Torey and Kerry are from the DC Metro area but opted to have a destination wedding in order to save on costs-and hello! because it’s gorgeous!
Couple: Torey and Kerry
Wedding Date: June 21, 2008
Location: Sundial Resort in Sanibel, FL
Number of Guests: 88
Initial Budget: $15,000
Wedding Day Costs
Ceremony: $1500- included locations, chairs, alter, set-up and takedown
Officiant: $400
Reception/Catering: approx. $5200-$58 per person “We did a ‘Florida Buffet’ and the food included grilled grouper, tomato and cucumber salad, fried plantains with pineapple-jalapeno relish, jerk spiced chicken, grilled pineapple, black beans and rice, jalapeno corn bread, tropical fruit and key lime tarts.”
Rentals: all included. We opted to just use the white chairs, white tablecloths, center pieces, white napkins that the resort provide.
Bridal Gown & Alterations: $120 (dress on eBay for $20, alterations were $100)
Bridal Accessories: $150 (Jewelry was from Sorrelli)
Hair/Makeup: $200
Groom’s Attire & Accessories: $79 ( Shirt from Aloha Hut $40 and pants from Martin and Osa $39)
Bridesmaids Attire: $125 (Maid of Honor’s dress)
Groomsmen Attire: $79
Paper: Invites were from MyGatsby.com and price was $257. Everything else- STD, rehearsal party invites and programs I did myself and printed at Kinko’s for less than $50
Transportation: $0 Ceremony and reception were at the same location.
Photographer: $1080 by Kellie Day Photography. “We booked her in August 2007 and her prices have increased since then. Her and her husband were FABULOUS and I would book her again and again!”
Ceremony Music: $0 (friend of family played the violin free of charge)
Reception Music: $800 for a DJ
Flowers: $250 “We ordered 5,000 rose petals and 4 dozen roses from FiftyFlowers.com and made the bridal and MOH bouquet. The rose petals were used along the aisle and on the tables for the reception.”
Other décor: $30 “We had the beach- did not need any decorations. 
We bought starfish on eBay for the place cards.”
Favors: $0 (Couple elected not to do favors)
Cake: $0 “It ended up being free since they delivered it late and it fell apart. It would have cost about $200.”
Wedding Planner: $0 “the resort provided us with a great, great coordinator but otherwise we did everything ourselves.”
Gifts: $300
Miscellaneous: “We stayed the whole week at the resort before the wedding- since it was off-season our room rate was only $130 per night.”
DAY OF GRAND TOTAL: approx. $13,500
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OTHER COSTS
Rehearsal Dinner/Day after brunch: $1050 “We rented the Sanibel Community House for $250.00 and then had Publix cater the party. I think total for food and drink it was around $800.”
Honeymoon: $1500
Wedding Bands: $1000
FINAL GRAND TOTAL: $17,000 (includes plane tickets, additional hotel rooms)
Photographer credit: Kellie Day Photography
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Best cost-saving advice: we did not get married where we live J we originally looked in DC but everything was so expensive. We wanted a smaller, less formal event and picked Sanibel, Florida. Planning in the off-season saved us and our guests money. The weather was fabulous and we loved our location!
If you can splurge, do it here: Photography!
Don’t bother with: Favors, hand painted aisle runners, candy bars, calligraphy for invitations
Other Advice: Have fun and enjoy the day! Things might go wrong but in the end- being married and being with your family and friends is the most important thing.
