Real Wedding Budget Breakdown: How Neva & Edwin Planned Their Dream Garden Wedding for $78,000

Their Love Story

Sometimes the greatest love stories begin with the smallest gesture.

For Neva and Edwin, it all started with a virtual rose on Hinge. What seemed like a simple click became the beginning of their forever. Their first date took place courtside at a Clippers game at the then-Staples Center, where the excitement of the crowd mirrored the spark between them.

Soon came soft-serve ice cream runs, sushi dates, endless coffee conversations, and the discovery that they shared more than chemistry—they shared roots. Both grew up in the San Fernando Valley, cherished family traditions, and bonded over their love of good food.

Edwin first told Neva he loved her during the first half of an LAFC match at BMO Stadium. Years later, after a carefully orchestrated surprise proposal at their favorite restaurant, Taisho in Sherman Oaks, surrounded by both families, they began planning the wedding of their dreams.

On May 9, 2026, surrounded by 145 guests who traveled from New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Toronto, San Francisco, San Diego, and beyond, Neva and Edwin celebrated their love with an elegant garden party at Hartley Botanica.

The Vision

When it came to planning, three things mattered most:

• The venue
• The food
• Staying mindful of the budget

Their goal was to create a highly personalized celebration that reflected both of their cultures, their love story, and the people who traveled so far to celebrate with them.

The result was an intentional, joy-filled wedding that guests described as deeply personal and full of meaningful details.

The Budget: Expectations vs. Reality

Like many couples, Neva and Edwin began with a target budget.

Original Budget Goal

• Neva's goal: Approximately $50,000
• Edwin's goal: Approximately $60,000–$65,000

Final Wedding Cost

• Approximately $78,000

When asked what surprised them most about wedding planning costs, Edwin laughed and said: "How quickly they add up."  Neva noted that once they had a clear vision, many of their spending decisions centered around enhancing the guest experience, which naturally increased costs.

Where They Saved Money

Throughout the planning process, Neva attended bridal expos - like the Bridal Premiere at the Westlake Hyatt, and wedding resale events, like Hartley Botanica's annual Wedding Resale Market put on by Bella Dia Weddings , helping them source décor at lower costs.

They also chose to work directly with a floral vendor rather than hiring a full-service florist, which saved money—though it required multiple visits and more hands-on coordination.

 

Where They Splurged

Some of their favorite splurges included:

• Aura Photo Booth
• Guest shuttles through Jump On The School Bus
• Welcome and farewell events
• Three dessert experiences
• Dance lessons for their first dance and father-daughter dance

For Neva and Edwin, creating memorable guest experiences was always worth the investment.

 

Advice for Future Couples

Neva's biggest recommendation?

Give yourself plenty of time.

With nearly 14 months to plan and both partners working full-time, wedding planning became a daily commitment.

She also credits her bridesmaids for helping manage countless details leading up to the wedding and highly recommends reading The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker.

The book inspired many of the intentional choices that made their wedding feel deeply personal.

"My guests described the experience as having so many intentional details that felt so special."

 

Favorite Moment of the Day

When asked to choose just one memory, both Neva and Edwin immediately agreed:

Their first look in the Lotus Tea Garden.

In the middle of all the excitement, it was a quiet moment shared between the two of them—a chance to pause, see each other for the first time, and take in the day they had spent years building together.

And just like the virtual rose that started it all, it was a simple moment that meant everything.

Complete Vendor Team

• Planner: Bella Dia Weddings @belladiaweddingsinc
• Venue: Hartley Botanica @hartleybotanica
• Photography & Videography: Cali Shores Media @calishoresmedia
• Catering: Command Performance Catering @commandperformancecatering
• Bartending: Brick & Brass Bartending @brickandbrassbar
• DJ: DJ Divine @coastal_events
• Live Music: Pink Mozart @pinkmozartent
• Hair & Makeup: Touch by Nika @touch_by_nika
• Cake: Camarillo Cupcakes @camarillocupcakes
• Frozen Yogurt: Humphrey Yogart @therealhumphreyyogart
• Coffee Bar: R&R Coffee @rrmobilecoffee
• Rentals: Flower House 805 @flowerhouse805
• Signage: Candice Amanda Designs @candiceamandadesigns
• Transportation: Jump on the School Bus @jumpontheschoolbus
• Officiant: Rabbi Keara Stein
• Dance Instruction: Aesthetic Dance Studio
• Florals: G&C Flowers
• Wedding Dress: Bella Wedding Bridal @bellaweddingbridal
• Photobooth: Aura Booth @aurabooth21

