DIY Wedding Budget - how much did it cost / where could I have saved money?

Hi friends! A bunch of you have asked for my DIY wedding budget and here it is! In the end we were down about $4k (after gifts) but from an actual wedding budget perspective, we actually spent a little over 20k. Don't get me wrong... I find this to be a CRAZY amount to spend, and there are a couple areas I could have saved (in hindsight).
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I wanted to share where my costs came from to give you a benchmark to compare against. I DIYed as much as I could for my wedding, but didn't really cut out anything that I really wanted (or that the fam wanted) due to cost savings. That being said, I tried to be frugal and get the best prices for everything for my wedding, so I hope you find this video helpful!
// F O L L O W M E //
INSTAGRAM: / diydalia_
// C O N T A C T M E //
Want to reach out? Email me at: [e-mail]
Thanks for watching & supporting!
XX Dalia

[@Melissa-fp1kh]

For those looking for live music for your ceremony, ya gotta look at college music programs. Musicians who major in music are close (if not at) professional level but a fraction of the price. Plus broke college students lol. Love this budget break down!

[@DIYDalia]

Omg that's an amazing idea!! So true that music majors are basically professionals!

[@evelynverastegui975]

How can I locate one?? 😭

[@jacquelineloo8992]

I'm currently planning my wedding and every wedding video you've had is SPOT ON with my thought process (things I want to DIY, budget + how it escalates to the max max cost, etc.). Thank you so much for making these!

[@KristinaBijelicVox]

Thank you SO MUCH for this video! I'm wedding planning now as well, and you are word-for-word saying some of the things I have in mind, so to hear about your experiences after the fact is REALLY helpful and reassuring!! Thanks again!! PS. Paused the video to write this BEFORE the part where you say you're from Toronto, which I had no idea because I'm also from Toronto, so it's EVEN MORE AMAZING TO HEAR YOU SAY EVERYTHING!!! (Also knowing the dollars are Canadian dollars... )

[@rachelabel6396]

Love your videos making everything so much easier

[@emilynathan9778]

I love your channel. You are so helpful!

[@marthawilliams3624]

Currently planning my wedding, your videos are SUPER helpful!! I also wish I could have a small “brunch” wedding...Who was your photographer? The pics are beautiful!

[@fishnet_stockings8834]

Weddings are crazy expensive even when you find some savvy shortcuts thank you for sharing your experience!

[@loreenabradley]

DIY wedding decor is a HUGE money saver. My fiance and I got engaged last week and we already made our ring box for probably $20, and we have tons of extra material for other projects. We made a little granite-looking coffin and when you open it, it has Spanish moss, a little mushroom, and little potion bottles to hold our rings. Our rings are already ordered and cost like $60 for the 2. We're looking at a venue tonight that starts at $1000, and it includes so much. They really don't have to be expensive.

[@DIYDalia]

Love hearing about diy stuff you're doing! Totally agree that it can be a huge money saver and congrats on getting engaged girl!!

[@loreenabradley]

@@DIYDalia thank you! We're loving the projects we can do

[@SweetTee251]

What type of venue did you get ? That’s my budget too . Just got engaged last week

[@loreenabradley]

@@SweetTee251 we actually ended up eloping! We got married in December of last year at the courthouse. Quick and easy, less stress, waaaaay less money! Our whole wedding cost under $1000

[@kamilaaleksandrowicz3667]

Thank you, great video ❤️

[@YourDailyDoseofJillish]

I'm hoping to keep my wedding under $8k. We'll see what happens

[@SleepDeprived95]

Lol our story is so similar! Started out wanting to stay under 10K but then the number just kept getting bigger and bigger 😅

[@lashmyotzoy9728]

Love your videos, Dalia! Im currently planning a small wedding, but all the places I've looked at are either too big, expensive, and not an option. Would you mind sharing the name of venue you used?

[@lifewithtrenel]

This comparison video is helpful. I just started planning and my budget is $20k and I’ve already considered not doing some of the things you regretted (I.e. buying a cheap dress, not doing a limo, getting married in NJ or Long Island instead of NYC where I live, not doing favors, and maybe not doing a planner)

[@dg_71994]

Look into Hudson Valley/Catskills area too! I’ve been looking at venues in NJ/Long Island areas with similar budget.

[@bmcdonald7303]

I bought a dress at a consignment shop and it still had the tags on it! It was a $1200 dress that I paid around $300 for I believe (at the most). I initially opted for not doing favors but then found small clear wedding bubbles at the Dollar Tree in packs of six. Our wedding favors are going to be no more than 9 dollars total.

