Like many of us, this couple loves brunch. So they combined that with their desire for a low-key, fun wedding where the food and beverages took center stage.
And for just over $15,000 they had an awesome brunch wedding at the Iron Horse Hotel. Read on to see their full wedding budget. Enjoy!
Quick Facts – Iron Horse Hotel Wedding:
- Number of Guests: 135
- Ceremony: Christ King Parish
- Reception: The Iron Horse Hotel
- Total Costs: $15,240
Wedding Essentials ($1,815):
- Invitations: $89
- Cake: $320
- Flowers: $506 (included bridal and bridesmaids bouquets, boutonniere and corsages for mothers)
- Photography: $900
Reception and Ceremony Costs ($9,292):
- Drinks: $1,228
- Food: $8,064 (brunch buffet with bloody mary’s and mimosas included)
- DJ: $0 (friend DJ’ed as a wedding gift)
Attire, Jewelry and Beauty ($2,027):
- Dress: $1,309
- Alterations: $260
- Bride’s Shoes: $18
- Groom’s Attire: $240
- Rings: $100
- Hair and Make-up: $100
Other Costs ($2,106):
- Rehearsal Dinner: $1,000
- Wedding Party Gifts: $370
- Favors: $200
- Hotel Suite $100 (Iron Horse Hotel)
- Transportation: $336
- Decorations: $100
A Note from the Bride and Groom
We asked the bride and groom to tell us about their planning and budgeting process, and this is what they had to say:
The Focus:
We really wanted our wedding to be a low key, fun, unique event, where the food and beverages would be something that our guests would remember. So that is where we focused our budget.We have large families, so cutting down the guest list wasn’t an option for us, so we were looking for high quality food and drinks, for a lot of people. Brunch is our favorite meal and something we did a lot while we were dating, so it seemed like a great option for our big day!
The Venue:
We did an off-season brunch at the Iron Horse Hotel and it did not disappoint! We found the venue on Married in Milwaukee, and brunch made this classy and modern venue affordable to us.The Brunch:
Our brunch buffet had so much beautiful food, short ribs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, quiche, bakery, yogurt and granola bar, and all non-alcoholic drinks (coffee, tea and juices) included a bloody mary and mimosa bar. We picked up the open bar tab for any beer and soda our guests wanted.The Floral and Décor:
We didn’t have to spend much on decorations for the reception, as the venue provided all the linens and centerpieces. We saw so many wedding decorations for sale online, we figured it was not the best use of our money.This is one reason we didn’t do much floral besides the brides and bridesmaid’s bouquets. We doubled the bridesmaid’s bouquets as centerpieces. Before the Grand March the girls placed the bouquets in vases on a few of the tables.
The Dress:
The budget did include a larger dollar amount for the wedding dress. I had something very specific in mind and had realized the style I wanted wasn’t exactly popular, so it could have been more expensive to get the dress style I wanted.I found Bliss Bridal on the website, realized it was close to home, and that ended up being where I found the perfect dress at %15 off. The other accessories were heirlooms from within the family, and I found my bridal shoes on clearance!
– The Bride and Groom
A BIG thanks to the bride and groom for sharing their awesome brunch wedding at The Iron Horse Hotel and to Studio Sweers Photography for the photos!
If you’re currently working on your wedding budget, make sure to read through our previous articles featuring real Milwaukee wedding cost breakdowns.