Cost Breakdown - Highest Cost to Lowest Cost

Catering | Command Performance Catering (www.CPCatering.com)
$25,692.83

Included:

• 5 Hours of Service
• Plated Meal Service
• Service Staff
• Bartending with full bar
• Vineyard Chairs for reception
• Rentals: linens, napkins (choice of colors), china, glassware, flatware, additional tables for gifts, cake, ceremony, DJ, photo booth
• Portable kitchen set-up and all service items
• Pizza station
• Additional Bar
• Desserts
• Champagne Welcome
• Service fee & sales tax

Venue | Hartley Botanica (www.HartleyBotanica.com)
$17,727

Included:

• Exclusive venue use for 11.5 hours (party until midnight!)
• Saturday Evening Event
• Ceremony, Cocktail Hour, & Reception sites
• Restroom Facilities
• Dressing Rooms (His & Hers)
• Valet Parking
• Security
• Ceremony Chair (rental & set up)
• Reception Tables
• Rehearsal

Catered Alcohol Service | Brick & Brass Bar (www.BrickAndBrassBar.com)
$5,599.12

Included:

• Gold Package for 5.5 hours
• White & Red House Wine
• Three Choices of Beer
• Two Signature Drinks
• Admin Fees & sales tax
• Additional Bartender

Transportation | Jump On The School Bus (www.jumpontheschoolbus.com)
2 Large Buses: $4,950.00 + Gratuity

More than just a ride, Jump On The School Bus is part of the wedding experience. They combine expert logistics, outstanding customer service, and a fun, celebratory atmosphere to keep your guests together, on time, and celebrating from the moment they step aboard. Whether it's your wedding party or all of your guests, they make transportation one less thing to worry about—and one more thing to remember.

• Billed for 9 hours per bus (up to 2 free hours)
• Included both Wedding Party in separate pick-ups, then guests
• 2,000 Watt Sound System - With option to choose your own music

• Choice of lettering displayed on the sides of the bus (You really WANT our buses in your photos!)
•  Pre-Ceremony: Neva & Edwin Are Getting Married!
•  Post-Ceremony: Neva Gunna Give You Up!
• Open Limo-Style Seating for socializing & dancing (no boring facing forward seats!)
• Cooler included on board with ice & bottled water (option to add additional beverages)
• Full time support/logistics leading up to the day-of
• Group text stream set up with the planner & our team the day of with real time updates and communication directly from the drivers

Photography & Videography | Cali Shores Media (www.CaliShoresMedia.com)
$4,600

Included:

• Wedding day photography
• Videography
• Drone footage
• Highlight reel
• Full wedding film

DESSERTS |
Cake - Camarillo Cupcakes (www.camarillocupcake.com)
$650

Included:

• Two-tier wedding cake
• Additional sheet cake

Frozen Yogurt - Humphrey Yogart (www.therealhumphreyyogart.com)
$1,900

One of three dessert experiences offered to guests. Humphrey Yogart provides custom blended frozen yogurt on site. They came equipped with three different yogurt bases & 20 blend-in's / toppings. Guests’ yogurts are made-to-order. They provide a custom menu and details that match the theme of the wedding. The service was $650/hr for their guest count of 200 people. It is a 3-hour minimum with 1.5 hours dedicated to setup and break down. They served for 1.5 hours.

Coffee Bar - R&R Coffee (www.rrcoffeebar.com)
$1,650

A crowd favorite that kept guests energized throughout the evening. Included:

• 3-Hours of Service
• Basic Menu

Custom Made Espresso Drinks

FLORALS |
G&C Flower Shop, Los Angeles (323) 671-8084
$3,000

Included:

• Bridal bouquet
• Bridesmaids’ bouquets
• Ceremony florals
• Reception centerpieces
• Additional floral accents

Neva also found the table numbers from a wedding resale market in Corona where she bought many of our wedding decor pieces. https://www.socalweddingexchange.com/

She also attended the Bridal Premiere at the Westlake Hyatt, and the Wedding Resale Market hosted at Hartley Botanica by Bella Dia Weddings each February for great deals on lightly used wedding décor.

Ceremony Decor - Flower House 805 (www.flowerhouse805.com)
$900

Included:

• Chuppah
• Wisteria décor

Neva and Edwin consider the flowers one of the best investments they made. Flower House 805 offers everything from rental-only services to full-service floral design, allowing couples to tailor their floral investment to fit their vision and budget. Whether providing a single ceremony installation or designing an entire wedding with floral repurposing, setup, styling, and after-hours pickup, every proposal is customized to meet each couple's unique needs.

