Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Planning. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Changes in the Budget

Thank you for your comments yesterday :)
You had some fantastic ideas.
I thought I might break down everything and explain a bit more?:
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Ceremony Site - $303 (inc wet weather option) - $181 for the amphitheatre, $122 for the wet weather back up - We COULD always not book the wet weather back up but we do not want to risk it! Thankfully we do not need to get permits etc.
Celebrant - $580 - The running rate for celebrants in Melb seems to be $500....
Reception Food (Pizza) - $500 - We are having 100 people at the reception (approx). Feeding them for $5 per head is obviously a bargain.
Drinks - $750 - I think we can make this $500. We had nearly 2 slabs (from 5), 6 bottles of champagne (from 12), 5 bottles of white (from 9) and 5 bottles of red (from 7) left over from the engagement party. Just need to do a bit of research and grab things when they are on special.
My Dress - $300 - This is from an online site Becky gave me. There is no way we can get a dress cheaper than this (unless I bid on something local on Ebay)
My Shoes, Accessories - $75.00 - Thongs $20, so $55 for accessories - I am going to wear simple pearls, just a stranded necklace, stud earrings, perhaps a bracelet. I will stalk Diva for these on special. Re: Thongs - Can I get the $3 target ones when they are on sale? If so, we could make this $50
Bridesmaid Shoes - $200 - A lot of people have said we shouldn't pay for the shoes, or either to pay for the shoes and not give them presents. I have decided to pay for their shoes/accessories, and to bake cookies and give it to them in a giftbag. Once again - Can I get the $3 cheap thongs from Target (They look the same, but aren't really as comfy as Haviannahs) So this COULD go down to $24.00
Bridesmaid Accessories - $100 - See above - This is a very ROUGH estimate for how much. I am slowly gathering jewellery when I see it go on sale (Diva etc) and I am also going to DIY head pieces/flowers/belts.
Hair for ALL of us - $200 (Sos friends sister) - This is mega cheap already.......
Make Up - $0.00 (BF#1's sister is doing) - Free
BF#1 Suit - $200 - This is a rough guess.
BF#1 Shoes - $20.00 - Thongs again. Or perhaps his black ninja shoes he already owns? He has a problem with getting grumpy when his feet are uncomfy - maybe ninja is the best option! This could go down to $0
Groomsmen Shoes - $120 - Once again - Can I get the $3 cheap thongs from Target - This could go down to $18
Groomsmen Ties -$120 - This is another guesstimate. I am wanting simple black thin ties - Can anyone suggest where to get them?
Puffing Billy - $20 trip x 20ppl = $400 - We aren't hiring limos, etc, and we feel this will make the day so special for us to have that 1hr alone with our bridal party and parents. $400 is a lot but it's something we don't want to sacrifice. It's one of our "luxuries" I guess.
Marquees - $600 - 3 x 3mx9m Marquees with Walls from ebay - $200 each. They are $500 each to HIRE. We are having the reception in the backyard so this will provide a wet weather option, as well as privacy. I will email ebay sellers asking for discounts perhaps?
Stationery/Invitations - $200 - Yes this is high, but this also includes the stamps. We will be making all the stationery. I really think we can do it for under $100. Change the budget to $100. Thanks
Photographer - $500 - Cheap.
Cars other than Puffing Billy (Thankfully working at prestige car companies - we will get these for free).
Flowers - Sos and Tin's (2 BMs) Mum owns a florist - I am budgeting $500.00 - I honestly have NO idea how much flowers cost. I will go in to see her on saturday. She is basically my second Mum and I hightly doubt it will cost $500. I have also offered to go in on the saturday and help MAKE the flower arrangements! Lets take that down to $300?
Decorations for the Reception AND Ceremony (inc favours) - $500.00 - For favours, BF#1 and I are going to be giving everyone a plant - We will grow these :) Ikea have white planters for 99c each x 100 = $100., $100 for fairy lights (will get a lot while on sale after Christmas) and perhaps $100 for other decorations (we are getting everyone to save their jars etc) = $300
Other hire equipment - $500.00 - Chairs, Portaloo, ROUGH guess. Will do more research
Dessert Buffet - $300.00 - Ok I know we can change this to $100 already. Tin has volunteered to make cupcakes. I will make a whole heap of slices etc, we will spend $100 on getting 2 x cafe cakes. Ooo
Plates, glasses etc - $300.00 - I am researching this also - I do NOT want to serve the pizza on paper plates - I am sorry.
Gifts for Bridal Party - $400.00 = See above - $50 (for the bags etc)
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NEW total = $6045.00
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That's a bit better (and still includes some REALLY rough estimates)
I'll post pretty things later on :)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Mock Budget/Pricelist.

