A marriage is definitely something to celebrate, and couples like to honor their nuptials with a bash. But after the excitement of an engagement, the reality of planning a wedding sets in, often causing sticker shock.
Many couples have no idea what weddings cost until they plan one. And social media photos of lavish weddings don’t help, as the most popular images can feature weddings that cost well over $1 million, according to Nathalie Cadet-James, owner of Luxe Fête, an event planning studio in Miami. “While social media offers couples great inspiration for their event, it doesn’t give them a realistic idea of all the work and costs that are put into weddings,” she said.
The average cost of a wedding today is $36,000, a number that has been inching up in recent years. Some factors, such as rising food and labor costs, supply chain disruptions and inflation, are out of your control. But you might have more discretion over other factors, such as the time of year, day of the week and location.
Below, we break down the biggest expenses involved in hosting a traditional wedding and explain what you can expect. We also spoke with couples who shared their wedding budgets for three different types of celebrations.
Venue
Where the wedding takes place will dictate all the other choices and vendors for your celebration. “Depending on whether your venue is full-service and inclusive of catering or not can determine how you spend on many other details for your event,” said Lindsay Landman, the owner of an events company based in New York City. According to Zola, the location can account for at least half a couple’s overall budget.
Many wedding venues provide full catering and rentals, which can be a convenient option for couples. A full buyout offers couples complete access to the entire space for their wedding day or weekend, in addition to packages for catering and rentals, said Trudy Wilson, director of sales and events for Cape Resorts, which owns several hotels in New Jersey. “A partial buyout offers more limited access to the venue, with other guests on property, but also provides food and beverage and rental packages.”
Even if the venue offers full catering and rentals, your package may not include everything you need. Some event spaces require that you rent a tent, or you may need to pay extra for lighting or audio equipment like microphones and sound speakers, said Jacin Fitzgerald, who owns an event-planning company in Atlanta. Logistics, such as building and transporting an outdoor altar or bringing in air-conditioners or heaters, can also add up, said Ms. Fitzgerald.
Some venues charge separate fees for the ceremony and the reception; for using different areas on the property, such as bridal suites; and for extra hours, like an after-party. And if you are using separate locations for your ceremony and reception, you’ll have to account for these costs at both.
Food and Beverage
If food is not included at your venue, you’ll have to hire a caterer. Prices range from $125 to $500 per person. “The type of menu can increase the pricing, such as premium foods like lamb, lobster and halibut, as well as the style of service, including buffet, plated, stations, lavish displays and late-night snacks,” said Alain Lemaire, a co-owner and the executive chef of Sensory Delights in Pembroke Pines, Fla.
“Waitstaff is normally included, but bar services are usually an add-on, and prices are based on the type of service and drinks,” he said. And if your caterers need to bring their own kitchen equipment and staff because they’re not available at your venue, it’s an added cost, which can run about $8,000 to $10,000, depending on factors like the menu, style of service and type of equipment.
Signature cocktails and mocktails — which 54 percent of couples offer at their weddings, according to a 2025 report by Zola — can add to the catering cost. “For 100 guests, the tab can start at $8,000 for a basic bar service,” said Mr. Lemaire.
Cake
Unless a wedding cake is included in the cost of your caterer or venue, it’s a separate cost. Pricing starts at $10 to $12 per serving and increases depending on flavor, filling and design. According to a recent survey by David’s Bridal, couples spend $756 on average for cake.
For Natalie Thames, the owner of Déjà Vu Sweets in Coral Springs, Fla., custom cakes start at $600 for a minimum of 50 people. Her clients typically spend $1,500 to $5,000 for a fully customized cake and dessert table. “This range reflects the level of artistry, special customizations and several hours of work,” said Ms. Thames. “It also accounts for tastings, delivery fees and setup charges.”
Depending on your venue or caterer, you may also have to pay a fee for cutting, plating and serving your cake. This charge, which ranges from about $6 to $18 per person, is determined by the number of guests and cake style.
Flowers and Décor
While the type and the number of flowers affect the cost of décor — peonies can be $10 to $15 a stem, while roses are about $3 to $5 — labor plays a big part, too. “Most couples think that the cost of floral décor only applies to the actual flowers, but they don’t factor in the care and preparation of them, design work and labor put into creating the arrangements,” said Phuong Nguyen, founder of Mibellarosa, a floral design company in Houston. “There are also fees for transportation, setup and breakdown and removal of the arrangements after your event ends.”
