re: OT Dads of Marrying-Aged Daughters - How much do you have stocked away for the big day?

I’m getting married later this year and we did as best we could to keep costs reasonable...ring and honeymoon excluded, we are projected to be about $26,000 all in for 150-170 folks but hoping we come in under that. We are doing 1/3 each between us, my parents, and my in-laws so I’m very fortunate. Doesn’t seem like it adds up but all the small stuff does.

Wedding dress was $1k. Venue was a little over $12000 alone (includes setup, tables and chairs, linens and plates, DJ) and that is in a suburb outside of Houston...couldn’t afford inside loop but need close enough to civilization so locals don’t feel the need to leave super early to get home at reasonable hour and also have hotels in the area for out of towners from BR. Most venues force you to buy an alcohol package through them but this one let’s you BYOB so we are going the Costco/Specs route for $1k or so. However, a security cop and two bartenders are $800 total. Food is pricier than you’d think for a trustworthy caterer and so are flowers (we are going through HEB blooms). Cakes are pricey. We are doing a rehearsal brunch the morning of the wedding (forget tradition/bad luck) so we are saving there as well.

The real sham in all of this is the $3k photographer....

All that said, I think we are doing well.