budget

I think it's important that there's an openness about money. So many blogs about weddings don't ever talk about money, only say they try to get below $20K or what ever sum they have decided on. I want to put figures on what this actually costs us. I have questioned all our expenses so far and I will continue doing so. The initial idea was to keep the budget around €500 if possible, but at the end on June when everything but food, portable toilet and sound equipment had been bought we had reached almost that. I hope we don't go over €850 though.

I'm looking at this as I would with any other party I would throw. Just because there's so much ceremony and show surrounding weddings and the party afterwards, I feel many lose sight of the fact that this is a celebration like any other you have in life, and it doesn't have to be in a certain way or cost you a fortune.

After some debate with myself I have decided to convert my native currency to Euros. It is tricky to convert prices because there's so much you really have take in to count, like the relationship between income and expenses in that particular region. I have chosen Euro because though prices differ throughout the union, it's a reasonably similar situation, at least compared to the "old" union members, the classic western Europe.

Green bold italics means that item is ticked off the list all paid for.


Clothes
50's denim jeans          245 SEK/€25.55
peasant blouse             88 SEK/€9.20      

shirt                      50 SEK/€5.40

bandana                    50 SEK/€5.40
wrist corsage              24 SEK/€2.50
underwear                  70 SEK/€7.35 
make up                   317 SEK/€33.35

Food and drink
Fresh groceries           874 SEK/€66.40

white wine (15 l)         645 SEK/€164.80

Southern Comfort          498 SEK/€53
Fanta lemon                12 SEK/€1.30

peaches (3)                87 SEK/€9.25

soda(6)                    54 SEK/€5.75

mac'n cheese balls         70 SEK/€7.40

gumbo (18 l)              409 SEK/€42.60
beans for salsa (10)       79 SEK/€8.25

tortillas (103)            34 SEK/€3.55

meringue for pavlova(5)    70 SEK/€7.35
mini doughnuts (140)       22 SEK/€2.30

ice tea (41)              406 SEK/€42.10

cranberry juice (10)      129 SEK/€13.40

cake toppers              104 SEK/€10.85
sugar                      31 SEK/€3.25
coffee                     43 SEK/€4.55
tea                        29 SEK/€3.05
sticks for cake pops etc   45 SEK/€5 
paper for cake pops         9 SEK/€0.95
icing sugar                39 SEK/€4.05

Stationary

bags as envelopes (46)     45 SEK/€5

paper 20 A4 300 g          80 SEK/€8.60

ink                       248 SEK/€26.65

stamps                    312 SEK/€33.35

Tableware

plastic baskets (64)      320 SEK/€35

bowls (96)                192 SEK/€20.10

desert plates (48)         96 SEK/€10

large forks                78 SEK/€8.20

large spoons (70)         109 SEK/€11.70

coffee cups (48)           76 SEK/€7.95

schnapps glasses           38 SEK/€4

straws (200)               10 SEK/€1.10

iron thread (for jars)     39 SEK/€4.10

paper napkins              49 SEK/€5.15

tablecloths (plastic)     196 SEK/€20.60

paper runners              58 SEK/€6.10

string for name tags       25 SEK/€2.65               
tea lights                 17 SEK/€1.80

jugs (10)                 190 SEK/€19.85

small spoons (50)          75 SEK/€7.85

beverage dispenser (2)    405 SEK/€42.30
milk jug                   20 SEK/€2.10

coffee dispenser 3.6 l    149 SEK/€15.70
tea dispenser 1.6 l        99 SEK/€10.30

Barn decoration

fiesta bunting             99 SEK/€10.55
florist tape               29 SEK/€3.05
florist thread            108 SEK/€19

string for ceiling décor   29 SEK/€3.05

globe string light        747 SEK/€78.50

balloons (100)             39 SEK/€4.20

blankets (8)               80 SEK/€8.35

pennants                  418 SEK/€44.35

candles                   135 SEK/€14.10

Ceremony related expenses

clothes-pegs               20 SEK/€2.10

clothes line               25 SEK/€2.65

noise makers              169 SEK/€18.40

General decoration/other

flower seeds              121 SEK/€13.30

torches                   140 SEK/€14.60
sound equipment           500 SEK/€51.30

The things we don't have to pay for but will use
venue
housing
tables
seating
trellises
lounge furniture
ceremony table
vintage farm utensils
cans
glass jars
drinking glasses
name tags
willow wreaths
trays
bowls
pots
iPod/laptop
plastic flamingo
groom's shoes
groom's trousers
groom's suspenders
bride's shoes
cushions
blankets
throws
soil
portable toilet