WHERE THE
MONEY WENT
BUDGET GOAL: $40,000
VENUE
$5,000
CATERING
$10,000
BRIDE’S ATTIRE
Dress, jewelry, shoes
$2,850
HAIR & MAKEUP
$400
GROOM’S ATTIRE
Suit, shoes
$350
CAKE
$700
FLOWERS
$6,783
PAPER GOODS
Invitations, escort cards,
table numbers, signage
$1, 8 0 0
MUSIC
Live band, DJ
$2,990
PHOTOGRAPHY
$10,000
RENTALS
Lounge furniture, chairs
$1,450
DECOR
Table linens, plants for
ceremony and reception
$550
FAVORS
$10 0
TRANSPORTATION
$2,000
WEDDING-PARTY GIFTS
$930
TOTAL
$45,903
FOR 105 GUESTS
THE SAVES
FAVORS Caitlin whipped up coconut
macaroons—200 of them!—for guests to
take home at the end of the evening.
LINENS The bride wanted luxe linens
for each table but decided it wasn’t a
priority. Her mother-in-law sewed
napkins and table runners for a similar
look at a fraction of the rental cost.BUBBLY The couple provided their
caterer with their own champagne out
of preference, but it ended up saving
them five bucks a bottle.
BRIDESMAIDS’ DRESSES The bride
helped her girls save too: She had her
crew rent their dresses from Vow
to Be Chic instead of buying them.THE SPLURGES
PHOTOGRAPHY “I look at images all
day for work, and I knew I wanted the
best for our wedding,” Caitlin says.
Virginia-based photographer Abby Jiu
was outside the couple’s price range,
but her style was exactly what they
wanted, so they booked her.
FLOWERS The florist used blooms native
to California to create lush centerpieces
reminiscent of Napa’s landscape.
LIVE MUSIC Caitlin and Austin chose a
string trio that lent a romantic soundtrack
to their vows and sunset recessional.
LOUNGE Cocktail hour was the couple’s
favorite part of the day, so bringing in
rented couches and low tables to amp
up the style was worth it to them.Venue Evergreen Museum; museums.jhu.edu/evergreen.php.
Wedding planner Kruse & Vieira Events; kruseandvieiraevents.com.
Dress Watters; watters.com. Floral design Holly Chapple Flowers;
hollychappleflowers.com. Stationery La Happy Calligraphy; lahappy
.com. Striped Cat Studio; stripedcatstudio.com. Calligraphy Laura
Hooper Calligraphy; lhcalligraphy.com. Photography Abby Jiu, Lisa
Ziesing, and Amelia Johnson for Abby Jiu Photography; abbyjiu.com.BRIDES.COM JUNE/JULY 2016 247