A couple from Nebraska shares how they pulled off their $10k wedding.
Welcome to Zola’s Wedding Budget Diaries, where we break down one of the industry’s greatest mysteries: how much weddings actually cost.
But no two couples are the same, and neither are their weddings. Each wedding budget, big or small, has its backstory of unexpected surprises and compromises.
This week, a couple from Nebraska shares how they pulled off their $10k wedding.
Need to figure out your own wedding budget breakdown? Download the Zola app today and explore our free budget tool.
A bird’s eye view of this couple and their wedding budget.
Fields of Work: Teacher & Mechanic
Ages: 23 and 24
Location: Nebraska
Combined Salary: $65,000
Wedding Date: 6/25/2022
Wedding Location: Lake Mcconaughy
Venue Type:
Ceremony - lighthouse over the lake
Reception - parents' house
Wedding Party Members: 30
Wedding Guests: 200
Wedding Style: Country
Original Wedding Budget: $5,000
Actual Wedding Budget: $10,000
Payment Breakdown: Parents-$7,000 Myself and my spouse-$3,000
How did you keep track?: Spreadsheet
How did you pay for your wedding?: Parents and as a couple
Time for the budget breakdown - their original budget vs. actual spend on each wedding item or service.
Orginal budget: $100
Actual spend: $2,100
What we got: Had to pay $100 to use the lighthouse at the lake. Decor was $2000. Since we used my parents' house and the lighthouse we had to rent all decor including tables, chairs, everything.
Orginal budget: $2,000
Actual spend: $3,800
What we got: This included all tableware rolls, chicken, chicken fried steak, salad, a vegetarian option, iced tea, water, two bartenders, and two serving staff.
Orginal budget: $1,000
Actual spend: $1,000
What we got: We had a semi-open bar with three specialty drinks and two kegs. The kegs we got from a caterer and bought liquor and mixers from Costco.
Orginal budget: $1,000
Actual spend: $1,500
What we got: I got a new dress and veil and cowboy boots and my husband got a new pair of jeans as well as some new cowboy boots.
Orginal budget: $100
Actual spend: $100
What we got: We got fake flowers from our decor place and my bouquet and my husband's boutonniere was made as a wedding gift from a family friend.
Orginal budget: $500
Actual spend: $600
What we got: DJ was $500 he was very young but had all the equipment and did a great job. I tipped him $100. In addition to this, we had a Photo Booth included with decor and yard games that friends and family brought.
Orginal budget: $2,000
Actual spend: $2,800
What we got: We had to get a photographer from Colorado but she had a second shooter and was there all day to take getting ready pictures until about 9 pm.
Orginal budget: $100
Actual spend: $200
What we got: Got pretty affordable designs from Zola and had them pre-addressed. Had to pay for stamps.
What we got: I actually don’t know what my wedding band cost it was not a part of our budget as my husband bought it with my engagement ring. His was $400.
Orginal budget: Officiant- $100
Actual spend: $100
What we got: Our family friend who is a pastor married us. We gave him a gift card
Note: Individual figures may not total overall budget due to approximations + omitted items.
A deeper look into all the decisions – what’s important, what’s tossed, and more.
My parents told me what they could afford.
I tried to stick to it but realized my parents had not had a wedding for 25 years.
Yes - I had a friend from high school who has since started her own business. She was amazing. Since we had the event at my parents' house we had to start from scratch. She set up all my tables, decor, Photo Booth, and ceremony sight and I overall just felt a lot less stressed knowing she was taking care of everything since I didn’t have a venue coordinator.
As a teacher, I don’t make much so we had to really decide how much we as a couple could spend. Most of my budget went towards my makeup person, my bridesmaid gifts since I had 13, and giving gift cards to my friends and family who helped out
A fully open bar.
A makeup artist for me and my maid of honor, a day of coordinator.
We did a photo booth and mason jars with stickers on them with our names and wedding date (those were also our party favors).
We had a huge wedding with 200 people, so the fact that we kept it so low is impressive. The biggest expense was the venue and florals for most people so that is why we chose my parents' house and to rent fake florals.
No we did not.
Honestly, I got everything I wanted on my wedding day.
Photography for sure.
My parents-in-law rented out an entire restaurant for our rehearsal dinner since we had an out-of-town wedding. It was the pre-wedding.
Money was tight for sure but we still had a beautiful wedding and I am lucky I had friends and family to help me out with several things like officiant, hair, makeup, desserts and wedding cake, and venue. Everyone really came together for us and provided services as a wedding gift.
*Zola’s helping couples share those diverse stories with those eager to learn more about what it really takes to plan a wedding. If you’re interested in sharing your Wedding Budget Diary, visit here.