Rogue Wedding – The Actual Budget

Cris, on Kiss My Tulle, posted her real wedding budget for her dress a couple weeks ago, which came to $60.80 from head to toe. And that got me thinking that I should revisit the Rogue Wedding budget, because from concept to implementation, things changed.

I’ll tell you right now – I lost track of the money. Not in big ways, but in all the little ways. A ribbon here, a crystal there, rushing around Ross for elephants and camels in the final weeks. Those didn’t make the tally. So here is a rough estimate of what I think things actually cost.

Also, I’m losing the whole anonymity thing. I’m bad at it, and I don’t give a crap anymore. Hi – I’m Lauren, I’m a writer, that’s my picture and my cake and my husband. BOOM goes the dynamite.

The Big Things

Venue – Karl Strauss Brewery in Sorrento Mesa, for a total cost of $8887.39. Included ceremony and reception venues, cocktail hour with cheese & fruit display, cake from Eidelweiss Bakery, and DJ of Sunset Mobile Music. I don’t hesitate to recommend any if them. We had the best tasting wedding cake of my life (and, thanks to Christie O., the baker has permanently upgraded their frosting recipe). Karl Strauss has since raised their rates, but such is the nature of everything wedding.

Photographer – Flutterglass Photography, based in San Diego, cost $2223.13 for 5 hours of coverage. We didn’t do the whole Bride Getting Ready thing, which carved about 3 hours off the usual package, but Rogue Dad & Father-in-Law awesomely extended her hours to the end of the evening so she could get more party shots. I found Jenna just before she raised her rates, so the take-home from this is Timing Is Everything!

Flowers: Bride’s Bouquet & Groom’s Boutonniere, from The Daily Petal. Cost: $157.69. Transported from LA area to San Diego by Cat. Plus $15 for blue ribbon and rhinestone trim that I bought in the Los Angeles fabric district.

Flowers: Bridesmaids Bouquets, $160, assembled by my awesomely talented cousin Gigi, with the aunts providing pre-assembly support, and transported by the amazing Cat from the LA Flower Market (then handed to my bratty 13 year old sister, then driven down by my stepmother to San Diego). This was a team effort.

Orchids & Pots for 14 tables: $300

Non-flower Decor: $170 (elephants, sticks for flowers, 9 Saris)

Day of Coordinator – Christie O from the Hindsight Bride volunteered for this job, and was exhausted for a week afterwards. This isn’t the gig you give to the faint of heart. Cost: $100 gift card to Modcloth as a thank you, and a lifetime of gratitude (which translates into bringing very good booze for every visit, of which there will be many).

Officiant – $100 gift card to Modcloth and a lifetime of gratitude to Alicia Ostarello of Vow Muse, who not only performed our ceremony for us as a friend, but helped us write the whole thing. It was perfect. Fortunately for you, she officiates and writes ceremonies and vows as a business, so you can hire her too!

Live Music – $0 – Groomsman Alex is a professional musician and played an acoustic guitar version of Edge of the Ocean that he composed as I walked down the aisle. Totally owe him for life.

Hotel Suite for Bride & Bride’s Mother, 4 nights: $600

From Head to Toe

Hair, free. My mom did my hair for me on the wedding day with a few tips from my regular hairdresser.

Wedding week facial – $60 with a Groupon discount.

Makeup – Totally Lost Count! But, it’s been a while since I bought new makeup. I DIY’d, of course (I haven’t been training for the last 15 years for nothin’).

The Veil – $45 on Etsy, and a $3 headband. My alterations lady threw in making my mother’s lace wedding hat into a headband for me, to which I attached a birdcage veil from the cheapest store on Etsy.

The Dress, Maggie Sottero from The Dresser in Fullerton: $850 on sale at  a trunk show.

Alterations, by Harmony Alterations in Anaheim (highly recommend, she is a master craftswoman), $150.

Family heirloom aquamarine pendant and pearls – not counting these into the price since neither were bought for the wedding. However, I did re-string the pearls and buy an attachment that allowed me to put the pendant on them. No idea what that cost. Re-stringing was $7 per inch, so maybe $150 for the whole thing.

Shoes – $70 on Sale at Carmen’s Dance Shoes in San Diego. Plus the cost of the glue to attach the paisley rhinestone trim, maybe $5.

Mani-Pedi – $60

Money for Bridesmaids - $400 (to offset cost of hotel rooms)

The Guys (contributed by Rogue Husband)

Groom’s suit and alterations: $350

Groom’s Shirt: $50
Best Man’s suit and alterations: $250
Groom’s Ring: $30 (on Amazon)
Bride’s Engagement/Wedding Ring: $8500
Tip for DJ: $100
Pre-Wedding-Dinner amount paid: $100
Marriage License/forms/etc: $150
Groom’s Socks/Shoe Polish Kits/Handkerchiefs: $20
Buttercream Cake Fee: $30

Cyberoptix ties for Groom and 4 Groomsmen: $170

I know I’m missing things on here, but I can’t for the life of me figure out what. All those little things add up and it’s so easy to lose track, even for the most organized. But, hopefully this gives you a rough price breakdown of what to expect – at least in this moment in time, in Southern California.

And, if you’re thinking “Jeez, these pictures are craptastic for a professional photographer!” You’re right. These are not the professional shots. I hope to share those here soon, or – even better – get them published on a Big Girl Blog so Jenna can get lots and lots more business!