MatriMoney
The cost of a wedding
Colorado couples share their budgets and planning advice
Planning a wedding can be a little like watching a foreign film without subtitles: You know what‘s going on, in a basic sense, but the details are a mystery.
According to The Knot, the average wedding in the U.S. cost $31,213 in 2014. But other industry experts, including Meg Keene, editor of A Practical Wedding, argue that figure is a lot higher than what most couples are actually spending.
“The wedding industry has really always functioned with consumers not having any information and them holding all the cards,” Keene said in an interview last year.
The high price tag isn‘t stopping Colorado couples from taking the plunge, though. In 2014, Denver issued more marriage licenses than ever before, and to all loving couples.
Five couples married in the last 12 months shared their wedding budgets, as well as some advice for making the most of every dollar and cent.
Elasha and Robert
A Buddhist-inspired ceremony at Sunrise Amphitheater in Boulder followed by a Beatles-themed reception at CHAC Gallery in Denver, on July 5, 2014
Photos courtesy of Green Blossom Photography Elasha and Robert Nunez chose Sunrise Amphitheater in Boulder for their Buddhist-inspired ceremony on July 5, 2014.
Guest count: 50
Their story: Elasha and Robert Nunez met like so many of today‘s couples do — online. Robert proposed in Hawaii, and when Elasha found out she was pregnant three months later, they moved their wedding up to the Fourth of July weekend. They chose Sunrise Amphitheater and Elasha‘s favorite art gallery for a relaxing, joyful, spiritual celebration.
Where they splurged: Food was the top priority for Robert and Elasha. Three Tomatoes Catering brought their “silly vision” to life — a buffet representing their different backgrounds with fried chicken, chicken mole and pulled pork. (Robert is Mexican and Elasha is from the South.) Bright floral arrangements, bouquets and petals from Hana Style Designs for the ceremony were another splurge.
Where they saved: Keeping the guest list small helped them keep costs down everywhere. They also nixed a DJ and asked the photographer to shoot a half day, rather than a full day. “I felt that when we got our friends and families together they would have a good time — we didn‘t need to spend a lot of money to do that,” Elasha said.
Pro tip: “Think about the people who will be there, but don‘t do everything just to please them,” Robert said. “Too many people say, ’Oh, my Aunt Flo hates rumba, we can‘t have any rumba,‘ even though you love it. Do what you like.”
Elasha and Robert chose a bright, fun Beatles theme for their wedding reception at CHAC Art Gallery in Denver.
Instead of buying flower arrangements, Elasha and Robert used bright bowls of strawberries as table centerpieces. Elasha also made the rainbow table runner herself.
Sarah and Adam
A Jewish ceremony in Cheesman Park, followed by an art-gallery reception at RedLine, on Sept. 20, 2014
Photos courtesy of Harper Point Photography Sarah Kornhauser and Adam Buehler arrive at their wedding reception at RedLine art gallery in Denver. They were married Sept. 20, 2014, in Cheesman Park in Denver.
Guest count: 168
Their story: Sarah Kornhauser and Adam Buehler met while they were graduate students at the University of Denver — on a dance floor. After Adam proposed at the Denver Botanic Gardens, they decided to get married in Denver at Cheesman Park, “somewhere that was really personal to us and something that wasn‘t so standard,” Sarah said. “We used the words classic and true and adventurous.”
Where they splurged: “Really great food and really great service” were Sarah and Adam‘s top priorities. They chose Foodie Call, a small catering company that focuses on global cuisine, to do a make-your-own macaroni-and-cheese bar and “international bites” — think Thai spring rolls and Spanish tortilla. On the tables, lush hydroponic lettuces from GrowHaus served as centerpieces and salad bar.
Where they saved: They only served beer, wine and signature cocktails and skipped the champagne toast entirely. She also bought her dress, an art deco strapless Nicole Miller gown, on eBay, and they grew their own flowers with help from friends at Sunnyside Up Farm.
Pro tip: Hire a wedding planner. “She made it such an easy day and easy planning process for everybody,” Sarah said. “You can‘t put a price tag on that — it was so so helpful to have someone thinking three steps ahead so everyone could just be in the moment and enjoy it.” (Their planner was Nicole Lowery of Hey Party Collective.)
Sarah and Adam made the chuppah, a ceremonial Jewish wedding tent, from a tablecloth owned by Sarah's aunt, who lived to be 107.
Edible lettuces lined the tables at Sarah and Adam's wedding reception, serving as both centerpieces and salad bar.
Kelsey and Mark
A DIY winter ceremony and reception at Sanctuary Golf Course near Castle Pines, on Dec. 13, 2014
Photos courtesy of Earl James Photography Kelsey Butler and Mark Godsey chose Dec. 13, 2014 — 12/13/14 — for their winter wedding at the Sanctuary Golf Course outside Castle Pines.
