A pair of lovebirds decided to have a fancy wedding in Mexico that cost them $80,000. The expenses included $28,000 for food and drinks, $4,000 for flowers, and nearly $3,000 for fireworks.

Misaki Hajimirsadeghi, 29, and her spouse, Amir, 29, tied the knot on April 2, 2024 – 11 years after they first crossed paths during their freshman year at college in 2013.

Upon completing their studies at the University of California, Misaki returned to her hometown of Los Angeles, California, US, while Amir also moved there for a job opportunity.

The pair started dating in October 2019 and in December 2022 Amir got on one knee and popped the question the day after Christmas.

Misaki and Amir wanted to pay for the wedding themselves so had saved up $100,000 in case they went over budget.

With a healthy wedding budget, the couple decided to tie the knot at Nobu Hotel, Los Cabos, Mexico – which was free for the venue as they had 75 guests staying at the hotel.

They spent $28,860 on catering and drinks opting for appetisers and a three-course meal with an open bar, $700 on welcome bags with a handwritten letter, a both bomb, tea bags and sunscreen and $2,800 on fireworks to get the wedding party off with a bang.

In total Misaki and Amir spent $80,230.78 on their wedding and said it was a “perfect day” and “bang for my buck”.

Misaki, who works in finance, from Los Angeles, California, US, said: “It was the most perfect day.

“It was the best vacation, I had all my friends and my family with us – when can you ever do that?

“When can you have all the people you love in the same place?

“We wanted to spend our money in a smart way, we wanted it to be a destination wedding.

“When you become an adult it is so hard to plan a vacation with family and friends so the only way to do that was force them through a wedding.”

Misaki and Amir met each other through a friend on their first week at the University of California in San Diego.

But they didn’t start dating until three years after they left – in October 2019.

Misaki said: “His dorm was down the hall from the girls’ dorm, we met that way and then my roommate became very close with him through soccer.

“That is how we kept in touch throughout college.

“After college, he moved to LA for work and that is where we rekindled.

“I would host parties in LA and he would come over and we started hanging out.

“Each date we had kept getting better and better – everything felt natural to us.

“He felt like home, I am the most comfortable when I am with him.

“We share the same sense of humour and we are very alike.

“The number one thing is I respect him as a person and I am always inspired by him.”

After a few years of dating, the couple got engaged on December 26, 2022, on a rooftop overlooking LA.

Misaki said: “He told all of my friends and family he was going to propose.

“The actual proposal was on a rooftop in LA, he had set up this beautiful arrangement and he popped the question.

“After he proposed, our immediate family came and surprised us and then we had an engagement party with all our friends.”

The couple knew exactly what they wanted for their big day and were prepared to shell out to make it happen. 

Misaki said: “We both woke up at 6am, we stayed in the same room and exchanged vows in our bedroom together.

“It wasn’t natural for us to do public vows, I am so happy we did it that way – it set the tone for the day.

“My parents walked down the aisle, they stopped where the last set of chairs were.

“I walked down the aisle by myself and met up with them and we walked the rest of the way together.”

Despite the high cost of the day, Misaki said it was more affordable compared to other weddings they have been to.

She said: “We are surrounded by people who have million-dollar weddings, we had a cheap wedding in terms of what we did.

“The intention was not to have an expensive wedding – it was to be a more affordable one.

“We spent out money a smart way and used it to bring all of our family and friends together.”

WEDDING COST

– Catering and drinks $28,860 

– Wedding planner $4,640

– Flowers $4,595

– Ceremony rentals $275

– Shoes and dress $3,157 

– Tuxedo and shoes: $1,200

– Veil $152

– Hair and makeup $300

– Rings $5,820

– Invitations $549

– DIY materials $100

– Tables, chairs, linens, flatware, and bar $5,740

– Seating chart $1,440

– Guestbook $400

– Welcome bags $700

– Photographer $4,400

– Videographer $3,364

– Content creator $1,500

– DJ $3,646

– Second dress $165

– Gloves $7

– Champagne tower $320

– Fireworks $2,800