To pull off a dream wedding on a budget can require smart budgeting and planning. You’ll want to prioritize key elements and think about what you can live without or do for a minimal price.
Here, you’ll learn more about developing and sticking to a budget, including cost-cutting tips that will make the whole process easier on your wallet and your peace of mind.
Key Points
• Prioritize wedding elements to avoid overspending and achieve a dream wedding without debt.
• Average wedding costs vary by location, with a median cost of $10,000 and a national average of $36,000.
• When creating a budget, start with major wedding expenses, like venue, catering, and music.
• Avoid common budgeting mistakes like underestimating costs and not saving enough.
• To save money, try limiting the guest list and tackling DIY projects.
Average Cost of a Wedding
The average cost of a wedding depends on several factors, including how you do the math. In 2025, the national figure was $36,000, according to wedding registry site Zola. Based on a recent SoFi survey of 1,000 people, however, the median cost of a wedding is $10,000, which may be a more accurate gauge of how much people really spend.
As you might expect, individual figures can vary greatly: If you get hitched in the grand ballroom of a hotel in Chicago with sweeping views of Lake Michigan, it’s going to be much pricier than gathering with just immediate family and your best friends to exchange vows by that same lake.
In real life, the average cost of a wedding varies widely based on location. In Indianapolis, wedding expenses total just under $25,000, according to The Knot. Over in San Francisco, the big day exceeds $50,000. Worth noting: These figures represent average wedding costs, which can be misleading. Just one lavish wedding, for example, can skew the average to be higher than what most people actually paid, which is why a median price tag can better reflect how much you’ll actually spend.
Understanding Your Financial Health
As you embark on financing a wedding, it can be wise to first look holistically at your financial wellness. You want your wedding to be the happiest day of your life, but not one that sinks you into debt that challenges your long-term financial plans.
Think carefully about how much you have saved, what family and friends might contribute, and whether options like a wedding loan would make sense for you. Also factor in your other upcoming money needs. If you are planning on buying a house, you may want to have a lower-cost celebration and instead funnel any cash gifts into a down payment fund.
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Major Costs to Include in Your Wedding Budget Breakdown
Next, consider this breakdown for a major, $30,000-plus wedding with all the bells and whistles. While the median cost of a wedding is considerably lower, this will give you an idea of how expenses may be broken down. Most couples go all-in on just one or two priorities for their big day.
|
Average Wedding Costs |
|
|---|---|
| Venue | $12,200 |
| Live Music | $4,500 |
| Cost of wedding rings | $2,900 |
| Wedding photographer | $2,900 |
| Flowers | $2,700 |
| Videographer | $2,300 |
| Wedding Dress | $2,100 |
| DJ | $1,700 |
| Invitations | $520 |
| Wedding Cake | $540 |
| Favors | $460 |
| Hair and Makeup | $290 |
| Catering | $80/person |
Source: The Knot
Working with an online wedding calculator can help you develop and then tweak your budget.
Remember, these are the costs incurred by and for the bride and groom. The groomsmen and bridesmaids will incur their own costs for being in the wedding.
How to Determine What You Can Afford
No one is born knowing how to plan a wedding. To set your wedding budget, start by asking yourself a few questions:
• How much of your savings are you willing to use for your overall wedding budget?
• Are your parents or other relatives planning to contribute financially?
• Are you considering taking out a personal loan to help cover costs?
• If you are using savings, how long will it take to save the amount of money you need?
• Is a wedding really worth the amount of money you want to spend on it?
• Should a one-day event take priority over other life goals, like traveling together, starting a family, or owning a home?
Getting clarity on these answers will help you come up with a starting number.
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Wedding Budget Allocation Tips
Budget allocation involves assigning a percentage of your overall fund to each category. Use the percentages below to get a rough idea of how much you can pay for your venue, catering, etc. According to The Knot, a typical budget allocation looks like this:
|
Wedding Budget Allocation |
|
|---|---|
| Venue and rentals | 27% |
| Catering | 24% |
| Photographer and videographer | 10% |
| Floral design and decor | 9% |
| Music | 8% |
| Couple’s attire and beauty | 6% |
| Wedding rings | 5% |
| Wedding planner | 4% |
| Guest entertainment | 3% |
| Transportation | 2% |
| Stationery | 1% |
| Officiant | 1% |
You may have to factor in alternative or multiple options for some categories, such as live music, DJ, or guest entertainment. In combination with the average wedding costs table above, you should be able to project your total budget without any major surprises.
Common Wedding Budget Mistakes to Avoid
Here are a few of the pitfalls to avoid if you are planning a dream wedding on a budget. Consider these as you work on your wedding budget breakdown.
• Not budgeting enough. Many couples underestimate the amount of money they’ll spend on a wedding. When there’s no plan, everything becomes a priority and you’ll go through money faster than you can imagine. Be sure to make both a wedding budget and a savings plan to make it happen.
• Not communicating with loved ones about the budget. If you have parents or other loved ones helping to cover expenses, be sure to have a conversation with them to avoid overestimating their contribution.
• Not saving long enough. Once you know how much you’ll need, be realistic about how long it will take you to save that money. You may want to consider pushing back your wedding date to have enough time to save for it. (Too late to save up? Learn about wedding financing options.)
• Going into debt. Many couples put wedding expenses on a credit card. If the balance isn’t paid off within the month, you’ll end up paying high interest rates on top of what you budgeted.
• Forgetting to budget for unexpected costs. Surprise bills always come up. Keep a small amount reserved for unexpected wedding expenses.
