Photo: Within this Day
As part of our real weddings series, “The Cost of Tying the Knot,” we ask couples to share their real wedding costs with us. If you’d like to be a part of the series, take our questionnaire, and we’ll be in touch. You are welcome to remain anonymous, or not.
Couple:
Alex Grant, 28, Bride
Max Herman, 27, Groom
Current Neighborhood:
Jersey City
Wedding Date:
Saturday, September 9, 2018
Wedding Location:
Basilica Hudson, Hudson, NY
How We Met:
Max and I met at college through mutual friends. I played soccer and had a group of friends on the lacrosse team. Max visited Vassar College for lacrosse, and on his trip, happened to meet one of my best friends by chance. We would finally meet half a year later, falling in love on Vassar’s campus, adventuring up and down the Hudson Valley.
Photo: Within this Day
What do you do as a couple when you’re not busy getting married?
Max is a full-time student at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. He is currently in his 2nd year and is pursuing Neurology. Alex is a Senior Product and Fragrance Developer at Victoria’s Secret. I am a “nose”, leading development on all PINK fragrances.
When we aren’t at work, we are most likely dog-sitting or galavanting around NYC and Jersey City with our friends. Or we’re watching Friends, The Office or Parks & Recreation.
How did you choose the venue and how did it stack up to your expectations?
We got married at Basilica Hudson, a beautiful venue in Hudson, NY. Max and I had previously visited and fell in love with the city. We admired its charm and quirkiness, and after our engagement, we only visited Basilica. It absolutely stacked up to our expectations. It was perfect.
Photo: Within this Day
Cost Breakdown (200-person wedding):
Planner, Hudson Valley Ceremonies…………………………$2500
Venue, Basilica…………………………………………….$8950
(Had venue from Friday – Sunday; Rehearsal Dinner was also at Basilica)
Food & Beverage, Jillicious Foods….…………….$20,000
Cake, Calico…………………………………………………$1000
Photographer, Within This Day……….…………….$3510
Officiant, best friend……………………………………Free
Flowers, A Night in Bloom…………….……………..$7000
Video, WeCinema…………….………….……………..$2000
Band, Atomic Funk Project/Live Music Pros…..$14,391
Rentals (Linens, tableware, etc.)…………………….$5600
Gown (Rosa Clara), Wedding Atelier,……………..$5000
Hair and Makeup, MG Hair and Makeup………..$3000
(For 9 Bridesmaids + Bride)
Total…………….………….……………………………….$72,951
Of all your expenses, what was the most surprising cost? What did you feel you got the least value out of, and what did you get the most value out of?
Flowers were probably the most surprising cost but they really made our wedding light up.
The two things we got the most value out of were the venue and the band.
1) We were blown away by our band. Even my Dad said they were worth every penny, which is uncharacteristic to say the least. I don’t think we sat the whole reception.
2) We also absolutely loved our venue. The venue cost was for the whole weekend (Friday – Sunday), so we held not only the wedding but also the rehearsal dinner and next day brunch. It made it really easy to see all our friends and family for as much time as possible. Additionally, the venue was easy to decorate because of the beautiful brick, vintage windows, and authentic charm; we classified it as “industrial chic.” It was a blank canvas that allowed us to ideate and create the wedding of our dreams.
Photo: Within this Day
What were your best and worst wedding day moments? Any surprises crises?
Best Moment: It would be too hard to pick one. Max would say his was seeing me for the first time on our wedding day.
Worst Moment: Having the weekend be over but glad we get to revisit it whenever we want with our wedding video!
Surprise Crises: There may have been crises, but Jeanne (our wedding planner) must have dealt with it because we didn’t know of any!
If you had it all to do over again, what would you have chosen to do differently?
Nothing–it was the best day of our lives! However, we forgot to throw the bouquet because we were having too much fun dancing!
