How much does a wedding cost?

By Terry Meadows

5 minute read




Got the ring, check. Got engaged, check. Told the family, check.  Now the serious stuff begins.  You want to know what the wedding of your dreams will cost, and you want to make sure you are spending your money wisely.  Costs can spiral out of control if you don’t have a good understanding of each item.  

We have held hundreds of weddings, and have experience with helping couples choose what is best for them.  Here to help is a general guideline of what you will spend and what will help you stay within your budget, as well as determine your priorities for your wedding.

Distribution of costs for weddings

Image

What do we need to decide before budgeting for a wedding?

The word most associated with weddings is “expensive.” The cost of a wedding in Northern Virginia is over $60,000 according to data from The Wedding Report, Inc. This doesn't include all the other costs attributed to your nuptials, we’re talking dresses, suits, cake, photographer, etc., so bear in mind your final cost will be higher. A few areas to consider are:

  • Budget - Before forming ideas, creating plans, and setting agendas, you absolutely must decide on your budget; otherwise, you will likely get overwhelmed with all the options, choices, and possibilities. It is imperative that you have a solid structure with definitive parameters where you and your partner agree on the final price. Then stick to it. 
  • Priorities - Make a list of your must-haves and would-like-to-haves. You might find that your 200-person guest list pushes your catering budget over the top, or the more affordable photographer works for you instead.  
  • Wedding planner - Couples hire an average of 14 vendors for their wedding day, so a wedding planner goes a long way to ensuring you stay within your budget. Some people see them as an additional expense that is not really necessary; however, they relieve so much pressure and angst from planning and decision-making,  that they are worth the extra cost. With their knowledge of the industry and connections with vendors, they invariably save you money.
  • All-inclusive or DIY - You can also choose an all-inclusive venue with a menu of options on a sliding scale for your budget. You might have an initial sticker shock, especially for the more upscale venues, but considering all the obvious costs, as well as all the hidden ones, all-inclusive venues can come in around the same price as the piecemeal option.
Image

What is the cost breakdown for our wedding?

To get an idea of where and how much you will spend on your wedding, the data below shows the average costs that couples across Northern Virginia spend on each item. 

Category Name

Item name

Average

Attire & Accessories

Dress Accessories

$383

Attire & Accessories

Tuxedo/suit/other Accessories

$171

Attire & Accessories

Tuxedo/suit/other Rent/purchase

$407

Attire & Accessories

Wedding Dress

$2,298

Bakery

Wedding Cake/dessert

$742

Beauty & Spa

Hair Service

$126

Beauty & Spa

Makeup Service

$104

Beauty & Spa

Manicure & Pedicure

$80

Entertainment

DJ/MC

$1,400

Entertainment

Entertainment lighting

$598

Entertainment

Live Band

$3,562

Entertainment

Musician/s Soloist or Ensemble

$1,238

Event Venue

Wedding Venue Bar Service

$3,911

Event Venue

Wedding Venue Food Service

$7,600

Event Venue

Wedding Venue Location

$8,437

Event Venue

Wedding Venue Rentals

$2,797

Flowers & Decorations

Bouquets

$625

Flowers & Decorations

Boutonnieres Corsages

$279

Flowers & Decorations

Wedding Venue Accessories

$511

Flowers & Decorations

Wedding Venue Decorations

$810

Flowers & Decorations

Wedding Venue Flowers & Arrangements

$933

Flowers & Decorations

Wedding Venue Table Centerpieces

$572

Gifts & Favors

Gift/s for Attendants

$162

Gifts & Favors

Gift/s for Parents

$206

Gifts & Favors

Tips (for all services)

