It sounds easy -- 10 percent to flowers, 50 percent to catering -- but let's be real: There's no way to plan each purchase down to the cent! Here's what three Southern California brides spent on their weddings and which pros they used to stick to their budgets.
Kelley Giberson & Dan Lazarovits
April 25 | Lake View Terrace | 160 guests
Their Budget: $40,198
Their Breakdown
Site $3,750. Middle Ranch, Lake View Terrace, (818) 897-4029
Ceremony accessories $440 for a Kiddush cup, hurricanes, a ketubah and a ring pillow.
Photography $3,139 for an engagement photo shoot, a photographer and an assistant for seven hours, an album, a disc of images and a $100 print credit. Steve D Photography, Los Angeles, SteveDPhotography.com
Videography $1,300 for one shooter for five hours, three DVDs and two Blu-ray discs. Jason Daniel Productions, Anaheim, (888) 813-6001
Consultant $1,450. Lina Wallace, A Stunning Affair, Winnetka, (818) 634-2507
Officiant $800. Arthur Rosenberg, Encino, (818) 906-3177
Gown $1,200. San Patrick by Pronovias, MaryLinn's Bridal & Tuxedo, Pasadena, (626) 585-8200
Alterations and veil $505 including hem, bustle, flower girl sashes, garter, veil and hair comb. In Stitches with Reene Alterations, Woodland Hills, (818) 222-4434
Hair and makeup $510 for Kelley's and her mom, plus tips for the bridal party's services. Karis Staley, Huntington Beach, (714) 881-9068
Rings $400 for Dan's. TungstenWorld.com
Other jewelry $900 for a bracelet. Jessica Fong, Ben Bridge Jewelers, Northridge, (818) 701-6001
Bridal party gifts $490 for wristlets. Coach, Westfield Fashion Square Shopping Center, Sherman Oaks, (818) 995-4573
Groom's formalwear $600. Men's Wearhouse, Northridge, (818) 882-8951
Stationery $510 for invites and DIY escort cards and programs. HelloLucky.com/JoAnn.com
Sign-in book $80. WeddingShop.TheKnot.com
Flowers $4,000. Jackie Combs Floral Design, Burbank, (818) 843-7200
Rental equipment $1,298 for table overlays and chiavari chairs. Elegant Designs Specialty Linens, Irwindale, (626) 334-3999/Chiavari Chairs 4 Rent, Lake Forest, (949) 235-8767
Catering $13,671 for a two-course plated meal and an open bar for five hours. Cynthia Brooks Distinctive Catering, Pasadena, (626) 793-4420
Ceremony music $150 for a DJ. DJ Music Unlimited, Los Angeles, (818) 515-6575
Reception music $3,200 for a band. Full House, Los Angeles, FullHousetheBand.com
Cake and desserts $707 for cake and pastries. Pastries by Edie, Canoga Park, (818) 340-0203
Transportation $500 for vans and drivers. Enterprise, Enterprise.com
Hotel room $318 for two nights. Sheraton Universal Hotel, Universal City, (866) 716-8130
Katrina Kalatzis & Jim Hetrick
October 12 | Azusa | 130 guests
Their Budget: $24,184
Their Breakdown
Site $11,000 for the venue, rentals, food, drinks and cake. Lindley- Scott House, Azusa, (626) 334-5215
Ceremony accessories $40 for a vase and materials for a DIY aisle runner.
Photography $1,300 for an engagement shoot, one shooter for eight hours of coverage and image discs. Zenia Photography, Los Angeles/ Orange County, ZeniaPhotography.com
Videography $1,700 for one shooter for six hours, with a second shooter at the ceremony, three edited DVDs, a highlight reel and the raw footage. Sketch Images, SketchImages.com
Officiant $450. Rev. Robert L. Jabro, Seal Beach, (714) 293-4081
Gown $850. Oleg Cassini, David's Bridal, Torrance, (310) 370-6499
Alterations $140. In Stitches with Reene Alterations, Woodland Hills, (818) 222-4434
Hair and makeup $240. "She came to us!" Leah Garcia, Long Lasting Impression, Ontario, (714) 470-3623
Veil and hair accessories $100. "I bought my veil and headband at a liquidation sale."
