It's Time to Get Real About What Your Wedding Will Cost
In the words of the one and only J. Lo: “Love don’t cost a thing.”
But, we’re here to get real with you: it does when you’re planning a wedding.
So, are you wondering what all goes into that investment? Pour yourself a glass of wine, take a deep breath, and let’s take a closer look at the numbers.
Bouquet: Watershed Floral
Photo: Greta Tucker
HERE’S WHAT YOUR WEDDING WILL COST YOU:
According to a national survey by WeddingWire, today, couples tend to have an “all in” wedding spend of nearly $30,000 (approximately $230 per guest; 130 total guest count).
But with our experience here in Maine, we think the numbers are a little skewed. And although we don’t believe we do “average” weddings, we do like to set realistic expectations.
All that to say, here’s what we find are some typical estimates for our couples (based on a guest count of 150 - $65k budget), which might help you pick and choose your must-have vendors—especially if you’re hoping to create a more realistic budget that aligns with you and your future spouse’s current lifestyle and financial goals.
$9,000
CATERING
$12,000 ($80 per person)
BAND
$7,000
BAR
$5,250 ($35 per person)
EVENT RENTALS
$4,500 ($30 per person; includes catering equipment)
PHOTOGRAPHY
$4,000
VIDEOGRAPHER
$4,000
FLOWERS
$4,000
WEDDING COORDINATOR
$3,000
LIGHTING
$4,000
TRANSPORTATION
$2,400
DJ
$1,500
HAIR & MAKEUP
$1,025 (bride plus 3 attendants)
INVITATIONS / STATIONERY
$1,675
OFFICIANT
$1,000
$650
HOW CAN YOU CREATE A REALISTIC WEDDING BUDGET?
1. Get to crunching those numbers.
Did you know that 42% of couples dip into their savings, 30% find ways to make some extra cash, and 20% even incur credit card debt? (WeddingWire)
So, it’s time to take a closer look at your finances as a couple—your savings and how much more of your paycheck you can realistically afford to set aside each month. Yes, even if that means you have to cut back on Postmates, Amazon, or your daily Starbucks pick-me-up. (Harsh, we know. But you’ll thank us in the long run.)
Then, grab your iPhone, thumb over to the Calculator app, and determine the “all in” number you both are ready, willing, and able to pay. Think of this number as the absolute maximum you’d want to spend. And if some of your family members have already made it clear that they’ll be contributing*, add in that dollar amount or rough estimate (if they plan on covering a particular vendor).
Finally, the guest list plays a big role in determining your budget. Spend some time making a list of all the people you want to invite. Then, take your budget and divide it by your current guest count. When you do, you’ll get your value per guest and be able to answer this oh-so-important question: Is each person listed worth your investment? And the sacrifice of your regular Starbucks drink?
*Not so sure if you’ll be getting by with a little help from your friends & fam, yet? Don’t worry. We’ll cover this in a minute.
2. Prioritize your must-haves.
From there, go through the list of typical wedding day staples above and pick out your big three. What can’t you envision your day without?
Do you picture a lot of lush greenery in your ceremony and reception space? Or you just can’t imagine not having video documentation of all the special moments from your day? What about a particular photographer or wedding planner you’ve been dreaming of booking?
When you make space in your wedding budget for those essentials while identifying areas where you can scale back (e.g., a smaller wedding cake or cupcakes; a DJ versus a live band), you’ll find it’s much easier to stay on track with your spending!
3. Figure out who’s paying for what (if you haven’t already).
The average couple pays for nearly 45% of their wedding, with family and friends footing the remaining bill. (WeddingWire)
If we’re basing things off of tradition, you’d find that the bride’s family generally pays for the whole shebang. But in today’s world? The lines are pretty blurred.
And if that’s the case with your family, once you’ve crunched your numbers and prioritized your wedding budget, invite your folks to a high-level convo. Share your “big picture” number with them, as well as your wedding day vision and must-haves. There’s a good chance they’ll have some feedback to share and possibly even volunteer how much or where exactly they’d like to contribute their funds.
4. Start researching.
Now, it’s time to get down to business, scouting out your vendor squad to figure out how much your wedding day necessities will really cost you. Where do you even begin?
First, consider your non-negotiables, which typically include your wedding season/day, and location. Oh, and you’ll want to refer back to your estimated guest count. Then, get to connecting with those must-have vendors to gather some estimates (just as you would if you were tackling an HGTV-esque house project).
Next, consider obvious and not-so-obvious fees. Do you plan to have a cake? Don’t forget about the cake cutting fee! Rentals? Factor in setup and breakdown charges. And you’ll need to account for who and what you’ll be tipping.
Overwhelmed yet? Don’t you worry. Here at PMP, we use an online planning portal called Aisle Planner. When you log in to your account, you’ll see things like your monthly to-dos, budget tracker, and guest list manager to help you stay organized and keep your wedding expenses in check.
5. Give yourself a reality check.
While doing your research, you might find you’ve breezed past your “all in” number. If that happens to you, give yourself a reality check. What do we mean by that? Well, while it could be a bit cliché, what we’re about to say is honestly the best piece of advice when it all comes down to it: your big day is about your love.
Your friends and family won’t be talking about how they wished you would’ve gone with the four-tier cake over the cupcakes and cookies, or the expensive yet talented band over the energetic DJ. And even whether or not you DIYed your ceremony signage. So if you need to scale back in specific categories just so you can stay on budget, don’t overthink it! Because, in the end, the topic of conversation will be you two—the happy couple—and the heck of a party you threw.
READY TO PLAN YOUR PINCH ME MOMENT?
“Looking back on it, the money we spent on the PMP 60-day Coordination package was the best money we spent on the entire wedding. It proved to be invaluable both in the planning process and the weekend of the wedding.” - Lucy, Bride
Depending on the planning journey you choose, we can provide budget guidance and allocation suggestions, as well as vendor referrals based on both your budget and style. Contact us to get more information on our packages and to start planning your special day!