Wedding Attire | Bella Wedding Bridal (www.bellaweddingbridal.com)
Total: $3,000

• Wedding dress: $1,900
• Alterations: $700
• Suit: $200
• Accessories: $250

Entertainment | DJ Divine (Coastal Events) (www.coastalevents.net)
$2,500

• Keeping the dance floor full all night long.
• 5 hours of service
• DJ Equipment including speakers, set-up, breakdown

Photo Booth | Aura Booth (www.aurabooth.com)
$1,600

Neva & Edwin customized a package that included some extras. Director of Events, Noah Juknavorian shares current (2027) pricing for a similar package.

Glam Beauty Booth - Starting at $1,599 for 3 hours

Included:

• 2.5-hour pre-event arrival for setup
• Unlimited photos
• Professional DSLR photography
• Studio-quality lighting
• Glam skin-smoothing glow filter
• Solid white or black pillowtop premium backdrop
• On-site, full-service guest engagement attendant(s)
• Complete setup, operation, and breakdown
• Digital delivery (text, AirDrop, or email)
• High-resolution gallery delivered within 24 hours

Aura Booth provides professional studio quality glam photos with other experiences available depending on your goal, such as augmented reality powered by AI. Their full-service staff engages with guests enhancing your wedding, making the booth more special, and capturing priceless moments. Signage props are available with party and wedding quotes only. Custom sign props are available upon request; however, they don't provide any tangible props worn on the face or body. To view the various packages, check out the digital deck. Their most popular wedding package is the Glam Beauty Booth. CLICK HERE >>Aura Booth, Inc. Deck

Professional Event Coordination | Bella Dia Weddings (www.belladiaweddingsinc.com)
$1,400

Included:

• Planning (First Meeting) 1 Hour
  - Complete consultation to coordinate the ceremony and reception
  - Vendor recommendations
  - Establish a wedding day schedule
• Direct Rehearsal (Second Meeting) 1 Hour
  - Run-through of the Ceremony with Bridal Party, and Officiant, if needed.
  - Accept ‘Day Items’ and alcohol and place in designated storage.
  - Confirm Wedding Day Itinerary
• Direct Ceremony and Reception (7.5 Hours)
  - Arrival 2-3 hours prior to ceremony to start reception setup
  - Direct vendors to the proper locations, and be on hand to answer any questions
  - Ensure tables and place setting numbers are correct according to the provided diagram
  - Arrange place cards or escort cards
  - Place one favor at each place setting (Additional favors placed will be an additional fee; TBD)
  - Ensure all personal items that have been previously collected are in the designated areas
• Ceremony
  - Coordinate the start time with the clergy and musicians for processional/recessional
  - Ensure Groom & Groomsmen are in their positions
  - Line up parents, and grandparents to be escorted in
  - Ensure Bride & Bridesmaids are in their positions
  - Organize the processional line and spacing
• Reception
  - Light any candles that need to be lit
  - Set up escort card table, if needed
  - Direct bridal party to photo area
  - Coordinate Grand Entrance of bridal party
  - Discreetly dismiss tables for dinner
  - Ensure time line for the rest of the evening runs smoothly
  - Pack gifts, and personal items into designated vehicle

Hair & Makeup | Touch by Nika (www.touchbynika.com)
$1,200

Included:

• Bridal hair and makeup
• Four additional makeup services
• One additional hair service

Trial appointment was approximately $180 and paid separately.

 

Additional Wedding Costs

Approximately $19,000

This category included many of the often-overlooked costs that can significantly impact a wedding budget:

• Welcome bags
• Dance Lessons Aesthetic Dance Studio ($1000)
• Friday night gathering
• Sunday brunch
• Officiant Rabbi Keara Stein ($1500)

• Party Favors: “For the party favors, we gave everyone a frame [for their photo booth pictures], with an insert that reads, “thanks for making our day picture perfect”. We also included a botanical flower glycerin soap. These were included in organza bags.”

• Wedding décor items
• Glassware
• Wax seals
• Card box
• Bathroom baskets
• Mirrors and display pieces – thrifted from wedding shows

• Live Music for Ceremony Pink Mozart (pinkmozartentertainment.com) @PinkMozartEnt

Gallery

Photos by @CaliShoresMedia

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