A Guide to Budgeting for your Seattle or Snohomish Wedding

Snohomish Wedding Photographer GSquared Weddings Elegant banquet setup with a round table adorned with floral centerpiece, vibrant pink napkins, and gold chairs. Ambient lighting and clear tent canopy create a warm, luxurious atmosphere. Serving Seattle, Snohomish and Orlando

Planning your wedding budget with intention, clarity, and heart — not just numbers.


Let’s get real:
Weddings in the Pacific Northwest — especially in Snohomish or Seattle — can be absolutely magical, but they can also come with a price tag that might make your stomach flip a little.

Whether you’re planning a rustic-chic celebration in wine country or a modern rooftop wedding in downtown Seattle, knowing how to approach your budget with clarity and heart is one of the best things you can do for your stress levels, your priorities, and your peace of mind.

And don’t worry — we’re not here to overwhelm you with rigid spreadsheets or tell you what you should spend.
Instead, this is your gentle, grounded guide to budgeting realistically for your Snohomish or Seattle wedding — from the lens of experience, not perfection.

Let’s dive in.


🌲 First, Understand the Local Landscape

Snohomish and Seattle offer two very different (but equally dreamy) wedding vibes — and each comes with its own cost considerations.

Snohomish Weddings

Think charming barns, rolling vineyards, historic estates, forest elopements, and laid-back countryside venues. This area is often slightly more affordable than downtown Seattle, but don’t let the “rustic” vibe fool you — these venues are polished, in-demand, and beautifully curated.

Average venue cost: $5,000–$15,500+
Bonus tip: Many Snohomish venues include tables/chairs but may require bringing in your own catering, alcohol, and rentals.

Seattle Weddings

Think industrial-chic lofts, rooftop views, upscale hotels, art galleries, and waterfront elegance. The city vibe often means premium pricing, especially for peak-season dates.

Average venue cost: $6,000–$50,000+
Bonus tip: Expect higher catering minimums, parking/transport fees, and additional vendor insurance requirements.


💡 Start With This: What Actually Matters to You?

Before you even plug numbers into a spreadsheet, ask yourselves:

  • What do we want to remember about this day?
  • What will matter most 10 years from now?
  • What kind of experience do we want — for ourselves and our guests?

If photography, food, and ambiance are your top values? Allocate more there.
If you’re more focused on intimacy and simplicity? Maybe you go smaller, but make space for travel or a luxurious dinner.

There’s no wrong answer.
But your values should always lead the budget — not trends, expectations, or outside pressure.


💍 Common Budget Categories (Seattle/Snohomish Style)

Here’s a rough breakdown of wedding budget categories and what couples in the PNW typically spend. These are just ballpark ranges, based on current trends in your area:

CategoryTypical Spend (for 100 guests)
Venue & Rentals$6,000 – $50,000
Catering & Bar$6,000 – $15,000+
Photography$4,000 – $10,000+
Attire & Beauty$2,500 – $6,000
Floral & Decor$5,500 – $26,000
DJ or Live Music$2,500 – $8,500
Coordination/Planner$4,000 – $20,000
Stationery & Invites$500 – $2,000
Officiant + Extras$300 – $1,000
Transportation$500 – $2,000
Tips & Buffer Fund$1500 – $4,500

🔁 Pro Tip: Always build in a 15–20% contingency for unexpected expenses or last-minute splurges. You’ll thank yourself later.


📸 Why Photography Should Be a Priority

Yes, we’re a little biased — but we’ve also heard this from nearly every couple we’ve ever worked with:

“We’re SO glad we invested in photography. It’s the one thing we still experience years later.”

The food will be eaten. The flowers will wilt.
But your photos?
They’re the one tangible thing you’ll keep.
They’ll help you relive the emotion, share the memories, and tell the story of your love long after the music fades.

In the Snohomish + Seattle markets, high-quality, experienced photographers average $4,000–$10,000 — and often book out 12–18 months in advance (we even already have some weddings booked out more than 24 months!).

BONUS: We offer payment plans and we also ONLY offer full day photography with two photographers, so you’re not sacrificing part of your day just because of budget.


💐 How to Stretch a Budget Without Sacrificing Meaning

If you’re working within a tighter budget, that doesn’t mean you have to settle — it just means you need to get creative. Here’s how:

1. Choose a Non-Peak Date

Saturdays in summer = $$$S
Weekdays, Sundays, and off-season months (November–March) are often significantly more affordable.

2. IF YOUR BUDGET IS TIGHT, Go Small, Go Deep

Consider micro-weddings, backyard weddings, or elopements with rich storytelling. You’ll reduce headcount and stretch your budget into experiences instead of logistics.

3. Prioritize People Over Things

Ditch elaborate favors (no one cares about the favors), little extras, or multi-course menus in favor of time with the people who matter most.

4. Use One Space for Everything

Venues that offer ceremony + reception space with built-in rentals will save you on transportation, setup labor, and time.


📬 Unexpected Costs to Budget For (That Sneak Up On Couples)

These are the things that don’t always show up in initial planning guides — but absolutely show up in your final invoice.

  • Sales tax + service fees
  • Vendor tips & gratuities
  • Delivery/setup fees (especially for rentals & florals)
  • Overtime (photography, DJ, or planner)
  • Dress/suit alterations
  • Postage for invitations
  • Extra meals for vendors
  • Beauty trials + prep
  • Ice, non-alcoholic beverages
  • Food and drinks for the getting ready space
  • Attendant, parent and partner gifts
  • Emergency kits & backup plans

Create a buffer in your budget — you’ll never regret having breathing room.


🕯️ The Most Important Budgeting Advice We Can Offer?

Spend where it matters. Release where it doesn’t.

Weddings are beautiful and fleeting and full of emotion.
But they’re also just the beginning.

Don’t spend for show. Spend for meaning.
Don’t get lost in trends. Come back to your values.
And don’t forget to leave space for joy in the process.

This is not about the perfect LOOK it’s about the perfect FEELING.


💌 Final Thought: You Deserve to Enjoy This

Budgeting isn’t just a financial task — it’s an emotional one.
So be kind to yourselves.
Be realistic.
Be creative.
And most of all, be true to your story.

Whether you’re planning a lavish vineyard wedding or a laid-back elopement under the evergreens, your day can be extraordinary — not because of how much it costs, but because of how much heart it holds.


Need help crafting a photography package that fits your budget and your values? We’d love to talk.
📸 Reach out here →

Kate and Josh

Kate and Josh

GSquared Weddings is a husband and wife photography team (Kate and Josh) specializing in weddings and couples in the Pacific Northwest and Big Sky Country. We have an artistic style and fearless approach to wedding photography and are obsessed with love. We are based in the sweetheart town of Snohomish, WA, but we travel far and wide to create visual love stories for the amazing and beautiful characters that hire us as their authors. We would love to create for you, but first let’s start with a cup of coffee or a glass of wine.

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LGBTQIA Safe Wedding Photographer GSquared Weddings Seattle Snohomish
Snohomish Wedding Photographer GSquared Weddings Logo of PNW Weddings featuring a soft pink circle with a laurel wreath outline. The text reads PNW weddings in bold and featured wedding professional in cursive underneath. Serving Seattle, Snohomish and Orlando

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