I would really love to say that we are going to stick to our $5k budget but I can already tell we are going to break it......
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I'm just going to write a quick tally of what we are/think we will spend.
x
  • Ceremony Site - $303 (inc wet weather option)
  • Celebrant - $580
  • Reception Food (Pizza) - $500
  • Drinks - $750
  • My Dress - $300
  • My Shoes, Accessories - $75.00
  • Bridesmaid Shoes - $200
  • Bridesmaid Accessories - $100
  • Hair for ALL of us - $200 (Sos friends sister)
  • Make Up - $0.00 (BF#1's sister is doing)
  • BF#1 Suit - $200
  • BF#1 Shoes - $20.00
  • Groomsmen Shoes - $120
  • Groomsmen Ties -$120
  • Puffing Billy - $20 trip x 20ppl = $400
  • Marquees - $600
  • Stationery/Invitations - $200
  • Photographer - $500

= $5168.00

This does not include the following

--> Cars other than Puffing Billy (Thankfully working at prestige car companies - we will get these for free).

--> Flowers - Sos and Tin's (2 BMs) Mum owns a florist - I am budgeting $500.00

--> Decorations for the Reception AND Ceremony (inc favours) - $500.00

--> Other hire equipment - $500.00

--> Dessert Buffet - $300.00

--> Plates, glasses etc - $300.00

--> Gifts for Bridal Party - $400.00

TOTAL with this added in = $7668.00

Shit, fuck, shit - I mean it's not the end of the world, but it's not what we budgeted.

Do you have any ideas on how we can cut costs?

(p.s - I must remind you that a lot of these are GUESSTIMATES - eg: Flowers, Decorations etc and we may spend A LOT less than guesstimated)

We ARE Making Progress!

Last night BF#1 and I met up with our Photographer.
Tin, one of my BM's, is a photographer herself and offered to take photos of the day.
I laughed at her - "NO WAY are you taking photos! You are a BM You need to enjoy yourself"
I asked her if she had any photography student friends, who would do the day for say $500 not including prints - She stepped up one better and got us a professional!
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I was a little overwhelmed when she turned up. She started asking all these questions "What time will you be leaving the house - Where will you be getting ready" etc etc and honestly, we hadn't thought of those things yet so it was a great eye opener.
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We now have a schedule for the afternoon/evening:
1pm Leave house/hotel
2:30pm Catch Puffing Billy
3:30pm Arrive at Lakeside
3:30 -> 5pm Photos
4:30pm Guests start arriving
5pm Ceremony start
6pm Ceremony finish
6:15pm Guests leave
7:30pm Reception starts
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Sos, Tin, BF#1 and I were discussing a "Dessert Buffet" and they are 100% for it.
And surprisingly enough, my very "traditional wedding" friends, are 110% for PIZZA for the reception.
"How relaxed would that make everything" - "Who doesn't LIKE pizza!?"
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The "We are getting married in: 4 months and 21 days" alert on my iWedding iPhone application is starting to scare me so we better get cracking!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

You too can be an Organised Bride

I am one of the most organised people when it comes to major events.
We aren't talking only major things like Weddings etc, even events such as Christmas I am organised (I have almost finished Christmas shopping already!).
I was so excited when I found "The Smart Brides" FREE Wedding Organiser.


Use this fantastic organiser for EVERYTHING!
The budget comes with prefilled fields, you won't be forgetting anything!
Guestlist, Schedules, Suppliers, etc.
Download it for free - HERE
 

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