Image by Sara Cooper.
In the beginning of your wedding planning journey, your first step might be to speak money. You’ll create a budget that’s comfortable for each you and your better half. This magic number will play a vital role in hiring vendors, finding your dream venue, and so rather more. But let’s be real. Sometimes you set a budget, and before you already know it, you go over it. We’ve seen this occur persistently, and it may be frustrating for those seeking to keep an in depth eye on their spending.
Underestimating your wedding expenses can really cost you in the long run. Either you’ll must cough up more cash, otherwise you’ll must rearrange funds to make up for the prices. Each sound incredibly stressful. That’s why we would like to be certain that you will have realistic budget expectations from the beginning.
We’ve polled our Instagram audience to see what they expect to spend in each wedding category, and we’re comparing these numbers to the averages to see if there’s a spot between what people expect to pay and what they ultimately dish out.
Wedding Invitations
Wedding invitations give your guests a sneak peek into your wedding. So, in fact, you would like them to be stunning and match your theme. But additionally they have to have all of the essential wedding details as well. That may get expensive quickly. Once we polled our audience on Instagram, the bulk said they expect to pay between $100-$300 total for his or her wedding invitations.
The value of invitations will vary based in your design, printing style, paper quantity, and quantity. But the typical cost typically ranges between $300 and $700 for each invitations and envelopes. While near the typical, Instagram underestimates the fee of wedding invitations barely.
After all, you might all the time go for electronic invites or simply create a wedding website with all of the must-know information. This can undoubtedly prevent money. But, if there’s room in your budget, try to keep on with paper invites. They’re extraordinary to receive within the mail, they’ll make for a pleasant keepsake, and your photographer will appreciate this with regards to capturing your flatlay.
Expected costs: $100-$300
Average costs: $300 and $700
Image by Beatrice Howell. See more of this real wedding here.
Wedding Costs: Venue
Venue costs vary substantially. We’re bearing in mind lowkey backyard spaces, lavish banquet halls, and all the pieces in between. With the various venue locations, sizes, and guest capacities, our average venue costs will vary quite a bit. And our Instagram poll is proof.
The ultimate votes from our Instagram poll were scattered. Yet, the slightest majority leaned toward the $8,000+ range. And so they’ve got it right. The common wedding venue typically hovers around $10,000. But with regards to trying to find your dream venue, to get probably the most accurate pricing estimate, do just a little research on the typical costs of spaces in your local area that’ll suit your variety of guests.
Expected costs: $8,000+
Average costs: $10,000
Realistic Breakdown of Fashion Costs
When serious about fashion, we’re not only referencing your wedding day outfit. While your wedding dress, jumpsuit, or tux will inevitably take up nearly all of your fashion budget, there’s so rather more involved. You furthermore mght have to think about your accessories like jewelry, ties, shoes, veils, shapewear, etc. While these all may appear to be small, insignificant details, they’ll add up quickly.
Wedding dresses generally fall between $1,500 to $2,500. Purchasing a suit averages between $300 and $500. If you should wear a veil, you possibly can expect to pay around $250. Those all together will leave your budget around $3000, but that doesn’t include shoes, ties, jewelry, headbands, etc.
Once we polled Instagram, our audience said they were expecting to pay between $1,000 and $3,000 for his or her fashion. While that’s doable, these numbers fall much lower than the typical. It’s estimated most couples will spend between $3,000 and $5,000 to finish each wedding ensembles. When calculating your budget, be certain that you take into consideration all of the nitty-gritty fashion details beyond just your dress or suit. This can help prevent any surprises down the road.
Expected costs: $1,000 and $3,000
Average costs: $3,000 and $5,000
Photographer and Videographer Costs
Your wedding day will go by in a blink of a watch. That’s where your photographer and videographer change into essential. Their goal is to capture your special occasion so you possibly can relive your cherished moments for years to come back. Unsurprisingly, once we polled our Instagram followers, they estimated to spend $3,000+ on their photographer and videographer.
On average, most couples spend between $1,500 and $2,500 on their wedding videographer and between $3,00 and $4,000 for his or her photographer. That is, in fact, depending on location, add-ons, and hours of coverage.
Expected costs: $3,000+
Average costs: $3,000 to $4,000
Image by Lauren Wysocki. See more of this real wedding here.
Wedding Costs for Flowers
With wedding flowers typically being one of the crucial essential wedding decor details, it’s crucial that you just don’t underestimate your floral budget. You need to ensure an accurate price estimation before meeting with potential florists. It’s essential to notice that the value of your flowers relies on the form of flowers you select, the seasonality of your flowers, the quantity of arrangements you wish, the dimensions of your arrangements, delivery costs, etc.
With all those details in mind, our Instagram audience estimated wedding flower costs in 2023 to be between $500 and $2,000. This might be the case for those planning a small, intimate wedding. But couples wanting a big, floral-filled wedding can expect to pay, on average, around $3,000 minimum.
This number might need you considering a DIY project, but bear in mind that hiring an experienced florist can actually prevent money. That’s right! They’ll make suggestions on ways to bring your vision to life inside your wedding budget. So long as you come to your initial consultation with an open mind, you possibly can create some floral magic no matter your budget.
Expected costs: $500-$2000
Average costs: $3,000
Wedding Cake Costs
Wedding cakes are available many styles and sizes, and their costs are closely tied to those aspects, including the cake’s design and level of intricacy. As our Instagram audience appropriately guessed, the typical cake price for 2023 typically falls between $350 and $500.
For those who’re aiming for a small and easy cake, you’ll end up on the lower end. Nevertheless, for those with more elaborate visions, be prepared on your cake to be on the upper end. Sharing an inspirational image with a prospective bakery can aid you get a more accurate quote based in your specific design.
Expected costs: Lower than $500
Average costs: $350-$500
Image by Emily Delamater. See more of this inspiration here.
Wedding DJ and Live Music
Music sets the scene for essential moments, comparable to the walk down the aisle, the reception entrance, and even your first dance. It’s also the key to getting your guests moving and grooving on the dance floor. For those who’re searching for a fun night of dancing, skipping on the music is solely not an option on your big day. And in the event you agree, put aside a median of $1,000 to $2,000 for a wedding DJ or live band.
Expected costs: $1,000 to $2,000
Average costs: $1,000 to $2,000
Average Wedding Catering Costs
Before estimating your overall wedding budget, we would like to provide you just a little food for thought—pun intended. To get a really accurate price, you could know two things: the form of catering you would like and your guest count.
Catering costs are sometimes calculated per person, averaging around $75 per plate. So, in case your guest list falls inside the 50-100 range, you possibly can anticipate a catering bill starting from $3,500 to $7,500. It’s essential to do not forget that this number typically doesn’t include expenses related to the bar, alcohol, or dessert.
Expected costs: $2,000+
Average costs: $3,500 and $7,500
Making a wedding budget is overwhelming. First, you will have to make your mind up on the general number you’re willing to spend in your big day. Then, you will have to make decisions about where to place your money. These average estimations should help get you on the suitable track. But, before you truly meet with potential vendors, use our budget tool to get organized.
Image by Elizabeth Grant Photography.
