For even the most cost-conscious couples, budgeting for your wedding day can feel like rocket science. Between vendors, venues, and wedding attire, things can add up quickly.
If you’re not mindful of cost throughout the planning process, you may end up going way over your intended budget. For this reason, it is absolutely essential to set up an appropriate boundary before diving into wedding planning.
When it comes to average pricing and vendor quotes, we’ve noticed that most brides have no idea what to expect! To get rid of the guesswork, check out our wedding budget breakdown for cash-savvy couples.
Wedding Budget Breakdown
- Venue & Catering: 40% of your total wedding budget
- Photo & Video: 15% of your total wedding budget
- Entertainment: 10% of your total wedding budget
- Floral: 10% of your total wedding budget
- Decor: 10% of your total wedding budget
- Attire: 5% of your total wedding budget
- Stationery: 3% of your total wedding budget
- Transportation: 3% of your total wedding budget
- Cake: 2% of your total wedding budget
- Gifts: 2% of your total wedding budget
Venue
For most couples, the venue will be the most expensive “item” on your wedding planning checklist. With prices ranging from $6,000 – $11,200, couples typically spend about $8,600 on their wedding site.
For an additional cost, some wedding venues can also provide in-house catering services and other fun perks for your big day. Plan out which services you would like to add beforehand to avoid making any impulse buys later.
Catering
No wedding is complete without a delicious meal at the end of the night. Whether you prefer breakfast for dinner or a fine dining experience, catering is a great opportunity incorporate your favorite meals!
As far as catering, the average cost will be about $4,600 for a full wedding reception. You can save a little cash, however, by allowing family members or friends to prepare snacks and simple meals for your special day.
Photo & Video
On average, wedding photography costs about $2,500 in the state of Florida. You may, however, end up paying more or less depending on the experience and quality of work your photographer brings to the table.
As far as videography, couples can expect to spend $2,500 – $12,500 for up to 10 hours of coverage. On the higher end of this range, you’ll find luxury wedding videographers who will pull out all the stops for your special day.
Entertainment
Another wedding day essential: great music! An experienced DJ or wedding band knows how to keep the party going throughout all the night’s events.
For your wedding, a DJ typically charges about $1,200, but as with all other wedding vendors, you’re likely to see a wide range of quotes. For this reason, it’s important to find out what number you’re comfortable with before moving forward.
Floral
Whether you prefer a simple set of bouquets or full floral for the big day, you’ve got to make room for this in your budget. There’s no better way to highlight your wedding vision than by incorporating the natural beauty of floral arrangements.
In Florida, wedding flowers will run you between $3,000 and $10,000. This pricing is subject to change, however, depending on the items required (arch florals, centerpieces, bouquets, etc.).
Decor
If you want to see your wedding vision come to life, you’ll have to leave room in the budget for decor! The perfect decor selection can help you to create an unforgettable scene for your big day.
Instead of purchasing single-use decor, we recommend going with temporary decor and furniture rentals to save a little cash. All in all, your wedding decor bill should be roughly $2,750.
Attire
For a wedding dress alone, brides can expect to pay $2,439 on average; you may have to tack on additional costs for accessories, shoes, and the perfect veil. The grooms typically spend about $200 to rent a tux, or $500 – $1,000 to buy.
Renting attire whenever possible can help you to avoid unnecessary costs. In addition to rentals, you can get more value out of your wedding attire is by repurposing it or passing it down to other family members.
Gifts
While you can look forward to receiving plenty of wedding presents, this is also a great time to show your partner how much they mean to you! After all, there’s no one that knows their interests and passions quite like you.
When searching for wedding gifts for your spouse, it’s suggested that you stay around $150 in total. At the end of the day, though, the greatest gift is starting this incredible new season of life together.
How to save money on your wedding day
Peak Season vs. Off-Season
Getting hitched in the off-season is a great way to save some cash on your wedding day! Depending on the location of your ceremony, certain times of the year will be busier than others; you can cut down on costs by scheduling your wedding date during the slower months.
It’s common for both vendors and venues to charge more during peak season, as their services are in a much higher demand. By exchanging vows in the off-season, you can rest knowing that you’re more likely to get a lower price point.
Hiring a Professional Planner
Although wedding planners provide an additional service, these vendors can actually end up saving you money! These trusted professionals will guide you through the wedding planning process step by step, making sure that you maintain a realistic wedding budget.
When preparing for married life, you shouldn’t have to stress over every minute detail of your wedding day. With an experienced, professional planner, you can trust that you’ll get the best deals, connections, and expert advice to plan your dream wedding.
Affordable Wedding Venues
Outdoor Venues
You can save a little extra cash by hosting your wedding ceremony in an outdoor venue. By avoiding fees related to building maintenance, outdoor wedding and reception venues can help you to cut down on overall costs.
Multi-purpose venues
Multi-purpose venues, like community centers, museums, and recreational spaces, typically operate outside of the wedding industry. Since they don’t provide a single-use service or good, booking a multi-purpose venue typically doesn’t include service charges.
All-inclusive venues
All-inclusive wedding venues provide a no-strings-attached option that any bride would appreciate, regardless of budget. With most or all of your vendors booked through a single location, you can expect a substantial discount based on vendor-venue trust.
Wedding Credit Cards: Worth it?
Now more than ever, it’s become common for some couples to apply for a credit card to cover their wedding costs. This can relieve some of the burden of paying for certain wedding expenses up front.
Still, it’s important to note that all credit cards come with an associated risk (interest rates, restrictions, etc.). Whether you’re using a credit card to purchase your wedding dress or to pay for the honeymoon, we recommend reading the fine print to ensure that you make the wisest decision.
Guest Lists: Budgeting Accordingly
A large guest count can drive up your wedding costs quickly, so it’s critical to only invite those who you really want to celebrate with on the big day. This way, you can rest knowing that you will be surrounded by those who you love most.
Elopements and intimate weddings tend to avoid high-price goods and services, such as wedding favors, luxurious receptions, and costly catering options. Sending out wedding invitations to a select few will allow you to enjoy the moment with these treasured guests.
In Conclusion
From spectacular destination weddings to simple, backyard weddings, every celebration calls for an appropriate budget. With the average wedding cost in Florida sitting at $27,000, the smartest thing you can do is set realistic expectations.
Keeping track of your wedding expenses will help you to stay in-budget throughout the planning process. From the engagement all the way to the honeymoon, setting a reasonable budget will make your experience feel like a breeze.
No matter what your financial situation or goals may be, there’s no denying that this is one of the most important days of your life. For that reason, it’s in your best interest to set a budget that captures the things you value the most.
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