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CONGRATULATIONS, You’re engaged! This is a monumental chapter in your life, and it should be an enjoyable time of celebration. Given that every wedding is unique, the cost of a wedding will vary depending on the wedding location, size and style of the event.
This guide gives insight into the average cost of a wedding in Australia. Learn from our expert tips and how to create your own wedding budget.
Why Understanding Wedding Costs is Crucial?
Wedding planning can be daunting, especially if you’re unsure of where to begin.
Understanding wedding costs can help allocate your budget according to importance, support the wedding planning process, and ultimately prevent unnecessary conflict.
Communicating clearly and working together with your partner when planning and setting out your budget will reduce unexpected misunderstandings and stress, bringing you closer together as a couple.
The Average Cost of a Wedding in Australia
According to various surveys conducted over the past few years, the average wedding cost ranges anywhere from $35,000 to $65,000+, with the most significant factors being the location and size of the wedding.
Costs can vary significantly when comparing major cities to regional areas. This is due to demand, vendor availability, service cost and logistics. In urban areas, demand is typically higher reducing availability and increasing costs, but there is a greater selection to choose from. Lower populations in regional areas mean less demand, making venues and vendors more available and affordable. This comes at the cost of having fewer options to pick from and will have logistical impacts such as requiring your guests to travel further.
The size of a wedding also has a large impact on the overall budget as costs like catering are charged per head and larger spaces cost more. Vendors such as florists and stylists generally charge per package or item which again has a significant impact on overall spend.
Breaking Down the Major Wedding Costs
Breaking down major wedding costs helps to allocate budget accordingly. The most significant costs are the venue, catering, styling, photography and wedding attire.
Venue
Venue hire along with catering generally make up about half of the entire wedding cost. The essentials which are usually included would be things like basic furniture, standard cleaning, general service and management fees, standard lighting and basic audio systems. There may be additional costs for services such as valet or reserved parking, audio-visual equipment upgrades, event co-ordination, decor and styling, premium linens, additional staff and insurances.
Venue hire costing is also influenced by location or setting such as waterfront locations, gardens, historic mansions, ballrooms, museums or galleries.
Catering
Wedding food can range from straightforward to extravagant or anything in-between. Catering services generally have options such as a buffet, plated sit-down service, live food stations, cocktails, or a combination of these options. Extra costs may apply for service and bar staff, beverage packages or services, logistics and service fees or special dietary requirements.
Wedding Attire
Wedding attire includes the wedding gown and groom’s suit, wedding party outfits, shoes, hair and makeup, veil, accessories and jewellery, alteration costs and cleaning afterwards.
Costs for wedding attire range vastly depending on whether you are hiring or purchasing attire. Hiring or purchasing ready-to wear outfits is naturally more cost effective than custom made or designer attire.
Photography and Videography
Your wedding day will only ever happen once. This day will be a memory you will want to remember forever. Sharing these special moments with your future self, your kids, family and friends. People often select photographers and videographers based on style and comfort. You would have seen someone’s work and fallen in love with it.
The costs for videographers will depend on the number of hours, the number of photos, and the deliverables. Deliverables include digital files, print albums, on-the-day highlights and video edits. Wedding photography or videography packages typically start at $2,500 and range up to $7,000.
Decor and styling
Styling and decor costs also vary according to quantities, quality and level of customisation.
Entertainment
Your wedding reception is a celebration, and entertainment is a given. Whether you opt for musicians, a live band, a killer DJ or special acts such as a dance performance is a personal preference and costs will vary accordingly. Entertainment includes AV equipment, microphones, staging, lighting and screens or projectors. Always check that your venue has sufficient audio-visual capability and whether you will need to hire a sound technician or additional equipment.
Additional Wedding Costs
Additional costs to budget for include:
- Accommodation
- Transportation
- Wedding planner and/or co-ordinator
- Ceremony costs including marriage license and officiant fees
- Gifts and favours for on the day, and thank you cards for after the wedding
- Pre wedding beauty and spa treatments
- Wedding insurance to cover cancellation or damages
- Bridal party bouquets and corsages
- Officiant or church fees.
- Wedding cake and cutting fees
- Wedding website, invitations, RSVP and thank you cards
- Wedding stationery like table numbers, menus and seating chart with postage and delivery fees
- Additional setup and tear down costs, gratuities and overtime fees
- 10% buffer to allow for unexpected costs
How to Save Money on Your Wedding Without Compromising Quality?
By categorising what is most important to you and prioritising expenses accordingly, you can cut back on costs and still have the dream wedding. Focus on your top three priorities and cut costs on some of the rest for instance:
- Limit your guest list to close friends and family
- Reduce bridal party size
- Simplify your wedding cake
- Use a digital invitation and RSVP system, only printing invites for close family and older guests
- Ask friends or family to officiate, DJ and/or MC
- Buffet meals are more cost effective than plated meals
- Consider an out-of-season winter wedding, or an off-peak weekday wedding
- Select a venue which includes a bridal suite, ceremony and reception space to save on transport
- Consider venues offering packages which include catering, styling and extras
- Renting attire saves costs without compromising quality
- Opt for digital photography packages and print photos later
- Use a half day service and consider hiring an up-and-coming photographer/videographer with a strong portfolio.
- Enlist friends and family to help with DIY invitations, signage, favours, centrepieces
- Use or borrow second-hand décor or accessories
How to Set a Realistic Wedding Budget?
Here is your step-by-step guide to planning your wedding costs.
Step 1: Set a maximum spending limit
Have an open conversation with your partner and other contributors about the maximum amount you can spend on your wedding.
Step 2: Break down your wedding costs
Categorise areas of spending such as Location (venue, size, style), Food (catering, cake, alcohol), Entertainment (band, DJ, Gifts), Visuals (styling, invitations, florals, photographer, videographer), Attire (wedding dress, groom suit, wedding bands) and Unforeseen Expenses or Emergency Fund of 5 percent.
Step 3: Prioritise
Pick your top three priorities which matter the most to you and your partner. Then identify the three lowest categories where you could consider cutting costs. It is helpful to break down your budget into percentages
Step 4: Get quotes
Reach out to your vendors and get quotes. Focus on your top priorities first, adjusting and reallocating funds as needed in other areas.
Step 5: Track your wedding expenses
Track expenses by using a spreadsheet, budget tracker or wedding planning app. Note estimated vs actual costs, along with amounts and dates for payments which are outstanding. Using a separate, wedding-purchases-only account may be helpful to keeping a clear record of your expenses.
Planning a Wedding Within Your Budget
Setting a clear and realistic budget for your wedding can be tricky, but is essential to avoid having to cut costs later on important items. Communicating clearly with your partner and staying within your financial limits to avoid unnecessary stress is a key element in a successful wedding plan.
Navarra Venues customisable wedding packages include ceremony & reception spaces, catering and NV Signature inclusions, and a dedicated co-ordinator to guide you through the process. Browse our weddings page for more about our venues and packages, or learn how to plan your wedding with our step-by-step guide.
