Filed under: Weddings, Marriage
The reception will take place in an extraordinary $600,000 tent equipped with glass walls. The couple is reportedly spending close to $250,000 on flowers alone and $15,000 on porta-potties, reports TMZ. The high-profile guest list, which includes her powerful parents and a few heads of state, has caused the family to up security, which is costing them a cool $200,000.
The Clinton family sure knows how to throw a party, but what about those who aren't as financially blessed? You'd be glad to know there are ways of getting around paying a fortune for your big day. Black Voices spoke with wedding writer Bridgett Bartlett of the website Black Bridal Bliss about the best way to go about planning a beautiful wedding without breaking the bank. Brides-to-be, prepare to take notes!
Location: Getting married in the heart of a metropolitan city may be glamorous but it can also be detrimental to your pockets.
"Wedding costs like everything else are relative so a $30K wedding in Greensboro, North Carolina will get you a lot more than a $30K Manhattan, NY wedding," Bartlett said.
A great alternative is inviting guests to a smaller town on the outskirts of a major city.
Guests: Although you would like to invite everyone you know to your wedding, it may not be financially feasible.
"Food and alcohol absorb most of that line in the budget which is why the number the guests is so significant, " said Bartlett. "If a venue charges $65 per person for food and beverages then imagine the cost difference between a guest list of 100 versus 250!"
BV's Top Celebrity Weddings
Nicole Ari Parker & Boris Kodjoe: The actress and her German-born hubby decided against a big bash stateside in favor of a small affair in his German village. They said their vows in the same 900-year-old church where his parents got married.
Toni Braxton & Keri Lewis: Wearing a $15,000 Vera Wang and $500,000 worth of borrowed jewels, Toni Braxton married her dream guy at Dean Gardens in Atlanta 11 years ago. Guests called the lavish affair a "fairy tale."
Beyonce & Jay-z: You won't see photos of this couple's super-private 2008 rooftop wedding, but a few details of the orchid-strewn affair have leaked. Thousands of orchids were flown in from Thailand, and famous guests were instructed to wear white.
Mariah Carey & Nick Cannon: Her first wedding to record exec Tommy Mottola cost $500,000 -- for her second wedding to actor/producer Nick Cannon after a quick courtship, Mimi decided to go more low key with an small, secret Bahamas ceremony.
Tameka Foster & Usher: This controversial couple just announced their divorce, but when they married in '07, their union was the talk of the gossip rags. The lavish 200-person event was held at a lush resort outside of their hometown.
Eva Longoria Parker & Tony Parker: When this 'Desperate Housewife' and her basketball-playing man, Tony Parker, married in Parker's native France in 2007, they caused a storm of paparazzi overseas. The two treated their celeb guests to a fireworks display at the reception.
Kelis & Nas: These two (sadly, no longer a couple) are not ones to follow the crowd. That's why it was surprising that their wedding was small and slightly traditional. If you don't count Kelis' green-tinted wedding gown, that is.
Ruben Studdard & Zuri Studdard: It's no suprise that 'American Idol''s "Velvet Teddy Bear" did it big at his 08 nuptials. The R&B crooner had 20 groomsmen standing with him during his Birmingham, Ala., ceremony.
Dress: If you're considering dazzling guests with two dresses, you may want to think again. "As the bride, all eyes are going to be on you all day and/or night anyway - the costs of two dresses to "stand out" can and should totally be avoided." Bartlett suggests choosing a more versatile dress. "Some bridal vendors are even offering convertible wedding gowns, which takes the bride from traditional wedding ceremony to sexy reception with a swift tear of the detachable skirt!"
Venue: "Venues typically charge top dollar to host events on Saturday afternoons and evenings. Avoid this money trap by opting to hold your wedding and reception on a Friday evening or Sunday afternoon."
Photographer: There are some things you just can't skimp on when it comes to your wedding day and the photographer and videographer is one of them. "My experience has found that the photographer and videographer are two areas where splurging is warranted because both professionals are capturing moments that will last long after the big day," says Bartlett.
Favors: Favors are a great way to say thank you to your guests, but they're not worth breaking the bank over. "A bride I interviewed told me that most of her 265 wedding guests left their favors she worked so hard to create on the table at her reception," says Bartlett. It's best to make the favors sweet and simple, that way you're not disappointed if the majority of your guests leave them behind.