A wedding budget is something that is forever talked about, much debated, but rarely unveiled in all its line-by-line glory. We at The Kit are changing that, because we know you want straight goods on how much a wedding—and all those pretty little wedding details—*actually* cost.
To do this, we’re taking you inside the celebrations of Canadian couples and sharing not just their love stories, but exactly how much they spent on their day and where the money went. In the first instalment of this regular new feature, Stacey Fishman and Drew Classen take us inside their dreamy destination wedding in Mexico and break down how they planned it on a super-strict budget.
The Proposal
Stacey and Drew started dating in May 2019. The story of how they met is one for the modern ages. “One day, I was aimlessly scrolling through the dark hole of Instagram and came across a photo of Drew,” says Stacey. “I clicked on his profile, was intrigued and wanted to know more. I took a leap of faith and sent him a DM to which he responded immediately.”
After chatting for a few days, they pair arranged their first date…which just happened to be on the first day of the Raptors NBA championship series in Toronto. Stacey was three hours late to meet Drew due to city traffic. He was there waiting for her, and it was the beginning of their forever. Drew proposed in April 2021 on a hike with their three dogs at Arrowhead Provincial Park. “We love nature, so this was a perfect proposal,” says Stacey. “Drew played our favourite song ‘Big Big Plans,’ by Chris Lane and popped the question by a beautiful waterfall.”
The Wedding
Stacey and Drew said “I do” in January 2022 at Finest Playa Mujeres in Cancun. They had 42 guests join them for their breezy boho destination wedding. “The majority of our guests flew to Mexico for five days, which allowed our family and friends a unique opportunity to bond before the wedding,” says Stacey. “After the trip, we felt like one big family and experienced moments together we will cherish forever. It also helped with any post-wedding blues because we were still in paradise with our loved ones for a few days following.”
For their celebration, Stacey says they went with a relaxed, beachy theme because it symbolized the casual and carefree vibe of the couple’s relationship. The colour palette was soft neutrals like beige gold, light pink and white, all of which were woven into the standout décor piece of the party, the floral arch. “This was a splurge in our budget and hands down our favourite wedding detail,” says Stacey. “We moved the floral arch from ceremony to reception space and added a neon sign that said, ‘All You Need Is Love.’ It became the backdrop for so many guest photos.”
More of the couple’s favourite details of the day included the surfboard seating chart, their first look photos and the hora, a traditional dance performed at Jewish weddings. “Many of our guests had never participated in the hora before” says Stacey. “We all grabbed hands and danced to Hava Nagila and it was such a fun time and a great way to get people on their feet and let loose!”
The Costs
The couple set a strict budget for their wedding day, and Stacey proudly reports that they kept all costs on track. PR-pro Stacey tracked every wedding expense on a spreadsheet, and did a lot of research when wedding planning to determine where to spend and splurge.
“Our floral arch was a splurge—it cost $1,752—but it was our wow detail,” says Stacey. “For the rest of the florals for our day we saved by renting silk floral arrangements from a local vendor in Cancun. The florals were beautiful and matched our floral arch perfectly.”
Stacey learned more budget savvy tips during her wedding planning. “Repurpose where you can,” she says. “We coordinated our silk flower delivery to arrive for our welcome party the day before our wedding, so we could use the florals for both. Set your table with one standout detail—for us that was a pink goblet—as a fully loaded tablescape adds up. Lastly, for a destination wedding, do some research to find some incredible local vendors outside of the preferred list your hotel will share with you. We found some amazing talent like our photography, DJ and floral providers at reasonable prices, and it felt great to truly shop local.”
Wedding Cost Breakdown
Here’s a detailed look at the wedding costs for Stacey and Drew’s big day.
Wedding Ceremony Package Fee: $1,954
Floral Arch: $1,752
Ceremony Chair Rental: $273
Silk Bridal Bouquet: $94
Silk Bridesmaid Bouquets (6): $94
Cocktail Hour & Reception: $1,758
Reception Table & Chair Rental: $1,149
Lounge Rentals: $412
Surfboard Seating Chart: $289
Blush Goblets: $264
Table Settings: $476
Neon Sign: $365
Ceiling draping: $756
Silk Floral Centrepieces (21): $794
String Lights: $504
Cake: $79
DJ: $1,891
Photographer: $1,481
Wedding Dress: $2,500
Groom’s Attire: $740
Total Cost: $17,625
Stacey And Drew’s Wedding Directory
Wedding Dress: Maggie Sottero from Superior Bridal
Groom’s Suit: Hockerty
Hair & Makeup: One Spa By Finest Playa Mujures
Floral Arch: Velvet Event Designs
Silk Flowers: BiFloral Silk Flowers
DJ: DJ Doremixx
Photographer: Arturo Aguilar Photography
Venue: Finest Playa Mujures
Want to share your wedding story and wedding budget breakdown with The Kit? We’d love to hear from you at [email protected]