Wedding Budget Breakdown in 2021

The average American wedding may cost $24,723 but this varies hugely from state to state. Also, keep in mind that everyone’s wedding budget breakdown is different. These allocations are a good guide, but you might end up moving budget space around according to what’s important to you – and that is just how it should be!

Venue and Catering-45%

As you can see, the venue and catering for the reception are the lion’s share of any wedding budget breakdown. This includes the rental of any furniture you may need, all the drinks you are providing for your guests, and the wedding cake, which you should expect will be around 2% of your overall budget.

Photography – 15% Venue and Catering-45%

This includes the pictures and video footage that you will cherish forever – the way in which you decide to capture every moment of joy and every detail you’ve worked so hard to plan. This part of the budget may include a videographer if you want a wedding video. If you’re looking for a wedding photographer now click on our contact page and fill out the form. 

Music – 8%

From a DJ to an 8-piece live band, there are a lot of options to give your guests the time of their life!

Attire – 8%

Keep in mind that this doesn’t just mean a wedding dress, but could cover anything from new shoes and rehearsal dinner outfits to cufflinks and hair and beauty professionals.

Flowers and Decor – 8%

Bouquets, posies, garlands, table decor – there are infinite ways to incorporate a florist into your wedding and it’s up to you to decide on how you want to decorate your ceremony and reception venue.

Stationary – 3%

3% of your wedding budget breakdown might feel like a lot to spend on stationery but remember, this isn’t just save-the-dates. You have invitations, ceremony programs, place cards and thank you cards, too! 

These days there are many digital options for wedding invites and save-the-dates. Some couples love how easy this route is, and others prefer the tangibility of a paper keepsake. Whatever you decide to do, you’ll be glad that you set aside enough space in the budget!

Wedding Planner – 3%

Some couples prefer to plan their wedding themselves to keep costs down – but in some cases, the industry connections and know-how a wedding planner brings to the table can work out to be cheaper! In any case, a good wedding planner takes all of the stress out of this process and lets you enjoy the fun parts. If you’re looking for a wedding planner, check out our planning tab as we offer that service. 

Ceremony – 2%

The reception is the main cost on your wedding budget breakdown, but the ceremony also needs to be budgeted for, with fees for the venue and the officiant.

Rings – 2%

Don’t forget to leave plenty of time (and room in the budget!) to invest in your wedding bands – after all, you’ll be wearing them every single day for the rest of your life! This section does not include the engagement ring. 

Transport – 2%

Whether you are organizing for your guests to get from the ceremony venue to the reception, or for your exit from the reception at the end of the evening, you are going to want to budget about 2% of your overall wedding budget breakdown to cover these costs.

Favors – 2%

And a final 2% of your wedding budget goes towards tokens of love and appreciation for your guests!

Final Thoughts on Your Wedding Budget Breakdown

I hope this has helped you gain a sense of how much of your wedding budget you should spend on each of these categories. Having a clear idea of how much you are allowing yourself for individual costs will help you keep within your budget – when it’s all written down in black in white, you can make adjustments to one area if you end up overspending in another.

If you’re looking for a wedding photographer to curate your love story click on our contact page today.