When we recently polled some of our couples, one of the biggest areas they felt was lacking in information was how to accurately gauge wedding vendor pricing for our area.
Creating a spending plan without this information can be difficult, and then getting quotes from area vendors (because not everyone has prices listed on their websites) can sometimes result in sticker shock – never a good feeling. There is a wide variety of pricing in our area, and for good reason.
You can jump on many planning forums and vendors with varying levels of experience are replying to you and offering steals of deals – and some aren’t even actual businesses at all. As with a lot of things, you do get what you pay for, so knowing what to expect before creating a spending plan can help you truly prioritize what is most important to you when it comes to your wedding day vision.
We then reached out to our preferred vendors (you can find some of them at the bottom of this post and more of them here) and asked them some questions about their average range in wedding vendor pricing so that we could share that with you – we’ve also indicated when you should book each vendor (note: that doesn’t mean to start looking for them in that time range, you should have them booked – monies paid and contract signed … always, always sign a contract with your vendors – by that time frame).
Keep in mind that the following are ranges and do not include taxes, travel or delivery fees. This is just a general idea – some vendors may cost less, and some will cost more. Actual wedding vendor pricing may vary, and increase from year to year (due to both rising costs and increase in experience):
Venue
LOW END $4000 HIGH END $50,000+
prices may or may not include: tables, tenting, rehearsal, on site coordinator,
insurance costs, garbage fees, etc. Ask your venue about additional fees
when to book: 12 to 24 months in advance
One-of-a-kind Hand designed Invitations and paper goods
LOW END $750 HIGH END $6000
*dependent on guest count and design desires
when to book: 12 to 14 months in advance
Day of Coordination
LOW END $1000 HIGH END $7000
when to book: 6 to 18 months in advance
Full Wedding Planning/Coordination
LOW END $4000 HIGH END $40000
when to book: 12 to 18 months in advance
Signage and Handlettering
LOW END $250 HIGH END $8000
*this usually incurs additional art, design and set up fees
when to book: 12 to 14 months in advance
Hair & Makeup
LOW END $300/person HIGH END $800/person
when to book: 12 to 18 months in advance
Bride’s Attire
LOW END $500 HIGH END $15,000
when to purchase: 9 to 12 months in advance
Groom’s Attire
LOW END $300 HIGH END $5000
when to book: 4 to 6 months in advance
Wedding Party Attire
LOW END $300 per person HIGH END $1500 per person
when to book: 4 to 6 months in advance
Florist
LOW END $3000 HIGH END $40000+
dependent on the number of attendants, tables, and other floral decor requested.
Also dependent on specific flower type requests and seasonable access. Expect between $500-1500 for a bridal bouquet.
when to book: 9 to 18 months in advance
Officiant
LOW END $400 HIGH END $800
when to book: 9 to 12 months in advance
Rentals
LOW END: $500 HIGH END: $20000
dependent on scale of rentals – dishes, silverware, etc or furniture and lounge setups.
when to book: 9 to 12 months in advance
Photographer
LOW END $4000 HIGH END $20000
dependent on skill, desired hours, and number of photographers as well as delivered product (digital, prints, etc)
when to book: 12 to 24 months in advance
Videographer
LOW END $4000 HIGH END $20000
dependent on skill, desired hours, and number of videographers as well as delivered product (highlight, full feature, etc)
when to book: 12 to 24 months in advance
Photobooth
LOW END $1200 HIGH END $4000
when to book: 6 to 9 months in advance
DJ/MC
LOW END: $2500 HIGH END $18000
when to book: 12 to 18 months in advance
Baker/Desserts
LOW END $700 HIGH END $7000
when to book: 9 to 12 months in advance
Catering
LOW END $35 per person HIGH END $200+ per person
when to book: 9 to 12 months in advance
Bartending
LOW END $2000 HIGH END $18000
when to book: 9 to 12 months in advance
Set-up/Clean up services
LOW END $500 HIGH END $18000
when to book: 4 to 6 months in advance
Print-house (minted, etc) Invitations/paper goods
LOW END $350 HIGH END $1500
when to book: 6 to 8 months in advance
We hope this wedding vendor pricing chart gives you a great starting point for creating a spending plan and allocating for your priorities. The average spend for a wedding in our market area is $40,000. Some spend less, some spend more. It truly depends on your vision and wedding goals.
Quick Tip: Many vendors require a deposit and also offer payment plan options, so make sure to ask about that when you inquire with them!
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Thank you to the following businesses who contributed information to this wedding vendor pricing article:
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We have an artistic, earthy style and fearless approach to wedding photography and are obsessed with love and creating visual love stories for the amazing and beautiful characters that hire us as their authors. We would love to get to know you and your love story.