Rings $1,640 for his and hers. Icing on the Ring, Los Angeles, (888) 565-6150/BooneRings.com
Bridal party gifts $700 for dresses, robes, day-of jewelry and tote bags for the girls/ flashlights and wallets for the guys. CVS.com/ReusableBags.com/All-Ett.com/LazerDesigns.com/Macy's, Culver City, (310) 390-8911/David's Bridal, Montclair, (909) 621-2000
Groom's formalwear $0 with the guys' rentals. Friar Tux Shop, Arcadia, (626) 445-0540
Stationery $500 for invitations, programs and menu cards/$100 for a Manzanita-branch escort card display. The Cheshire Kat Design Studio, Los Angeles, TheCheshireKat.com
Flowers $1,660 for bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, ceremony décor, centerpieces and a guest book table arrangement. City of Commerce Flowers, Los Angeles, (323) 265-4377
Rental equipment $850 for table linens, chair covers and sashes.
Ceremony and cocktail hour music $800 for a brass quintet. BrassWorks, (951) 684-2433
Reception music $875 for a DJ and assistant for nine hours and lighting. California Sounds, Los Angeles area, (818) 631-7831
Cake $250 for a tiered cake. Some Crust Bakery, Claremont, (909) 621-9772
Other desserts $150 for a candy buffet. RossStores.com/Bed Bath & Beyond, Los Angeles, (310) 478-5767/Amazon.com
Favors $300 for candles and Jordan almonds (a Greek tradition). YankeeCandle.com/99Only.com/Fabric Barn, Long Beach, (562) 498-0675
Hotel room $450 for three nights. Embassy Suites Arcadia-Pasadena, Arcadia, (626) 445-8525
Annie Ryan & Clifford Hilo
July 2 | Malibu | 140 guests
Their Budget: $22,193
Their Breakdown
Site $2,700. Malibu West Beach Club, Malibu, (310) 457-7725 x2
Photography $1,400 for one shooter for unlimited time and an image disc/$400 for a second shooter for six hours and an image disc. Nathan Wauk Studio, NathanWauk.com/Aileen Secord Photography, AileenSecord.com
Videography $0 for UCLA film students to shoot the raw footage.
Consultant $500 for day-of coordination. Theresa Shlimanoff, Hustle & Bustle Wedding Day Coordination, Studio City, (310) 597-2374
Officiant $400. Rev. Clint Hufft, Los Angeles, (323) 936-9027
Gown $2,400. "My friend found it!" Monique Lhuillier, TheKnot.com community boards
Hair and makeup $360. "She did a great job." Kelly Zhang, Pasadena, (626) 277-8649
Hair accessories $60 for a feathery flower. Heart N Sole Jewelry, HeartNSole.Etsy.com
Rings $1,360 for two bands. BlueNile.com
Other jewelry $125 for a bracelet. Dana Saylor Designs, DanaSaylorDesigns.Etsy.com
Bridal party and family gifts $800 for women's jewelry/$330 for men's jackets. Tiffany.com/BlueNile.com/TheNorthFace.com
Groom's formalwear $140 for a tuxedo, cufflinks and socks. Ralph Lauren, Friar Tux Shop, Los Angeles, (310) 559-4889
Stationery $123. Costco.com/Walgreens.com
Sign-in plate $60. Clay Club, Woodland Hills, (818) 716-6340
Flowers $650 for bulk flowers and supplies. Los Angeles Flower District/Michaels.com
Ceremony and reception décor $1,025 for the huppah, aisle runner and lighting. Carrie Fick Sawyer, CFS Design, LLC, (310) 291-1119
Catering $5,100 for appetizers, dinner, cake, servers and some rental equipment. Mona Lisa Catering, Northridge, (818) 363-0188
Drinks $800. "I bought the alcohol, and our caterer provided a bartender."
Ceremony and cocktail hour music $560 for a string quartet. Fiddlestix String Quartet, Southern California, (818) 249-3602
Reception music $500 for a DJ. Robert Hilo, Hilo Bros. Mobile Dj, Orange, (808) 372-2700
Other entertainment $1,150 for a photo booth. Cheesy Photobooths, (714) 656-6390
Transportation $680 for a limo bus. Crown Limousine LA, Los Angeles, (310) 737-0888
Hotel room $200 for a suite. Renaissance Agoura Hills Hotel, Agoura Hills, (818) 707-1220
-- Alison Goldman