Friends, let us buckle up, because we’re about to have a serious budget conversation.
As a wedding venue, we’ve seen budget shock in real time. We’ve heard the stories of setting a budget, then watching it climb much higher than expected. A wedding that you thought would cost $15k–$18k ends up closer to $27k.
We strongly believe in price transparency and clearly list all of our costs & fees up front. You can find ours here. But we know this isn’t the case for every wedding vendor you encounter. In fact, some may seem to be transparent, but then you discover hidden costs, unexpected add-ons, vendor gratuities, food and beverage pricing, and the realization that hosting people is simply costly even before anything feels “luxury.”
We understand it can feel overwhelming, frustrating and discouraging. We know that you have a lot of decisions to make and the financial aspect of a wedding can often be the most “high pressure” part of the planning process (next to the guest list).
You want a meaningful day, first and foremost. Whether you choose something simple or over-the-top doesn’t change the fact that knowing the facts is important.
We know that knowing something up front leads to more informed, intentional decision making. Understanding the full picture allows you to pick and choose your priorities.
All that said, we know you’re here because you want to know: “How much do weddings cost.”
We’re here to give you as straightforward of an answer as possible, knowing that there are wildly varying interpretations, depending on guest counts, locations and style of celebration.
As a venue, we recognize that your venue, food and beverage, and staffing are often the biggest drivers of cost. In most cases, these line items will represent 50% of your total budget.
However, something a lot of people don’t talk about is how seasonality and day-of-the-week can greatly affect those numbers. A peak season Saturday will almost always cost more than an off-season Friday. This is a supply vs demand/ general cost & availability of goods issue.
In other words, a $12,000 budget could work great in February, but only get you part way there in October.
That said, for DFW, a mid-range, total wedding cost is around $35,000-$40,000.
Again, this number can swing dramatically in either direction depending on guest count.
Things that aren’t usually affected by guest count:
- Photography + Videography
- Marriage license
- Personal Attire/Alterations
- Personal Beauty (hair + makeup)
- Entertainment
- Rings
- Personal Transporation
The Hidden Wedding Budget Items Couples Wish They Had Planned For
Something many couples find surprising is the total number of separate line items involved with a wedding. While initially you might think about venue, food & beverage, photography flowers (personal, ceremony + reception), and entertainment (DJ or band), you might be missing a myriad of others. It’s been said that many couples hire more than 20 people (and their teams) to assist before, during and after the wedding day. This could include:
- Wedding Planner/Coordinator
- Marriage license
- Officiant fee
- Videographer
- Photo booth
- Décor and styling
- Linens
- Tables
- Chairs
- Lounge furniture
- Dinnerware
- Glassware
- Flatware
- Table settings
- Dance floor
- Tent or canopy
- Lighting
- Sound equipment
- Cake
- Gratuities
- Taxes
- Extra food and drink such as late night snacks, cocktail hour, extra desserts
- Attire/alterations
- Rentals
- Invitations
- Save-the-dates
- Postage
- Ceremony music
- Hair styling
- Makeup
- Beauty trials
- Wedding dress
- Dress alterations
- Shoes
- Jewelry
- Veil or accessories
- Groom’s attire
- Suit or tux rental
- Bridesmaid dresses
- Groomsmen attire
- Wedding rings
- Programs
- Menus
- Place cards
- Guest book
- Favors
- Welcome bags
- Getaway car
- Hotel blocks
- Couple’s lodging
- Vendor travel fees
- Vendor meals
- Setup fees
- Breakdown/cleanup fees
- Delivery fees
- Overtime fees
- Signage
- Transportation
- Last-minute purchases for the wedding party
- Insurance
- Security
- Permits
- Parking
- Generator or power needs
- Restrooms
- Weather backup plan
- Contingency fund
- Welcome party
- Rehearsal dinner
- Post-wedding brunch
Seeing the list will make even the most organized couple think “wow, we have a lot to do.” And some of you might immediately decide to elope. Or opt for a microwedding. But most of you will say, “OK, let the planning begin!”
As a wedding venue, what we can tell you is that we take your day seriously. Your wedding vendors do too. Prices aren’t set to take advantage of couples, but commiserate with the output of effort and resources.
The general rule of thumb when planning your wedding budget is:
- Venue + food + drinks: about 40–55%.
- Photo/video: about 10–15%.
- Flowers + décor: about 10–15%.
- Music/entertainment: about 5–10%.
- Attire, beauty, planner, paper goods, rings, transport, and misc.: the rest.
To break it down a bit more, based on a $40,000 budget, that is:
- Venue and rentals: $11,600
- Catering, cake, and drinks: $9,600
- Photographer and videographer: $4,000
- Floral design and décor: $3,600
- Music: $2,400
- Attire and beauty: $2,400
- Wedding rings: $2,000
- Planner or coordinator: $2,000 (HIGHLY recommend)
- Guest entertainment: $1,200
- Transportation: $800
- Stationery and invitations: $400
- Officiant: $400
Depending on your priorities, your numbers may shift in one direction or another. And you may not even consider certain parts of the wedding a budget line item (for example: Rings).
Our packages include chairs, tables, arbor, sweetheart table, and two wine barrels, and a security officer. Some of our packages also include linens and additional decorations. We strive to reduce the number of decisions you need to make and consolidate some of your budget items.
Something that we want every couple to know: YOU are in the driver’s seat. Just because something has been done a certain way in the past does not mean it has to be done in the future. Wedding planning is unique to each couple’s experience. There are rules and guidelines to ensure you have an amazing experience, but there may be things you simply don’t need or don’t want. And that’s OK. Give yourself grace while you plan and be open to changing your mind if you feel pulled to do so (serve the late night snack, get the espresso cart, buy a second dress, etc).