Real Weddings · Real Numbers
A Three Day Wedding in Monterey for 111 Guests
Elizabeth and Patrick married at The Barns at Cooper Molera in Monterey on the second of May, and the wedding itself was only part of it. There was a taproom bought out the night before, a mariachi band on a hotel patio in the morning, and tacos at an afterparty once the nine piece band had packed up. One hundred and eleven guests, three days, and $95,605.07 accounted for almost to the cent.
The venue was nearly forty percent of the all in cost
The Barns at Cooper Molera came to $37,660.80 with rentals, food, and alcohol folded into one line. That is 39 percent of the entire budget and works out to $339 a guest before anything else is counted. It is also the most honest line in the report, because it covers the three things couples usually track separately and then lose track of.
The parties that were not the wedding
The welcome party ran $8,838.90 on its own. That was $2,400 to buy out a taproom, $3,088.90 on food, $1,800 on alcohol, $850 for a DJ, and $700 for a photo booth. The afterparty added $5,080 more: $3,000 for the venue, $1,230 for taco catering, and $850 for a second DJ. Together those two nights came to $13,918.90, close to 15 percent of everything they spent.Close to 15 percent of the budget went to the two nights that were not the wedding.
A nine piece band and a patio for the mariachi
Live music was $7,500 for a nine piece band. The hotel line is quietly the most interesting number here at $4,794.92, because it was never really about rooms. It covered getting ready spaces for both sides, a breakfast buffet for the wedding party, coffee and pastries for guests staying over, a suite for the couple, and a patio rented so a mariachi band could play.
They paid to have the whole weekend captured with photography and videography
Photography came to $6,180 and included the rehearsal and the welcome party, not just the wedding day. Video was $5,200 and covered the welcome party too. When a couple spends $13,918.90 on the nights around the wedding, paying to have those nights photographed is what makes the rest of the budget make sense.
Every line, exactly as they shared it
Thirteen lines, listed to the penny, in the order of what held the most. The welcome party and afterparty each get their own line because this couple treated the whole weekend as the wedding.
Venue, rentals, food and alcohol
$37,660.80
Welcome party
$8,838.90
Live music, nine piece band
$7,500
Wedding dress, veil and alterations
$6,225.14
Photography, with rehearsal and welcome party coverage
$6,180
Videography, with welcome party coverage
$5,200
Hair and makeup for ten
$5,106
Afterparty, venue, taco catering and DJ
$5,080
Hotel, getting ready rooms, breakfasts and the mariachi patio
$4,794.92
Flowers
$4,019.31
Groom, welcome party suit, black tux and white jacket
$3,000
Church fee
$1,500
Photo booth
$500
The honest number
$95,605
All in · 111 guests · Monterey, California
The Barns at Cooper Molera, venue$37,661
Welcome party, afterparty, band, beauty, hotel and the rest$57,944
Thirteen tracked lines, $861 a guest, with a welcome party, an afterparty, a nine piece band, hair and makeup for ten, and a hotel stay that quietly took care of everyone.
Photography
Second photographer
Vanessa Montano Photography · @vanessamontanophotography · Website
Video
Loose Tie Photography · @loosetiephotography · Website
Ceremony
San Carlos Cathedral, Monterey
Reception
The Barns at Cooper Molera · @barnsatcoopermolera
Catering
Events by Classic · @eventsbyclassic · Website
Dress and alterations
Janene’s Bridal · @janenesbridal · Website
Suit
Robert Paul
Stationery
Made by the bride
Hair and makeup
Ale Bee Brides · @alebeebrides · Website
Florals
Swenson & Silacci Flowers · @swensonsilacciflowers
Desserts
Mariposa Baking · @mariposabaking · Website
Live band
Natalia Melodía Versátil · @nataliamelodiaversatil_oficial
This wedding was photographed and shared by Destinations with Dana, a destination wedding photographer based in Florida.
The Insider
Plan your wedding with the real numbers
Not another newsletter. You get the Wedding Cost Report, real weddings with their real numbers, the styled looks with the exact vendors we would book, and honest planning tips. Tell us where you are marrying and we will make it local.
We never share your email. Unsubscribe with one click whenever you like.
Comments Off on A Three Day Wedding in Monterey for 111 Guests