It sounds easy -- 10 percent to flowers, 50 percent to catering -- but let's be real: There's no way you can plan each purchase down to the last cent! Here's what three New York brides spent on their weddings and which pros they used to stick to their budgets.
Danielle Bifulci & Joseph Kocal
October 6 | Roslyn Heights | 200 guests
Their Budget: $81,923
Their Breakdown
ceremony site $400 for an officiant, a singer, and an organist and $70 for a unity candle and tapers. St. Fidelis Roman Catholic Church, College Point, (718) 445-6164
reception site $46,000 for a top-shelf open bar, dinner, a cake, an after-party buffet and a suite with a private butler on the wedding night. The Royalton Mansion at Roslyn Country Club, Roslyn Heights, (516) 625-9101
photography and videography $5,000 for two photographers and one videographer for 12 hours, three albums, three large prints, discs with photos and three DVDs. Duet Photography & Video, Huntington Station, DuetWedding.com
wedding consultant $500 for a day-of coordinator. Christine Viola, Exquisite Affairs Productions Inc., New York City, (347) 521-2388
wedding gown, veil and alterations $5,900 for a Stephen Yearick dress and veil. Fontana Bridal Salon, Scarsdale, (914) 472-1441
hair and makeup $95 for the bride's hair/$255 for her and the maid of honor's makeup. Stacy Pitt, Styles on B, New York City, (212) 300-3242/ Tricia Catenaro, Ten Hair and Makeup, White Plains, NY, and Fairfield, NJ, (973) 214-2226
accessories $50 for a crystal comb and bobby pins/$250 for shoes. Barron's Bridal Boutique, Levittown, (516) 735-3828/Cynthia Rowley, My Glass Slipper, New York City, (212) 627-0231
jewelry $70 for earrings/$1,400 for wedding rings. AnnaBellagio.com/Nuha's Jewelry, Levittown, (516) 579-9059/TitaniumStyle.com
bridal party gifts $1,016 for jewelry, shoes, and Furla bags for the girls and $467 for engraved beer steins for the guys. AnnaBellagio.com/Target.com/Bluefly.com/Steins.com
formalwear $155 for a tux and accessories. Calvin Klein, MensWearhouse.com
stationery $3,340 for invitations, programs, menu and escort cards and a photo sign-in book. Sincerely Yours, Sayville, (631) 567-7970/ NicEvents, Brooklyn, (646) 831-0818/PaperDirect.com/ChristmasTreeShops.com/Snapfish.com
flowers and decor $5,000 for 10 bouquets, three corsages, a boutonniere, tossing petals, pew bows and 48 arrangements/$200 for a Knottie to create a custom monogram that was used in gobo lights. Stefan's Flowers, Lawrence, (516) 239-2402/GoboMan.com
music $7,000 for a seven-piece band/$1,050 for a Middle Eastern band and belly dancers for the after party. Djinn, Brooklyn, (212) 725-9635/ Mariyah, New York City, (347) 743-6545/Caleps DJ & Video Production, Brooklyn, (718) 234-3400
welcome bags and Favors $280 for water bottles, programs and snacks/$600 for photo albums and slippers. NashvilleWraps.com
transportation $2,825 for a Rolls-Royce, two limos and four buses. Royalty Limousines, Franklin Square, (516) 326-9100/Omega Express, Brooklyn, (718) 858-8222/Long Island Airports Limousine Service, Hauppauge, (631) 234-8400
Misty Clark & Aman Mehan
September 6 | New York City | 85 guests
Their Budget: $32,797
Their Breakdown
ceremony $400 for an officiant and a permit. Rev. Kim Lesley, New York City, (646) 239 7373/ Summit Rock, Central Park, New York City
reception site $10,013 with catering. Hudson Terrace NYC, New York City, (212) 315-9400
photography and videography $4,675/$3,800 for two shooters for eight hours and two videos. One Love Photo, Seattle and Tacoma, WA, OneLovePhoto.com/Celeste Studios Film and Video, nationwide, CelesteStudios.com
consultant $300 for a day-of coordinator. Melissa Babb, New York City, (978) 618-4582
wedding gown, alterations, and undergarments $1,300 for a lengha, $135 to take it in and $122 for undergarments. Kanti Vagahela, Iselin, NJ, (732) 910-0215/Intimacy, New York City, (212) 860-8366
hair, makeup, henna, airbrush tan, bindi, and sari pinning $886. Munira Mehta, Beautiful Brides, NY/NJ area, (201) 293-4029/SundaraNYC.com/Aishwarya, Iselin, NJ, (732) 283-6101
jewelry and shoes $1,650 for rings/$185 for a headpiece, a necklace, earrings, and bangles/$40 for gold sandals. Sound of Music, Iselin, NJ, (732) 283-8331/Lanel Jewelry & Antiques Store, Summit, NJ, (908) 273-7334/SteveMadden.com