$642

Gifts & Favors

Wedding Favors

$325

Invitations

Ceremony Programs

$183

Invitations

Engagement Announcements

$159

Invitations

Guest Book

$86

Invitations

Invitations & Reply Cards

$301

Invitations

Postage

$143

Invitations

Reception Menus

$178

Invitations

Save the Date Cards

$162

Invitations

Table Name and Escort/place Cards

$123

Invitations

Thank You Cards

$130

Jewelry

Bracelet

$287

Jewelry

Earrings

$269

Jewelry

Engagement Ring

$5,808

Jewelry

Necklace

$356

Jewelry

Wedding ring/band for Partner 1

$1,320

Jewelry

Wedding ring/band for Partner 2

$786

Market Totals

Market Summary

$57,581

Officiant

Officiant

$385

Other Events

Rehearsal Dinner

$1,097

Other Items

Hotel Room for After Reception

$620

Photography & Video

Digital or Photo cd/dvd

$430

Photography & Video

Engagement Session

$573

Photography & Video

Photo Booth

$613

Photography & Video

Prints and/or Enlargements

$456

Photography & Video

Wedding Photographer

$3,145

Photography & Video

Wedding Videographer

$2,247

Photography & Video

Wedding album/s or photo book/s

$796

Planner/Coordinator

Hourly Services

$2,666

Planner/Coordinator

Wedding Coordinator

$2,377

Planner/Coordinator

Wedding Planner

$4,739

Transportation

Limo Rental

$764

Transportation

Other Transportation

$1,279

Image

How much does a wedding venue cost?

The average cost in Northern Virginia is $8,700 for the wedding venue, with an additional $2,892 for rentals

This is likely your most significant cost. So things to consider are:

  • A more intimate venue will likely be more expensive, as will a culturally historic site
  • If there isn’t a designated structure, you want to consider renting a tent
  • A destination wedding will add more expenses as you incorporate flights, airport transportation, and meals among the various costs
  • If your wedding ceremony is beyond walking distance to the reception, you need transportation
  • Wedding insurance covers anything from cancellations to property damages to theft.

How much is it per wedding guest?

The average cost in Northern Virginia is $75 per person.

Guest numbers have a significant impact on your budget items, such as catering, whereas others are less so, such as the wedding dress. While most couples tend to hover around the 120-guest limit, the cost varies greatly and is not necessarily exponential as you add or subtract more people. 

The guest list might be the first place to start adjusting your numbers to fit within your budget. The average budget per number of guests:

200+: $40,000 and up

150–200: $36,000

100–150: $31,000

75–100: $22,000

50–75: $18,000

Less than 50: $15,000 and down

What will I spend on wedding venders?

  • Wedding planner $2,377 - 4,739
  • Hair and make-up $310
  • Florist $3,730
  • Photographer $2,600 
  • Videographer $2,247

Listen to your vendors as they usually have excellent ideas on how to be cost-effective with your decisions. Working with a wedding planner can mitigate unnecessary expenses, as they have established business connections with their preferred vendors and can offer more reasonable prices. 

For example, a florist might suggest you choose from a selection of flowers that are in season if you are not absolutely insistent on that spectacular blooms-once-every-ten-years orchid from the jungles of deepest Africa.  Or a photographer might guide you to a beautiful and cost-effective field of wildflowers instead of the beautiful and expensive private gardens for your formal portraits. 

Image

How does the time of the year and day of the week affect the costs of my wedding?

Most weddings occur between May and October, so you can expect that demand for venues increases the prices.   You might consider an off-season wedding if you are looking to save money.

  • Summer is the most popular, and prices are accordingly higher
  • Spring, fall, and winter are more cost-effective, but weather can be an issue
  • Saturdays are by far the most traditional wedding day; some couples are opting for a Friday evening or even mid-week

How do I  keep track of how much I spend on my wedding?

Your final budget relies on your prioritizing your needs and wants. You are not obligated to choose every single shiny object presented to you.  Don’t be scared of eliminating traditions that don’t have any meaning for you.

Tip: Consider using a budget app or software program to monitor your budget. You can use a pricing calculator to enter your maximum budget and the cost for each item. 

List your priorities; do you want to spend more on a beautiful setting, thus reducing the need for decoration or flowers, or do you want to have a banging party at the reception with an outstanding DJ? 

Once you have the list of must-haves and would-like-to-have, you can narrow the field where you can economize or splurge. If you want to reduce the stress of time-consuming detailed planning and have your costs determined up-front, you may be wondering what is all included in an all-inclusive wedding package. 

Contact us at Zion Springs for a truly all-inclusive wedding.  Our website has prices and packages ready for viewing, and you can reach our team online for an immediate response.

Further reading:

Why choose an all-inclusive venue for your wedding?

(Note: no compensation was received for mentions and links)