breaking it down for posterity

when i was planning how in the hell we were going to afford this whole thing, i loved to check out sample budgets in books like "beautiful weddings for $5,000 or less." they ended up not helping too much - the major savings usually came from wearing your mom's dress (not an option) or doing it in your rich grandma's backyard on the chesapeake (sadly, not an option).
so here's a loose estimate of what we spent on what; some items are left out because it would be uncouth for me to post what they cost (for example, we snagged our amazing photographer before she had expanded her portfolio and adjusted her rates, which she should have because she was a steal; and our DJ was a personal friend of ours who had DJ's major events and is a radio personality, but hadn't been a wedding DJ before). since both of these people will likely continue in the wedding industry, i'm not going to compromise them by posting a number.

SITE
-beach club rental: $650 (resident rate)
-tent and sidewalls: $775

FOOD
-rehearsal dinner: gift of kz's parents

-BBQ catering, 110 people: $2443
-cake, delivered: $430
-cases of beer, softdrinks: $450
-ice for buckets: gift of kz's family
-boxes o'joe from dunkies: gift of kz's parents

DECORATIONS AND EQUIPMENT
-wooden arbor decorated with peonies: gift of kz's parents
-centerpieces and vases for 12 tables: gift of sabs' parents
-hanging wall swags and ribbons: gift of sabs' parents
-rope lighting (internet): $200
-flowers for 12 tables and bridesmaids (internet): $354
-bridal bouquet: gift of kz's parents
-misc craft store purchases (flower wire, hangers, seashells): $350
-sand dollars for place cards (ebay): $75

-extra chair and tables, table cloth rentals: $350
-half the plastic plates and silverware: gift of sabs' parents
-remaining plates and stainless silverware, cups and napkins, ice buckets: $360

-website (online invitation/rsvps): gift of bridesmaid (westwaystudio.com)


ATTIRE
-wedding rings (white gold): $800
-bridal gown: gift of sabs' parents
-custom-made veil: $150
-alterations (bustle only) and dress press fee: $170
-shoes: $109
-dress-specific undergarments: $60
-kz's tux: free with other tux rentals
-wedding dress cleaning/preservation: $170

-bridal hair trial and day-of 'do: $75
-polish and pedicure: $40
-makeup products (too many sephora trips): $150
-lingerie: $175

PROFESSIONALS
-photographer
-DJ
-officiant: $200

LODGING
-2 nights before wedding: $250
-long weekend minimoon package in the white mountains (3 nights, jacuzzi room): $680
-minimoon food and activities (mt washington cog railway, etc): $500

MISC
-bridal party and moms gifts (pashminas, etc): $300
-bride and groom gifts for each other: $200


SOURCES (would highly recommend):

bridal gown: vow's, watertown, ma (bridepower.com)
veil and alterations: alterations by anahit, watertown, ma
shoes: endless.com
tuxes: men's wearhouse (menswearhouse.com)
bridesmaid dress selection: jim hjelm (jlmcouture.com/jim_hjelm)
bridesmaid dress discount bulk ordering: RK bridal, nyc, ny (rkbridal.com)
bridesmaids/moms cashmere pashminas: amazingcollections.com
rings: burque's jewelers, nashua, nh (burques.com)
wedding gown cleaning/preservation: wedclean (wedclean.net)

bbq catering: redbones, somerville, ma (redbones.com)
cake: diane's delectables, pawtucket, ri (dianesdelectables.com)
officiant: former judge p.k. rose, coventry, ri (justiceofthepeace-rhodeisland.com)
arbor peonies and bridal bouquet: hisa's flowers, narragansett, ri (hisasflowers.com)
rope lighting: coolstuffcheap.com
equipment rentals: taylorrental.com
online flower order: 2groses.com
customized online map: weddingmapper.com

hotel for wedding block reservations: hampton inn, coventry, ri
honeymoon package: kearsarge inn, north conway, nh (kearsargeinn.com)

registries: crate and barrel, sears

crafts from micahel's, ac moore, christmas tree shops
party supplies/utensils from costco and sam's club

i'll be back eventually to post about how we made all those flowers ourselves, because i would have really liked some info on that before i dove into it myself.
but i'm spent for now.