What was your budget?
- Photography: $1975
- Dress: $695
- Cake: $330
- Favors: $235
- Venue + Catering: $6900
- Flowers: $694
- Decor: $3000
- Organist: $275
- Rentals: $2318
- Invitations: $335
- Save the Dates: $192
- Hair Stylist: $750
Total: $18000
How many guests did you have?
We had 67 guests.
What creative or personal aspects did you include in your wedding?
We had a monogrammed garter, cake topper with our names, and personalized anchor coasters. We are also both in the navy as naval officers and had a sword arch as well as cut our cake with a sword.
What was the biggest thing you did to save money?
We kept an Excel spreadsheet that listed all the prices of everything which helped us keep track of our budget.
What’s the best advice you have for planning your wedding now that you’re on the other side?
Establish contact with vendors early. Waiting until the last minute or assuming they will be available can lead to a very stressful planning period.
What was your biggest splurge?
The photographer. While the decor came out to be the most costly, we considered spending less on the photographer. After serious debate, we decided on splurging and getting the photographer with samples we fell in love with.
What was your favorite detail?
My drop veil. I just loved how it looked on my wedding day. I’m so happy I continued to look at Pinterest and changed to that over a regular cathedral veil.
What is the most memorable moment of your day?
The first look! The fact that it was snowing made it so much more magical and perfect.
VENDORS
Photography: Tracie Smith • Ceremony Venue: The United States Naval Academy Chapel • Reception Venue+ Catering: The O’Callaghan Hotel • Flowers: Little House of Flowers • Favors: My Wedding Favors • Bakery: Graul’s Market • DJ + Lighting: Don and Sue Fowler of Dance Masters Entertainment • Transportation: Limousines Inc • Ceremony Organist: Monte Maxwell • Hair Stylist: Mindy Whalen • Invitations + Save the Dates + Coasters: Wedding Paper Divas • Bride’s Dress and Bridesmaid’s Dresses: David’s Bridal • Jewelry: Blue Nile • Veil: A Busy Mother on Etsy • Groomsmen Attire: Men’s Wearhouse
