So How Much Would that Styled Wedding Cost Anyway?

One of the questions I always get when I post photos from a workshop or a styled shoot (aside from why do them, which is a whole different blog post) is “How much would that wedding cost?”. It’s easy to look at wedding magazines (do people even buy those anymore?!), Pinterest, Instagram, the Knot, and wherever else you are getting your wedding inspiration from, and say, “Oh, I want that at my wedding!” with no idea of what that would actually cost. So, for this edition of the Wedding Day Walk Through Workshop, I’ve put together some investment numbers to give you an approximation of what this wedding would cost to host as a real wedding.

These numbers are based on a 14 person micro-wedding in January, and that number includes the couple and the two attendants. It’s hard to approximate wedding costs for many wedding products and services because the have so many variables based on the specifics of your event, but this post will give you a ballpark idea of the real wedding cost.

The Venue

The George Washington Hotel’s Washington Room is the perfect size to host your ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception all in one place when you have a small, intimate wedding for a few of your closest loved ones.

The Cost BreakDOwn

Room Rental: $850 for ceremony and $1,500 for reception

Food and Beverages: Packages start at approximately $100 per person. (Note: During the busy season there is a $15,000 minimum for weddings held on Saturdays, which the room fees go toward.)

Total: approximately $3,750

The Linens

Table linens are a quick and easy way to elevate the look of your reception in a big way. I especially love adding textured linens for high photo areas like the sweetheart table and cake table. With Mosaic, Inc. linens, even the non-textured table cloths have an amazing weight to them that makes them feel luxurious. Only the napkins and our sweetheart tablecloth had Mosaic linens, but I’ve priced out as if we used all Mosaic linens because they are such excellent quality.

The Cost Breakdown

1 Storm Velvet 132 in. round tablecloth, 4 Storm Lamour 90 x 132'' (for 6ft rectangle) tablecloths, and 14 white gauze napkins

Total: approximately $417

The Tableware and Chairs

If you are having gold flatware at your wedding, sign me up! I love this modern gold flatware, and gold rimmed china and crystal, but these chargers are giving me life. And having a micro-wedding means that everybody can have a beautiful charger and feel special.

Although we borrowed our gold Chiavari chairs from Station House 7, she doesn’t normally rent them out, so I’ve priced renting them from Eventioneers along with the tableware.

The Cost BreakDown

Alpine Gold Chargers, Salad and Dinner Plates, York Gold Flatware, Fortessa Crystal, and Gold Chiavari chairs for 14, plus delivery fees

Total: approximately $365

The Florals

Flowers are definitely one of those categories where there is a huge amount of personalization and tiny variations in choices can make a big difference in the total cost. All of these price estimates from Mel’s Boutique depend on bloom choices, availability of materials, season, etc.

The Personal Flowers

Personal flowers are the flowers for the wedding couple and their attendants - in this case, bouquets and boutonnieres. Typically, more premium blooms are used in the flowers for the couple’s and their pieces are larger, so theirs cost more than the attendants’.

The cost breakdown

Celebrant Statement Bouquet: $200

Attendant Bouquet: $55

Boutonnieres: $15 each

The Ceremony Flowers

The altar arrangements’ gorgeous white blooms are large enough to make a statement in such a large room, but not so large as to overshadow the couple. Greenery and elegant branches, as well as a gold stand, help add height to the alter arrangements and candles, petals, and chair swags decorate the aisle.