Once you get engaged, you start to see wedding movies in a whole new light (did they seriously invite 572 people to the Father of the Bride wedding?!). But no matter what your budget looks like, these on-screen nuptials will help you dream big as you plan your own special day.
By: Chrisanne GriseSex and the City
Carrie Bradshaw’s elaborate wedding to Mr. Big might not have actually happened the first time, but she's still one of the most iconic on-screen brides.
The Look
At first, Carrie is convinced that she’s going to wear a dress from a thrift shop, but naturally, she soon falls in love with a gorgeous Vivienne Westwood strapless gown during a photoshoot. She doesn’t have to pay a penny for it, but if she hadn’t been so lucky, it would have cost about $24,000. Instead, she goes all out on shoes ($1,750), a veil ($750) and a gigantic bird feather ($500).
The Venue
What’s more glamorous than a celebration at the New York Public Library? The historic building costs $50,000 to rent.
The Décor
Carrie’s white bouquet would have cost about $250, while her friends’ smaller, more colorful flowers were probably $125 each, says Birch. Thanks to Big’s cancellation of the wedding, we never get to see all the centerpieces or décor, but let’s be real, Carrie must have organized some elaborate flowers. For similar events, one low centerpiece could cost as much as $350 to $450, while a high one could be $700 to $900. That means we’re talking anywhere from $7,000 to $18,000 for the table décor alone!
The Food
Again, we never get to see the scrumptious meals that were ordered for Carrie and Big’s 200 guests, but catering for similar weddings would probably cost about $350 each, adding up to $70,000.
The Bridesmaids
Carrie's stylish friends skipped the traditional bridesmaid dresses in favor of glamorous evening gowns, meaning they probably cost between $1,850 and $3,500, estimates Mon Amie Bridal Salon.
The Rehearsal Dinner:
The big dinner scene was filmed at Buddakan in New York City. To feed 25 to 30 people, it would likely cost about $9,000, says Birch.
The Planner
Since Anthony is a friend of Charlotte’s, we’re guessing he helped Carrie plan her wedding for a discounted rate! However, if she hadn’t been so lucky, she probably would have paid about $25,000 for his services. Worth it when you’re planning a wedding of this magnitude!
Total cost of the cancelled wedding: $145,175 to $161,125
The City Hall Wedding
For Carrie and Mr. Big’s do-over ceremony, they opt for a low-key affair at city hall. It costs $35 for a marriage license in New York City, and the fee to have the wedding at City Hall is an additional $25. The bride’s vintage dress would be hard to find, especially since sizes are so different these days, but a custom replica would probably cost somewhere between $200 and $500, depending on the fabric and intricacy of the design, says Meghan Ely, owner of OFD Consulting. The clutch is also likely vintage, but similar options retail for about $80 (or you can rent one for $20 from Rent the Runway!) Naturally, Carrie’s splurge was on her shoes, which are worth about $965 — still, that only adds up to about $1,300 to $1,600, a pretty frugal budget for Carrie Bradshaw.
