The $50,000 Wedding

 

Venue: Boscobel House & Gardens
Ambience: Elegant & Romantic
Guests: 100

If you’re thinking of a garden wedding, few venues deliver a more majestic view of the Hudson than Boscobel in Garrison. “Our gardens draw couples from across the state,” says Colleen Fogarty, manager of property rentals at Boscobel. “Throughout the summer and in September and early October, the 600 rose bushes are in full bloom, and the apple trees are heavy with fruit — all ideal backgrounds for your picture-taking.”

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Venue Rental: $9,500
The rental fee gets you access to your choice of the Belvedere, the Main Lawn, or the Rose Garden for your wedding ceremony and cocktail hour, or use of a tent (must be provided by separate vendor) in the West Meadow, which includes 12 round tables and chairs for the reception.

Ceremony: Site fee, officiant’s fee
The rental fee is all-inclusive, covering the ceremony, cocktail hour and reception. You’ll still need to budget for chair rental and setup.

Cocktail Hour & Reception by Jean-Jacques Culinary Creations: $19,387
Catering services by award-winning chef Jens Gabrillargues runs about $15,387(including tax and service), plus roughly $4,000 for additional catering rentals. Your guests will be greeted with pre-ceremony iced tea and watermelon lemonade served on silver trays. The cocktail hour will include at least 10 passed hors d’oeuvres, food stations and a fully loaded premium bar. You’ll have your choice of a plated, sit-down-style reception; a cocktail hour and buffet-style reception; or a full cocktail-style reception. And, of course, one of Jean-Jacques’ signature wedding cakes, along with a dessert cocktail hour.

Photography: $5,000
Expect to pay $5,000 or so for a full wedding-photography package. At Visual Concepts Photography in Newburgh, owner Jeremy Landolfa says this includes all photos from “the bride getting ready to the last dance,” engagement sessions, photo albums and portraits, “trash the dress” and/or other post-wedding photos.

Videography: $2,500+ If you want video of your wedding, budget at least $2,500 for a full day’s videography. With many videographers offering fancier, more specialized services, that price can skyrocket quickly.

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Flowers: $5,000
For the bride, groom, wedding party, and parents, the costs will be similar to those for a $10,000 or $25,000 wedding, though larger bouquets and more exotic flowers will escalate the cost. Though the river views and gardens may be decor enough, some well-placed centerpieces can enhance the reception space. Pew décor flowers and ribbon for 10 pews will cost roughly $250. Ten tall pedestal arrangements with roses, hydrangeas, peonies, and orchids will run about $3,000.

Jazz or Pop Band: $5,000–$6,000
As a rule of thumb (which goes out the window if you opt for a marquee-name band), expect to pay about $1,000 per musician. At Live Wire Entertainment in New Rochelle, you can opt for a five- or six-piece jazz or dance-pop band and, says owner Anthony Furio, “The keyboard player can play during ceremony or cocktail hour.”

Wedding Gown & Rental Tux: $4,000
When it comes to wedding gowns, you really do get what you pay for. If you’re purchasing retail, you’ll generally have to pay at least $2,500 to get a structured bodice in silk or cotton, as opposed to synthetic, fabric. Fully hand-beaded gowns and fabrics like French lace appear once you get into the “sweet spot” of about $4,000 to $6,000. Still, it’s possible to find a lovely gown for $3,000 to $3,500 from designers like Dennis Basso, Jim Hjelm — even Pnina Tornai or Lazaro. One way to get a higher-end designer gown for less is to shop sample sales. Laura Howard of Chamonix Bride in Rhinebeck says that, in a sample sale, you can “take a gown right off the rack and you can still get a new gown at a great price.” Your tux price is the same as in every other price point.


Here’s what a different budget could get you…

 

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