sakon76

Still budgeting for sixty people. Assuming that service charge is 19% and includes gratuity, and adding in tax, reception comes to $5400. Ceremony will be $1100 + $125 for officiant. Photographers are prohibitively expensive--$800 and up. Douglas' father and mine are both amateur photographers, however. If we ask them, it'll only be a $125 fee. Best man can people-wrangle for any set photos we want. Plus I want to see if we can dump cameras on everyone's place setting and let our friends take pictures if they want. Flowers are also prohibitive. Think I will follow Sandy's suggestion and do them ourselves. Doing it that way it should only cost as much as the bride's bouquet would otherwise to outfit entire wedding party and bride and groom's parents. Maybe a couple hundred max. Which leads down to the last major expense being a DJ. Best I've found is $400 for four hours, which doesn't seem too bad. If fiance (who has gone to bed sick at the moment) rules that out we can rent some speakers and use our stereo system from at home. Burn mix CDs or something. Programs going to be done by us, not by pros, likewise with wedding favors and centerpieces. This is becoming something approaching affordable. Bar would not be hosted--I know that seems crass, but it's either that or not have one at all. I'm trying to see if I can make this work, expenditure-wise.

Current theoretical total: $6750 w/o DJ, $7150 with.