Guest count: 110
Their story: Kelsey Butler and Mark Godsey have known each other since middle school, but it wasn‘t until high school — when they both didn‘t have a date to Homecoming — that they started dating. When Mark proposed in Maui, he was moving every six months for work, though, so they waited three and a half years to get married in a glittery but rustic “mountain glamour” celebration at Sanctuary Golf Course.
Where they splurged: The venue topped Kelsey and Mark‘s budget, but there were some added benefits that came with the space. “It was worth it, because it was so beautiful,” Kelsey said. “And because it was already a beautiful space, we didn‘t need to spend a lot to decorate it and go above and beyond.” Plus, she said, the fee also included a day-of coordinator, linens, tableware, candles and champagne toast.
Where they saved: Kelsey made most of the decorations herself. For centerpieces, she bought vases and filled them with branches spray-painted in glitter. She also made the escort cards and escort card holder — for the latter, she used aspen logs from some trees her dad was already planning to cut down.
Pro tip: Don‘t sweat the small things. “When you get into wedding mode, the littlest things can really bother you. It‘s just going to make things a lot harder for you as a bride and a couple if you‘re frustrated,” Kelsey said. “You just have to let things go.”
To hold the reception escort cards, Kelsey used logs from aspen trees that her father was already planning to cut down.
Kelsey took a DIY approach to decorating: For the table centerpieces, she spraypainted branches with glitter for a “mountain glamour” look.
Stedman and David
An urban rooftop ceremony and ballroom reception — with bowling alley after-party — at the Denver Athletic Club, on May 24, 2015
Photos courtesy of Tyler Photography David Walton and Stedman Carmony celebrated their wedding May 24, 2015, at the Denver Athletic Club. Rather than rent tuxedos for the big day, though, they both bought outfits they could wear again.
Guest count: 77
Their story: Stedman Carmony had just moved to Denver when a friend introduced him to David Walton and they hit it off right away. David was the one to pop the question in Confluence Park — with a surprise engagement party with all their friends that same day. While they initially planned a destination wedding in Mexico, they changed course and hosted a rooftop ceremony at the Denver Athletic Club, with a modern mountain twist.
Where they splurged: The venue and having an open bar were top priorities. “I‘m so glad we did it — not because drinking made a difference for our wedding, but if you get a lot of people together who don‘t necessarily know each other, it helps to have that one drink and let the night flow,” Stedman said. The after-party bowling helped, too.
Where they saved: Rather than pay professionals to set up and tear down, they asked their friends and family for help. “It was so fun,” Stedman said. “We spent the whole day setting up, laughing, sweating.” They also got a deal on their wedding bands online.
Pro tip: Keep things in perspective. “It‘s all going to be worth it. Once the day comes, regardless of what happens, it‘s going to be perfect,” Stedman said. “Also, make people RSVP online — it was a godsend.”
For their reception at the Denver Athletic Club, Stedman and David mixed rustic and metallic touches for a “modern mountain” vibe.
David and Stedman chose an aspen-inspired design for their wedding cake.
Amanda and Tim
A relaxed outdoor ceremony and reception at Wiens Ranch outside Sedalia, on June 6, 2015
Photos courtesy of Sarah Venema Photography A little rain didn't stop Tim and Amanda Seier from tying the knot June 6, 2015, at Wiens Ranch near Sedalia.
Guest count: 130
Their story: Amanda and Tim Seier don‘t work together anymore, but that‘s how they met 4½ years ago. The outdoors-loving couple got engaged high above the Windy City, on the Skydeck at Willis Tower, but for their wedding, they planned a rustic, casual affair at Wiens Ranch. “A lot of people wore jeans — even the groom wore jeans,” Amanda said.
Where they splurged: The venue was their biggest spend. “It was the last venue we saw — we just drove away feeling, yeah that was it,” she said. “We could do whatever we wanted. We could make sure it really truly was us.”
The bouquet Amanda carried was filled with fabric flowers her sister made.
Where they saved: They won a silent auction for DJ services that helped cut the price tag “quite a bit,” but they saved even more by asking some good friends to home-brew the beer for the reception. They had a porter, amber, “Seier” cider and “Whatever It Is” wheat, named for one of their favorite Zac Brown songs. Amanda‘s sister also made fabric flowers for the bouquets and boutonnieres as a gift.
Pro tip: When it comes to decor, take advantage of wedding Facebook groups. “What are you going to do with a sign that says, ’Take a seat, not a side‘ (after the wedding)?” Amanda said. “It‘s been a great way to get things at a cheaper rate and get rid of them once you don‘t need them anymore, but also to get ideas of what other people have done.”
Tim and Amanda snap a selfie during their wedding reception.
Amanda and Tim served popcorn as a happy hour snack at their wedding.
