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What It Costs To Get Married

I saw this great article in the Fall/Winter 2007 edition of Brides New Jersey and had to post. Over the years, I've come to find that most non-married people really have no idea what type of wedding they can or can not afford upon becoming engaged. This article serves as a pretty good eye-opener to what married-couples-to-be are in store for ... in the tri-state area, especially New Jersey.


MUSIC

  • 4 hours of live music by a popular 13-piece band of accomplished musicians with tour experience: $11,000
  • 5 hours of professional DJ service, plus an MC and a light show: $1,695
  • 4 hours of basic DJ service, plus a pianist for cocktail hour: $1,095

RECEPTION

  • 4-course, plated dinner with 5-hour premium open bar, cocktail hour with passed hors d'oeuvres, champagne toast and wedding cake at a historic garden estate : $245 per person
  • 5-course, plated dinner with 5-hour open bar, buffet hors d'oeuvres, champagne toast, and wedding cake in a ballroom with stunning city views: $150 per person
  • 3-course, family-style dinner, with 4-hour open bar, champagne toast and wedding cake at a reputable Italian restaurant: $50 per person

PHOTOGRAPHY

  • Deluxe package from a photojournalist with 20 years of experience, including two hours of rehearsal-dinner coverage, unlimited wedding-day coverage plus assistant, DVD presentation, online gallery, and 30-page bridal album: $9,100
  • Premium package from a wedding photographer, including unlimited wedding-day coverage, wedding-album design session, and image CD: $2,995
  • Standard package by a wedding photographer from a wedding-planning center, including 6 hours of coverage, 3 photo albums and 1 11"x14" print: $975

CAKE

  • Fondant-covered red velvet cake with sugar flowers from a landmark baker, serves 140: $1,400
  • Fondant-covered vanilla cake with chocolate ganache and strawberry mousse filling, by a pastry chef who works out of her home, serves 140: $750
  • Buttercream-covered vanilla pound cake with raspberry filling, from a family owned bakery, serves 150: $495

FLOWERS (bouquets)

  • Bouquet of hydrangeas, roses and miniature calla lilies, garnished with berries from a floral design studio that has been featured in bridal magazines: $225
  • Bouquet of cymbidium orchids, roses, mini spray roses and faux diamonds by an event florist: $195
  • Bouquet of lilies, dendrobium orchids, larkspur, roses, Italian ruscus and asters wrapped in satin ribbon from a small flower shop: $65


And for those of you who live outside of New Jersey or major metropolitan cities, http://www.costofwedding.com/ can help you get an idea of what your wedding will add up to be.
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