• Not keeping track of your spending. With wedding expenses, it’s easy to lose track of which bills you’ve paid. A money tracker can help you stay organized.
8 Cost-Saving Tips for a Budget-Friendly Wedding
If your list of wedding expenses far exceeds your budget, don’t panic. Trimming your costs isn’t so hard if you know how to go about it. These ideas can help.
1. Limit Your Guest List
Consider shortening your guest list to include only close friends and family members. This can be a blessing in disguise for certain types of weddings. For instance, a destination wedding is especially difficult to coordinate for more than 100 people.
2. Find a Free or Low-Cost Venue
The wedding venue is often your biggest expense — unless you move the ceremony outside or to a private home. Depending on the location, you can reserve a park pavilion for around $100. A permit to hold a wedding ceremony at a national park is around a few to several hundred dollars. Forgoing a fancy venue puts a lot of money back in your pocket.
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3. Buy Second-Hand or Rent Decor
Utilizing a few previously owned items is a real budget saver.
• Wedding decor. Gently used decor is often sold online at a fraction of the cost. Keep your eye on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, eBay, and Etsy for items that work with your theme.
• Wedding dress. A wedding dress that costs thousands brand-new can be thrifted for a few hundred dollars. If you really want to save money on wedding attire, consider borrowing a dress from a good friend or family member.
4. Ask Friends and Family to Gift Their Skills
Do you have a photographer in your network? What about an aspiring caterer or florist? While it’s worth paying for their skills, you can also try exchanging something of value. Babysitting for busy parents is always a winner.
You can also ask for services in lieu of a gift. Tactfully articulate your desire to start your new life on a budget, while respecting their need to earn a living. If they say they can’t do it, don’t push.
5. DIY Whenever Possible
Many details that cost a fortune to outsource may be pulled together with the help of friends and family.
• Centerpieces. Your table decor can be made ahead of time by the wedding party or a group of aunties.
• Invitations. It’s so easy to make your own wedding invitations. Even if you’re unskilled, you can use online tools like Canva to create your design. Save the result as a photo file for cheap printing. Image files cost as little as 10 cents to print. Compare that to formal invitations that typically cost several dollars each to print.
• Catering. Know someone who makes an incredible main dish or specializes in smoked barbecue? They may be willing to help out for little more than the cost of groceries and supplies.
• Flowers. Making your own bouquet from flowers sold at the farmer’s market or grocer is an easy way to save a lot of money. Check out a YouTube video tutorial, and you’ll be on your way.
6. Use a Faux Wedding Cake
A faux wedding cake is one that is made just for appearance. It’s frosted to look like a real cake but underneath it’s just Styrofoam or cardboard. It can provide a stunning bit of decor for a wedding at prices of $25 and up. Then you can serve a simple, delicious sheet cake as dessert.
7. Time Your Wedding Strategically
Wedding season traditionally runs from May to October. This is when demand is highest — and prices too. If you can plan a wedding for the off-season (say, December or March), demand and prices are lower. You may be able to get the venue you want for the price you want.
8. Compare Vendors and Negotiate
Do shop around. It may be tempting to use the first vendor you meet if you like them or opt for the person your best friend says is fabulous, but it is really worthwhile to get a couple of bids and compare. You could save a bundle.
The Key to Having Your Dream Wedding Within Budget
Your dream wedding doesn’t have to spawn a nightmare budget. Be mindful of what you really want and what you can really afford. If a backyard potluck is all it takes to make you happy, then don’t worry about what other people say you “should” do.
As you move ahead with your plans, go ahead and feel great about sticking to a budget that frees up funds for other purposes, like your first home or a lengthy honeymoon. Because saving for a dream wedding is just the first step in a couple’s life together.
The Takeaway
Budgeting for a wedding can help you start married life on the right foot financially. First, find out the average costs in your area for major wedding expenses — venue, catering, music, photography. Then determine how much money you can pull together from family, your current savings, paychecks you’ll receive before the big day, or investigate personal loan options.
Think twice before turning to high-interest credit cards. Consider a SoFi personal loan instead. SoFi offers competitive fixed rates and same-day funding. See your rate in minutes.
FAQ
What is the average cost of a wedding?
There are a couple of different ways to look at the typical price tag. The average cost of a wedding is currently $36,000, but the median is $10,000, which may give you a more accurate idea of the price most people spend.
How much should I budget for a 100-person wedding?
While the average per-person cost of a wedding is currently $284, it’s up to you to determine how much you are comfortable spending. You can lower costs by having a wedding at home, in a backyard, or park. You might have friends and family prepare food, or have a cocktail party reception vs. a sit-down, five-course dinner.
What are some ways to reduce wedding costs?
Ways to reduce wedding costs include getting married in the off-season, avoiding pricey venues, inviting fewer guests, DIY-ing flowers and food, and renting or borrowing anything from a wedding dress to decor.
How can I estimate the costs of my wedding?
There are a number of good ways to estimate the costs of a wedding. You can develop a budget based on the usual breakdown of costs for a ceremony and celebration, you might research local costs from vendors, or use an online calculator tool.
What are different ways I can pay for my wedding?
Some options for paying for a wedding include saving for it (or dipping into your savings account), seeking funding from family and friends, or taking out a personal loan.
What is a low budget for a wedding on average?
For a low-budget wedding where no meals are provided for guests, plan on spending a few hundred dollars. At the very least, you need to pay a fee for a marriage license and an officiant. You can wear something you already have, eat a potluck meal, and take your own pictures — and it can still be magical.
Photo credit: iStock/Prostock-Studio
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