[@wildrayy]

I think it is also important to remember that it is your day, not other people's day! We are planning a mall wedding but I guess we got lucky because there is no pressure from friends and relatives. And we want to spend our money on traveling =)

[@wildrayy]

I obviously ment small not mall 😂

[@aliciaramirez4265]

And here I was trying to wrap my mind around a wedding happening at a mall😂

[@wildrayy]

@@aliciaramirez4265 ahah 😂😂

[@graceheavrin9782]

Just stumbled upon your channel - love it so much! Where did you sell all of your wedding decor after your wedding?

[@DIYDalia]

Hey Grace! I sold it on online marketplaces (letgo, Facebook marketplaces, Kijiji in Canada, Craigslist). Hope that helps!

[@bmcdonald7303]

Great information. I keep getting told I don’t need as much cake either

[@DIYDalia]

Definitely don't need much cake 🙈

[@dco8886]

Good info. I honestly don’t want a big wedding with so many people it’s my bf that wants it 😫 lol. I don’t even want bridesmaids or spend more than 5K 😂

[@bmcdonald7303]

I’m not having bridesmaids or a “wedding party” other than my small children as the flower girl and ring bearer. Cuts out the extra expense of them, the rehearsal dinner and the extra time used and paid for at a nicer venue. I skimped on some things to pay for things we really wanted.

[@Liieszy]

I live in the GTA- would love to know where your venue was. We’ve looked at so many places already.

[@themelissasuzanne]

would love to know too!! or any budget venues that are good if you were to do it again 😅 i want to rent a air bnb with outdoor and indoor. something that style

[@alexiscormier4059]

I got my dream dress during a major sale. Regular $1150 and got it for $230

[@themelissasuzanne]

amazing! how?

[@ahm517]

Currently planning my September (fingers crossed with Covid-19) wedding and binging all your videos! Would you mind sharing some flower/wholesale options you found? I'm in the GTA and trying to find options for eucalyptus and pampas grass. Thank you!!

[@DIYDalia]

Hey there! Ok so I used forest of flowers for the eucalyptus - they're franchised so try calling a few locations and ask for pricing. But I haven't been able to find pampas grass here that isn't super expensive. After your comment it made me think, though, and I'd check out Alibaba if you have to buy a lot of it. Alibaba is for businesses buying wholesale but you may meet the minimum quantity requirements. Create an account and ask to buy a sample first of a few stems. Just an idea! Another idea which I think might be a bit crazy but apparently pampas blooms in August... You might be able to find some locally and cut it / dry it yourself? It grows wild around Ontario. Hope that helps!

[@phyllo6]

Costco online has eucalyptus

[@mirla838]

You and I are twins. I agree with everything you said. Is crazy bc I want to spend 10k too. (June 2023) let's see how it goes. Literally one day!

[@DIYDalia]

Congratulations and good luck! crossing my fingers for you! ❤️❤️❤️

[@carendestiny]

I’m over here with a budget of $5000 😭😭 I told my fiancé that we will have to have another wedding in 20 years so that I can have a dream wedding for sure

[@carendestiny]

Also I am so shocked at the price per person for the food! I know different locations have different prices here but good food here is $10-15 per person

[@DIYDalia]

The price for food here is ridiculous I don't understand it 🥺

[@krissymichele]

carendestiny good food here is about $40/person. 😩🔫

[@cheryllynn988]

Hey! I'm 2 hrs away from Toronto 😂 I'd love to know your wedding venue! It was beautiful

[@DIYDalia]

Arrowwood farm!

[@btsarmyforever3816]

I feel hiring a wedding planner is a waste of money. What you need is a venue that provides tables+chairs+ Waiters+bathrooms (This way you don't need to run around and find chairs, tables etc). Hire Food caterers who also provide the silverware/ dishes you eat out of with the food. Hire Flower vendors and pay a good baker for a wedding cake/desserts. Def hire a coordinator for the day of the wedding so they can give you a timeline and manage the vendors too. Some venues offer a wedding registry so that's free to sign up if you take that route. Most people these days don't really send invitations and save money by sending digital invitations in email. If you want to plan a drink bar, stick to beer and wine so it costs less. Not that hard especially if you live in a city cause it's easier to find good florists and vendors as opposed to suburbs. Wedding planners are needed if you have like 300+ guests in my opinion and you hired a very extravagant venue and decors. DIY weddings can be really stressful cause you are doing it all.

[@DIYDalia]

You're definitely right... But some people just want to throw a diy wedding and this video was the cost of a diy wedding. Lots of people want an out of the box wedding... And that just isn't what this video was about.

[@katyb2793]

@@DIYDalia do you think it was worth it doing diy? Or did you find it stressful? The whole idea of planning any kind of wedding freaks me out 😂

[@pratisthasrivastav5308]

Can you please share the details/ insta handle of your photographer? Your pictures look magical and these wedding videos are 🔥

[@DIYDalia]

Sure thing! Maria Denomme! Check her out :)

[@Abmarp]

$55/per plate??? Um wow...

[@AnaRodriguez-mg8sq]

No alch