How much is an average wedding?

amother

OP ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 7:56 am

I was speaking with someone this week who told me that a very basic wedding will cost around $75,000.

This doesn't include gowns, the vort, or shabbos sheva brochos.

This means....half of 75k is 37.5k. Add the gowns and the rest and it's 50k. This is basic.

Does this sound right???

Elfrida ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:02 am

amother Tanzanite wrote:

Where?
In Lakewood wedding is cheaper

Gowns etc aren’t 50k but if you include housewares aufruf or Shabbos sheva brachos then yea I think the total all together could be 100k in Lakewood and more elsewhere

And less in other places.

Maybe someone who's made a wedding recently can give a breakdown of expenses.

amother

Razzmatazz

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:03 am

It depends where you are making the wedding. There are halls in Brooklyn, Lakewood and Monsey that have takana packages and the wedding will be significantly less than 75,000. Even if making a wedding in one of those halls once you add in Shabbos Sheva Brachos, setting up an apartment (even keeping it super basic - beds, linens, basic kitchen items…) and of course gowns, makeup, hair and usual gifts you are probably around 75,000.

amother

↑ Tanzanite ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:04 am

Mishpacha ran a an article interviewing various people on what their wedding cost and almost all were 75-100k if I remember correctly and that was with being very careful. The ones who splurged were more than

I just googled and see the article is from 2020

There were follow up replies with people saying they spent 20k total but obviously that’s with being extremely simple

amother

Diamond ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:11 am

I think the person who quoted you this has very inflated definition of what is very basic.

I just looked at prices for a wedding hall in my city. All inclusive packages (hall, videographer, photographer, hall, caterer, fees, benchers). Starts at 14,900 and the highest package is 32,100.

Please tell me how 75,000 is basic.

amother

DarkYellow ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:16 am

The night in a takana hall can be around 15k in Lakewood,
But take in all of the other expenses -
Gifts, gowns, makeup, hair, setting up apt, aufruf and shabbos sheva berachos that number makes sense - even though it’s absurd.

We made a wedding 2 years ago - (boys side) we spent total after all expenses (gifts, gowns, aufruf, hall…) about 60-65k. That was with a takana hall.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:16 am

amother Tanzanite wrote:

I meant that after the wedding cost, when gowns, vort, and sheva brochos are added, it's hard to get under 50k total.

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:18 am

amother Diamond wrote:

What's your city? I'm referring to an average non takana hall in Brooklyn.

amother

DarkGray

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 8:25 am

Yes, I think this is accurate except for a very bare bones event or a very small guest list. Flowers/decor, photo, and music are at least $10k each unless you are doing candles on the table,fabric only chuppah, one man band, and one shooter low end photographer. Venue costs are 7-15K and up. Food at the absolute lowest end is $75pp and goes way up from there. Gowns at a low end Gemach are $500 for bride and a few hundred each for others (of course, you could borrow.) Hair and makeup adds several hundred to thousand (or you could do your own or ask a friend.) Honestly, I’m all for a backyard bbq for 50 of closest family and friends in a borrowed gown, but that is unpopular . However, I have made a number of lovely but costly simchas and these numbers reflect my experience.

amother

↑ Papaya ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 9:09 am

amother DarkGray wrote:

This. I would love to find a hall for 10K. I have found , but then it doesn’t include wait staff and alcohol. When it doesn’t, you know have to add that to the catering budget on top of >$75 pp for food. (I was quoted $500 per bartender (assume you yourself brings 4K on liquor/wine) plus $250/waiter, 1waiter per 15 guests, plus $400x4 for shmorg serving/slicing) (total is over 7.5K staff +4K alcohol =11.5 with the 10K for the place is back to 21.5K for the venue.
Then they spring tax/Tip on you at the end. The last place I spoke to had a hidden mandatory tip of $7 per guest and $2 K for the maître d’. (At 300 guests-not a particularly large wedding, that is and extra 4.1K)

amother

Raspberry ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 9:41 am

We just made a wedding in Chynka in Flatbush. Family of 8. Not Takana, but pretty basic. This is girls side.

Wedding hall: 27,000
Shadchanus. 2,500
Makeup. 1,700
Sheitals 4,000
Hair 1,100
Gowns 5,000
Gifts 3,500
Vort 5,000
S. Brachos 7,000
Kallah class 2,000
Clothing, Suits for boys/housewares 3000

amother

Fern ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 9:45 am

amother DarkGray wrote:

These numbers are necessities only because people have made them so.

I know people that truly can't afford and they make sure not to spend a few hundred dollars on kids gowns and they go to one of the few gemachs or cheaper rentals that are maximum 100, minimum just donation.

Yes, they are happy with whatever silk flowers the hall provides for chuppah & tables and they don't let each of their family members use makeup artists and hair professionals for $150+ a pop. With just a little extra effort it's not that difficult to find these things.

amother

↑ Raspberry ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 9:45 am

amother Diamond wrote:

That is just the wedding !

Aufruf, Sheva Brachas, clothing, gifts etc. it goes on and on.

amother

↑ Fern ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 9:46 am

amother Raspberry wrote:

5000 for gowns is basic?? Fam of 8 means max 7 gowns.
Either way this total is less than 60 000 Which is not 75,000 and chynka is a nicer hall compared to some of those in Brooklyn.

amother

SandyBrown ↓

Wed, Jul 10 2024, 9:47 am

amother Raspberry wrote:

Wedding hall was 27K per side? Or total cost? (27K per side is exorbitant.)