According to Michelle Vining, an owner of LOLA Event Productions in Chicago, ceremony and reception décor with basic lighting for a 150- to 200-guest wedding can start at $15,000 to $20,000. “For more aspirational couples who are inspired by what they see on Instagram, they can expect to pay at least $50,000,” she said. “And luxury décor with, for example, lavish floral arches, several ceiling installations and a grand cake table moment can easily surpass $100,000.”
Bridal bouquets start at about $350 and can reach $750 or more for premium flowers like lilies of the valley or phalaenopsis orchids. Bridesmaid bouquets usually cost $125 to $200 each, depending on the size and type of flowers. Boutonnieres normally start at $15 and can go up to $75 for more elaborate styles.
Keep in mind that cost is also influenced by location. “Wedding locations with strong local flower markets, like California and Florida, may have a much different price structure than events that occur in the Midwest, where many of the flowers must be shipped in,,” said Michelle Maslowski, the owner of One of a Kind Events in Indianapolis.
Wedding Planner
According to The Knot, wedding planners dedicate, on average, 77 hours to each wedding. Pricing reflects the amount of time and work they put into an event, with responsibilities like managing event details, matching couples with vendors and helping them understand and negotiate their contracts. Rates are also largely based on the planner’s experience level and location.
Services range from full or partial planning to month- or day-of coordination. Rates can be flat-fee, customized for a predetermined number of services or set as a percentage of the couple’s total wedding cost, often starting at 10 percent with a minimum spend, said Samantha Leenheer, the owner of House of Joy, an event planning firm in Dayton, Ohio.
For a top-tier, full-service planner, you can expect to pay 15 to 20 percent of the total wedding cost. Partial planning can be about 12 percent of the total wedding cost, and month-of or day-of coordination can be 8 percent. Packages for full-service planning can start at $5,000, and partial planners start at about $2,500. Costs can start at $2,000 for month-of coordinators and $1,500 for day-of coordinators.
Photo and Video
Full wedding photography, including an engagement session, prints and a photo album, can cost $10,000 or more. A luxury-level photographer will start at $50,000 and reach $80,000 or more for a wedding weekend.
“Pricing not only reflects the photography on the wedding day, but also postproduction editing and retouching,” said Elizabeth Austin, an Atlanta-based photographer. Additional factors like a second photographer and coverage time will influence the overall pricing. Film photography, a trendy choice for many couples, also adds to the cost because of the price of film rolls and photo developing.
Videography is budgeted separately, and average prices range from $3,000 to $6,000. For a higher-end videographer, couples can expect to pay around $10,000, which would include at least nine hours of coverage, two videographers and digital content, said Jordan Jeanty, a videographer who owns a studio in Dallas. Luxury videographers start at about $50,000. “A videographer’s technical and editing skills and the equipment they use are also major factors to their costs,” Mr. Jeanty said.
Music and Entertainment
Whether your wedding music features a band, musician or D.J., costs will be influenced by the caliber of talent, audio and visual equipment rentals and the performance duration. Additional time for setup and rehearsals also affects the price.
Bands and musical ensembles can start at $5,000 and go up to over $15,000. Higher-end entertainment companies can range from $30,000 to $50,000. At that level, you can expect classically trained performers who are well known in the entertainment industry, said Keanna O’Quinn, founder and chief curator of Sonic Sommelier, a music company whose performers have attended music conservatories, toured with major recording artists like Beyoncé and Dua Lipa and performed on Broadway stages. The size of the band matters, too. And additional rentals, such as a stage, can cost $2,000 to $5,000.
Classical musicians who perform during the ceremony or cocktail hour command higher rates than jazz or pop musicians, typically charging $700 to $1,000 for one to two hours, said Andrea Smith, the founder of The Band Method, an entertainment company in Brooklyn. “In contrast, jazz or pop musicians generally charge $200 to $500 for the same duration.” To reduce costs for ceremony and cocktail-hour music, many couples hire musicians from their reception band to perform since they are already on-site.
D.J.s are less expensive than a live band and generally cost $2,000 to $5,000. In addition to the length of the set, prep time is a factor. “We put quite a bit of time into getting the music ready for the event itself because on the day of, it’s more about the execution; and the last thing you need is your D.J. downloading music they don’t have,” said Kevin Dennis, owner of Fantasy Sound Event Services in Livermore, Calif.