bridal party gifts $200 for art, $130 for saris, $275 for flower girl dresses and gift bags and $302 for personalized beer mugs, globes, and ties. OneLovePhoto.com/Kiran Emporium, Iselin, NJ, (732) 283-0577 /Target.com/ThingsRemembered.com/AbsoluteTies.com/BurlingtonCoatFactory.com
formalwear $0 with four rentals and $44 for cuff links from a fair. MensWearhouse.com
stationery $1,436 for invites, calligraphy, programs, save-the-date magnets, edible place cards, menu, table, and thank-you cards and ink for DIY projects. Patel Printing Plus Corporation, (800) 801-7746/Zazzle.com/WeddingMagnets.com/ SundaeRose.com/Michaels.com/OfficeDepot.com/ Color Me Mine, Summit, NJ, (908) 598-0248
flowers and decor $85 for extra stems, $691 for 11 centerpieces, $237 for a sign-in quilt, $92 for candles and holders and $708 for a photo display. InternationalGarden.net/ Big Apple Florist, New York City, (212) 687-3434/ FabricLand.com/Marshalls.com/Photowow.com
cocktail hour $581 for custom water bottles and hors d'oeuvres on a tour bus. TheKnotShop.com/Poco, New York City, (212) 228-4461
music $300 for a quartet/$500 for aDJ. Eva Kiviat, New York City, (516) 987-6783/DJ Eric Visa, New York City, (212) 203-8840
desserts $480 for a cake/$656 for a candy bar. Chocal8Kiss, Marlboro, NJ, (888) 986-2253/SundaeRose.com/MetroCandy.com
transportation $1,462 for two tour buses and $362 for a van. CitySights NY, New York City, (212) 812-2700/Enterprise.com
accommodations $600 for an apartment for three nights and $150 for a hotel room for two nights. Vrbo.com/Riverside Tower Hotel, New York City, (212) 877-5200
Katie Hintz & Horacio Zambrano
May 29 | New York City | 75 guests
Their Budget: $24,932
Their Breakdown
Ceremony site $250 in donations to the parish and the officiant. St. Francis of Assisi Church, New York City, (212) 736-8500
ceremony accessories $20 for candles and holders. CrateandBarrel.com
reception site $13,000 with catering and a mojito-like signature drink. Manhattan Penthouse, New York City, (212) 627-8838
photography $2,818 for two shooters for seven hours, 400 images on disc, two albums and one framed print. CLY Creation, New York City, CLYCreation.com
wedding gown, alterations, and veil $750 for a sample gown/$100 for a friend's colleague to alter it/$150 for a veil. Watters, The Bridal Garden, New York City, (212) 252-0661/Bridal Gown Outlet, Lincoln, NE, (402) 464-3204
hair and makeup $0 for the bride and four guests from a friend who's a pro. Josephine Keo, New York City, (917) 399-1772
shoes $79 for hers and $553> for his. WorldTone Dance, New York City, (212) 691-1934/Salvatore Ferragamo, New York City, (212) 759-3822
wedding rings $625 for her white-gold band and his platinum one. eWeddingBands.com
bridal party gifts $142 for five Philosophy sets and dolls and stick-on tattoos for the girls and $96 for four ties. Sephora.com/Target.com/SaksFifthAvenue.com/Kmart.com
formalwear $1,215 for a suit, a shirt, cuff links, a tie and a pocket square. Hugo Boss, New York City, (212) 965-1300/Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City, (212) 753-4000
stationery $445 for invitations, programs, a guest book and menu, escort and place cards. The Village Invites, New York City, (212) 220-6199/ BarnesandNoble.com/Print Icon, New York City, (212) 255-4489/Michaels.com
flowers $1,114 for two bouquets, petals, four corsages, five boutonnieres and 17 centerpieces. Sterling Blooms, New York City, (646) 290-8818
music $200 for an organist/$1,500 for a DJ and a slideshow screen/$550 for a mariachi band. Meredith Augustin, St. Francis of Assisi Church, New York City, (212) 736-8500/Plan It Perfect Entertainment, Mantua, NJ, (856) 430-8887/Mariachi Bustamante, New York City
dance lessons $254. Ripley-Grier Studios, New York City, (212) 799-5433
wedding cake $378 for a three-tiered cake. Made in Heaven Cakes, Brooklyn, (718) 788-2727
favors $60 for Mexican cookies that Horacio's aunt made and organza bags to hold them. Michaels.com
transportation $278 for two limos. Town Car International, Long Island City, (212) 727-7800
accommodations $355 for a hotel room. Soho Grand Hotel, New York City, (212) 965-3000
-- Katerina Gkionis