What Does a Wedding Cost?

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU ARE ENGAGED!
This is an exciting time for you, your partner and your families and friends.  It can also feel stressful and overwhelming.  But, knowledge is power and power gives you confidence. Read on for  information that will empower you to have the best possible event within your budget. 

WHAT IS IT GOING TO COST?
The big mystery!  In reality, there are too many factors and no one-size-fits-all response.  If you are a highly motivated and organized do-it-yourselfer with time to allocate to wedding planning, the ability to handle stress and make decisions, and a some helpful friends and relatives, you can have a fantastic wedding without a huge price tag.  And, if you have a big budget - or no budget limit at all - lucky you!  You can pay someone to do all of the work and have an over-the-top wedding with all of the upgraded wedding bells and whistles.

Most people have a budget that constrains how much they can spend or are willing to spend.  Nationwide, the average wedding cost is about $36,000.  A Google search for “average wedding cost in Santa Cruz , California” yields a vague result of approximately $51,000, however, the median cost is closer to $21,000 - a huge difference!  That means that there are many more weddings closer to the $21,000 budget and higher budget weddings swing the average price up.  That information is essentially useless without details such as the number of guests, the date, the location and so much more.

Let’s start with the services and supplies you will need to have a great wedding and then we will get into the nitty gritty details of each item in the following posts.  This list includes the most common wedding line items for your budget and how that might break down for a 100 person wedding on a summer Saturday at Sand Rock Farm in Aptos, California.

ITEM                                                 ESTIMATED COST
Venue                                               $13,100
Catering/Bartending                     $17,500 + $100 gratuity per staff person (estimate $1,500)
Alcohol and Other Beverages      $2,000 (beer, wine, sparkling + two signature cocktails)
Rentals                                             (Included in catering price and venue prices above)
Rentals                                                                 $32 per person or $3,200, if not included in the            
                                                                                     catering cost
Florals                                              $3,500 + $50-$100 (flat gratuity)
Officiant                                          $600 + $50 (flat tip or a gift if the officiant is a friend)
Photographer                                 $3,500 + $50-$200 (flat gratuity split between two shooters)
Deejay                                              $2,500 + $50-$200 (flat gratuity)
Band                                                                    $  2,500 and up plus $15-$50/band member (flat
                                                                             gratuity)
Planner/coordinator                     $4,500 + $200-$500 (flat gratuity for the
                                                           planning/coordination team)
Hair and Make-up, bride              $600 with trial + $110 gratuity (or 18% of total service costs)
Transportation                                $2,500 ($1,250 per shuttle plus $50-$100 gratuity per driver)
Favors and Gifts                              $600
Printing                                            $1,500 (wedding signage and thank you cards)
Lodging, couple, two nights         $800
Marriage license                            $90
TOTAL                                              $53,290 + $2,410 for gratuities

OTHER EXPENSES                        ESTIMATED COST
Hair and Make-up, attendants   $240 per person + 18% gratuity
Videography                                  $3,500 + $50-$200 (flat gratuity split between shooters)
Rings and Attire, couple              $4,500
Honeymoon                                   $0 and up

These numbers are often shocking, but before you run off and elope at the court house, read on to see how your wedding can be amazing without going into debt.  Once equipped with this information, you will be able to set a realistic budget and then work together to prioritize how you spend your money.  In the next post, we will talk about budgets and how to save and plan for your wedding day.