One of the questions I hear all the time is, "How much money do we actually need for our wedding?"
The truth is, there's no single answer. I've seen couples create beautiful weddings with a $10,000 budget, and I've seen couples planning higher end weddings that cost $100,000 or more easily. Neither wedding is better than the other because every couple has different priorities. And honestly, the term "luxury" wedding is used very loosely. Unfortunately, $100,000 will barely start to allow you to afford a "luxury" wedding in 2026. I hate to be the one to break it to you.
My goal isn't to tell you how much you should spend. I simply want to show you what each budget can realistically afford so you can plan with confidence and avoid surprises along the way. Watch the full video above for the full convo and demonstration of our Wedding Day Budget Calculator App for iPhone!
Every Wedding Budget Tells a Different Story
Every wedding includes the same major pieces. You'll need a venue, catering, photography, entertainment, flowers, attire, and décor. As your budget grows, you simply have more flexibility in each category. Full disclaimer: I am not a pro wedding planner. I am only a DJ and videographer, so there's that... But!! I have talked and consulted with many pro planners and industry professionals across all vendors and have done extensive research on this.
You do not necessarily need a bigger budget to have an amazing wedding. It just means you'll need to decide what's most important to you. Watch the video below for a much deeper conversation about wedding budgets, with pro planner and florist, Angel Phillips, and pro DJ, Chad Ellis of Ellis Entertainment.
If you're planning a $10,000 wedding, I think the biggest thing to consider is guest list!!
You'll probably keep your guest list smaller (less than 100 guests), choose a more affordable or even free venue, and simplify a few areas like décor and entertainment. Maybe a friend helps coordinate the day, or you create your own playlist instead of hiring a professional DJ.
If there's one thing I wouldn't cut costs, it's photography. Your wedding day only happens once, and those photos become the memories you'll look back on for years.
The good news is that a smaller budget doesn't mean a less meaningful wedding. It simply means making thoughtful choices about where your money goes. Priority is the key word here. Some couples prioritize having amazing photos and video of the day, and therefore they have 40 guests, which will cut down on the venue and catering costs in order for them to still have amazing photo/video for the day within a $10,000. But, you definitely have to make some hard decisions to cut certain vendors at this price point.
What Changes with a $30,000 Budget?
Once you reach around $30,000, you can hire many of the vendors most couples want for their wedding day, with maybe 1-2 being "premium" and experienced vendors and the rest being below industry prices or with extreme discounts included. You might be able to book all vendors at this budget, but it still does not give you extreme comfort for any and everything you might want. Again, goes back to what you personally prioritize...
You'll have more venue options, professional catering, experienced photographer, solid entertainment, medium guest count buffer of around 100-200 guests, and a coordinator to help everything run smoothly.
One piece of advice I always give couples is to ask every venue exactly what's included. Some venues provide tables, chairs, linens, setup, cleanup, and a full team on your wedding day. Others simply rent you the space.
Two venues may have similar prices, but the value they provide can be completely different. The video above really shows exactly the vendor breakdown for all of these, so refer to that for more details.
What Can You Expect from a $60,000 Wedding?
If you ask me, this is where many couples find the sweet spot.
A $60,000 budget gives you enough flexibility to book the vendors you really want without feeling like every decision is a big compromise. You can invest in a beautiful venue, quality catering, professional photography and videography, and even live band entertainment if that's important to you. Additionally, you could potentially afford to invite over 200 guests at this price point.
That said, I still encourage couples to budget carefully. Food, guest count, and upgrades add up faster than most people expect. Even with an average budget like this, it's easy to overspend if you aren't paying attention.
What Does a $100,000 Wedding Include?
A $100,000 wedding isn't just about spending more money. It's about creating an elevated experience for both you and your guests.
At this level, couples often choose premium venues, premium full catering and staff included, full floral installations, high quality entertainment options, multiple additional rentals, and a full planning team to coordinate every detail.
The biggest takeaway is this: more money gives you more choices, but it doesn't replace good planning. Instead of only a few vendors being premium, you can now more comfortably afford premium vendors across almost all categories. Again, this comes down to what you personally prioritize.
Where Should You Spend Your Wedding Budget?
If I were helping a couple build their wedding budget, I'd encourage them to invest in three things:
First, hire a pro planner. They will actually save you money in the end. Trust me on this. Having someone to manage the timeline and vendors allows you to actually enjoy your wedding day instead of worrying about the details. If you have a budget of below $10,000, this may not be affordable for you, and it honestly might not be needed if you are doing a strictly DIY wedding day.
Second, choose a venue that fits your vision and offers great value. Don't just compare prices. Compare what's actually included.
Third, invest in photography because those memories last long after the wedding is over. However, photography is very saturated, so make sure to choose and vet your photographer wisely. The cheapest options might be cheap for a reason...
Build a Wedding Budget That Fits Your Priorities
That's exactly why I recommend using our very own Budget Calculator.
In about 30 seconds, it creates a personalized wedding budget based on what you plan to spend. You'll instantly see how much you can realistically allocate for your venue, catering, photography, entertainment, flowers, and every other major wedding expense.
As your priorities change, you can easily adjust your budget and even collaborate with your planner or coordinator to make sure everything stays on track.
If you're ready to start planning with confidence, download the Wedding Day Budget Calculator today and begin building a wedding budget that works for you.
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