And not all D.J.s include M.C. services, which is another line item to watch.
Paper Goods
Custom invitations allow you to personalize save-the-dates, invitations and day-of stationery with one-of-a-kind designs, premium materials and specialty printing. These are more expensive than semi-custom or ready-to-order wedding stationery made by companies like Minted or Zazzle, which offer predesigned templates and fonts.
Most invitation suites, which normally consist of the invitation, response card and envelope and weekend events card, cost $35 to $150 per set. Save-the-dates and thank-you cards are not included in invitation suites. Custom stationery designers generally start their pricing with a design fee, and then add on the costs of producing each component. Katie Fischer Cohen, who owns a design studio in Portland, Maine, starts her invitation suite pricing at $4,500 — which includes custom designs, copy-editing and up to four rounds of mock-ups — in addition to the cost of production for the pieces ordered. She also offers semi-custom invitation suites, which start at $2,055 for 25 invitations and include envelopes with a printed return address and digital reply cards.
The total cost increases with upgrades and the number of invitations ordered.
Hand calligraphy is an extra cost of $5 to $10 per envelope, depending on the calligrapher and style. Computer calligraphy, also called variable address printing, is offered by most printers and is less expensive at $2.50 to $6 per envelope. And postage can be $5 or more per invitation.
Attire
Couples have many options today, including ready-to-wear, vintage, made-to-order or couture dresses and suits. Most brides choose made-to-order gowns, which are made to their measurements, cut individually and produced according to their requests. They can take four to nine months to make.
Prices for made-to-order wedding dresses vary greatly based on quality, style and experience level of designer, said Gabrielle Hurwitz, a bridal stylist in New York. In general, less expensive dresses, made by designers like Watters and Justin Alexander, start around $3,000. Midrange dresses, including those offered by KYHA and Anne Barge, cost about $4,000 to $13,000. Gowns by higher-end designers, such as Monique Lhuillier and Oscar de la Renta, start at about $10,000 to $20,000.
A couture dress, which typically starts around $30,000, is created from scratch, and made mostly by hand using fine materials. “The process is entirely bespoke, with the bride getting one-on-one time with the design team,” said Ines Di Santo, a bridal gown designer. “And every element, from the silhouette to the smallest embellishment, is crafted specifically for her dress. This involves numerous consultations and fittings.”
Ready-to-wear, off-the-rack attire and vintage finds can cost less than $200 or thousands of dollars.
Many grooms are now investing in their wedding-day looks by paying upward of $3,000 for a suit from a luxury or bespoke designer. “They are generally looking for pieces that will have longevity, items that they can wear again,” said Julie Sabatino, a bridal stylist in New York City and the author of “Dressed, Styled, and Down the Aisle.” Grooms often get more adventurous with accessories but keep foundation pieces like suits or tuxedos classic, she said.
Transportation
Whether you’re traveling by limo, vintage car or trolley, getting to your wedding is an important detail. According to a 2025 study by The Knot, couples spent $1,075 on average for wedding transportation. In addition to the rental cars that you’ll need for yourself, your bridal party and family, you may want to shuttle your guests between venues. Rates can run from $100 to $400 an hour, depending on the type of vehicle you choose, with a minimum time requirement.
Miscellaneous Costs
Wedding planners recommend keeping your wedding-day budget separate from the budget for any additional events, such as a rehearsal dinner, welcome party and after-party.
“Invitations, food and beverages, and entertainment for your additional wedding events should all be budgeted separately,” said Ms. Fitzgerald. “This will give you a better idea of how much you want to and can spend on each function.”
Be sure to look over your vendors’ contracts and ask questions about what is expected from you and what is or isn’t included. For example, when budgeting for catering, account for vendor meals for your day-of team, such as your wedding planner, photographer and musicians. “Their meals don’t have to be the same as for guests, but many vendors require that they are served a hot meal if they are working the duration of your event,” said Tasha Bracken, principal event producer and owner of Bracken Events in Wellesley Hills, Mass.
Tips are an expense that couples may forget to account for. “In the case of catering and transportation, tipping is often automatically added to the invoice,” Ms. Cadet-James said. “But for other vendors like the musicians and D.J., it’s discretionary. It’s a good idea to hold a miscellaneous line in your budget, which is where you can pull from for any missed expenses like these.”
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