Wedding Budget Breakdown
Whether your budget is $10K or $100K, our wedding breakdown provides great structure when building the wedding of your dreams. AND making sure you don’t break the bank. This framework (visualized in the pie chart) can help you stick to your budget as you add different vendors to your wedding day all-star team.
Big question - “Why do I need any of this?”
The reality is, you don’t neeeeed anything. But you’ll want most -if not all of these- to create a celebration that resembles a traditional wedding that has 50+ people grouped together for 6+ hours.
Your specific budget will shift depending on what you value most. You may invest more in photo/video but spend less on florals/ decor. Or skip signage and splurge on guest entertainment. Or have a dry wedding and put more funds towards food. How you divide the budget is totally up to you! This framework is based on data from previous weddings and it’s a great way to think about what you can realistically spend on your celebration.
Budget Breakdown
What’s the split for a $50K Budget?
Venue: $10,000
Catering: $12,550
Bar: $4,000
Planner: $5,000
Photo/Video: $5,000
Florals/Decor: $5,000
DJ/Music: $3,500
Signage: $1,000
Entertainment: $1,500
Beauty: $1,500
Gratuity: $1,000
What is it like for a $35K Budget?
Venue: $7,000
Catering: $8,750
Bar: $2,800
Planner: $3,500
Photo/Video: $3,500
Florals/Decor: $3,500
DJ/Music: $2,450
Signage: $700
Entertainment: $1,050
Beauty: $1,050
Gratuity: $700
How about a $10K Budget?
Venue: $2,000
Catering: $2,500
Bar: $800
Planner: $1,400
Photo: $1000
Florals/Decor: $500
DJ/Music: $1,400
Signage: $200
Entertainment: $0
Beauty: $200
Gratuity: $200
Benefits to Hiring these professionals
Venue & Catering: These two take up the largest portion (a whopping 45%!) because they’re essential to hosting any great event. Where you choose to host this celebration and what everyone eats can make or break your party. AND they’re the two things everyone will remember if they aren’t executed properly. We’re talking… space is too small, doesn’t have accessibility in mind, no onsite parking, no space for wedding party to prep and store items, not enough bathrooms, food is cold, food is bad, didn’t cater to dietary needs… etc.
Skipping the venue rental? We love a good backyard wedding! Just remember to create a rain plan for your home celebration - Which usually requires a tent rental. This typically starts at $3,000 and might not meet your cost saving goals in the long run. Keep that in mind as you decide if a backyard wedding is right for you. You can host your event anywhere your heart desires! But hiring experts with the built in accommodations and wedding experience can go a long way.
Bar: Some people like to drink. And some people like to DRANK! Many caterers offer bar service add-ons. And some venues have built-in bar per person(pp) minimums. Whether you book a separate bartending vendor or get the service through the caterer or venue, make sure your bartender is solely focused on the signature beverages to best service your big drinkers in the group.
Planner: There is some debate on this... but without a doubt you need a planner
1. Most wedding venues now require professional planners because they want you and your 100+ guests to have a positive experience on their property.
2. That also means they know from years of experience that weddings without professional planners don’t go well.
3. Even for a home celebration, you’ll want a point person who can direct all vendors and guests throughout the night.
4. You need an experienced professional to step in on your behalf when things breakdown. Trust us, something always happens. Our expert problem solvers swoop in so you never know what happened. Need a planner? Reach out to our team
Photographer and/or Videographer: Not required to have a great day. But lots of people (including your guests) have come to expect at least professional photography at a wedding. Trust us… you’ll get calls and texts months after the wedding from distant relatives wanting photos of them looking their best on your wedding day.
DJ/Music: Live Band? Mariachis? Rockstar DJ? String Quarter? Solo Cellist? There are so many great options for your special day. One thing we strongly recommend against is relying 100% on a Spotify playlist. At big events, you want one person to control the sound, monitor timing for speeches, and manage all song requests throughout the night. They also do a great job of editing requests that are totally inappropriate or don’t fit the desired vibe. If budget doesn’t allow for a hired professional, make sure you have 1 or 2 friends appointed to this role.
Florals/Decor: Such a great way to create your signature look for your wedding - something that speaks to your unique personality. This could be flowers or even elaborate aisle runners, specialty rentals, disco balls, or ceiling installations. Just know it’s your day and should look like you.
🚨One word of caution🚨 Almost all of the massive floral installations you’ve seen on Instagram, Brides.com & Vanity Fair will easily average $50,000 just for floral decor.
Signage or guest entertainment: These elements vary so much from couple to couple. If you’re the type of person who’d opt for a mini petting zoo & a bounce house or the type to swoon over laser cut seating charts and beautiful menus… there are experts who make sure your designs print and scale correctly or who can bring equipment and performers you don’t typically have access to. Just know that you have 5% left in your budget to bring your special day together and let your personality shine ✨.
Gratuity: Yes. You should tip your vendors. In normal life we tip restaurant servers, hair stylist, movers, drivers, delivery personnel… basically anyone doing manual labor to execute our vision. Your wedding is no different. If anything, your wedding is all that on hyperdrive! Why? Because you now have 10-30 people getting tips in one day. We encourage everyone to set aside at least 2% of the budget to tip the many people you hire to work your event. Want more tipping guidance? Check out our “Which Vendors should I Tip” article.
What about beauty, jewelry & attire?:
On the day, your choice will depend a lot on the experience you want for the day. Have you always thought of your wedding day as a time to get pampered by professional artists? Or do you want a casual hair & make up experience where you purchase the best products and do hair/ make up with your wedding crew?
We skipped jewelry & attire because everyone is so different in this area and it’s really difficult to create a set rule. But a good starting place is setting aside 3% of your budget for day of beauty goals.
Whatever you want to look and feel your best, we support that 💯!!
