be wearing a dark green or wine color.

We are thinking maybe $30-50k budget? 
 [/quote]

Have you checked on prices at all? For the venues you like and for catering? Because I think $30-50k is (unfortunately) pretty low for 150 people in Chicago for a bride and groom that make what you make in the midwest. Certainly 30k is very low. And I'm not one to spend on luxury and parties, so if I think that budget is low, it's probably low.

No, you don't cover costs for bridesmaids and groomsmen. You can, and would be much appreciated, if they will struggle to afford it and you decide you have the budget for it, but it isn't traditionally done. [/quote]

OP here. We are definitely underestimating how much a wedding costs. Our absolute max budget is $150k but we want to spend far less than that.

We want to do

- Open bar for entire event. Range from $18-45 per person depending on package.

- Plated seating, appetizers, late night snacks, and a dessert table. Plated seating will be $85 a head. $8 guest for dessert table, appetizers are per appetizer ranging from $1.50-5.00.

- Photo Booth. $500ish for 3 hours.

- Venue. 3 options we like range from $15-20k.

So far that’s all we thought about.

[/quote]

I had a wedding similar to I think what you are envisioning. I had it in the DC area 10 years ago and it cost about 70k with contributions from both of my parents and my husband and I. We did not go into debt for it and have no regrets as it was a wonderful event for our family but I think from your responses you should be targeting 50-70k instead of 30-50 and add 10-20 more if you want to have it IN chicago vs some smaller location an hour or so out from the city.

General costs that I had:

DJ - 2k 
Dress - $800
Cake - $700
Photographer - 5k
Venue/Catering/Open Bar (came as a package, had a full open bar with liquor and passed apps) - 45k
Paper (invitations/programs etc) - 1k
Flowers - 1.8k (and we cheaped out hard core on this)
Hair/Makeup for my BMs and me - $500 (again this is artifically very cheap I had a friend basically give this to me as a wedding present)

And then there were a bunch of just incidental crap that adds up. Favors, a candy bar, the photo booth etc, my jewelry, our rings were another 1500. I can't remember all of it now but I do remember adding it up once and being shocked and mildly horrified.

Anyway again your food and open bar are going to be the single most expensive cost. [/quote]

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