5 of the Priciest Items to Budget for When You’re Getting Married

Getting married is an exciting time, and a wedding is a fun way to start your new life together in style. With so many creative ways to celebrate your love these days, there are lots of opportunities to make sure your wedding reflects your personality as a couple.  

But whether the nuptials are big or small, unique or traditional, most wedding budgets share a lot of the same costs. Here are some of the biggest-ticket items for your wedding and how to make them more affordable. 

Engagement ring

The engagement ring is a traditional gift for your intended. For many, only a diamond ring will do, while others may prefer more colorful alternatives like sapphires, rubies or emeralds. 

With the average engagement ring costing more than $5,000,¹ it’s typically the first major expense of any wedding. Engagement ring financing can help put this special purchase within reach by letting you spread out the cost over time. While jewelry stores often offer in-house financing, you could also consider taking out a personal loan or using a credit card. 

Catering

Catering is often the biggest expense for a wedding reception, especially if you include a cocktail hour with hors d’oeuvres, multiple meal options, an open bar and late-night snacks. This cost can vary widely depending on how many guests you have and what you plan to serve, but a recent survey shows catering costs an average of $80 per person.² 

One of the easiest ways to cut your catering bill is to eliminate or limit alcohol options (or go for a cash bar). Another option is to skip the full-service dinner by offering a buffet of heavy appetizers and other small bites.³ That way, your guests can choose what they like and avoid what they don’t — or can’t — eat. 

Venue

Whether you celebrate your marriage at a historic home, a hotel ballroom or your favorite restaurant, it’s important to choose a location that not only accommodates all your guests in comfort but also reflects the mood of your special day. Fortunately, couples have many choices these days, including an increasing number of nontraditional options.

To save money on your venue, you have a few choices. First, of course, is trimming your guest list — the fewer people you have to accommodate, the smaller your venue can be. Another option is to consider free or inexpensive locations like your local public park or a friend or family member’s home.

Switching up the timing could also help you save. Saturday evenings during peak wedding season — spring and summer — are often in highest demand, and venues price accordingly. Consider holding your wedding on a Thursday or Friday night, or opt for a morning ceremony followed by a wedding brunch instead. Or consider getting married in the winter, when venues have lower demand.⁴ 

Photography and videography

Naturally, you’ll want to capture all the most important moments from your special day. While costs vary significantly by region, wedding photography can cost an average of around $3,000.⁵ 

You may be able to save money by purchasing a photo/video package from your vendor. Or consider skipping video altogether in favor of still images only. You could also choose to print your photos and make your own album yourself instead of ordering these from your photographer.  

You may also be able to find lower rates from photography students and apprentices — or potentially a skilled friend or family member, as long as you both have clear expectations about the terms of the arrangement to protect everyone’s feelings. 

If your main concern is the upfront cost, ask your vendor if they offer payment plans.

Flowers

Flowers are expensive, and for good reason — a lot of effort goes into cultivating, harvesting, transporting and arranging those delicate blooms. 

To save money on florals, consider making affordable swaps and skipping the nonessentials. For example, roses are just as romantic as peonies but often cost far less. And if you’re not doing a big formal event, does your wedding party really need corsages and boutonnieres? 

Even if you don’t want to cut back on the amount of flowers you use, you can save money by limiting the types of flowers you use and choosing big blooms that offer a lot of impact per stem. Local, in-season flowers are typically more affordable, as are non-flowering plants. And repurposing your ceremony flowers for the reception is not just an economical solution but a sustainable one, too.⁶  

Get married in style — without going broke

As special as you want your wedding day to be, you don’t want to spend the rest of your life paying it off. After all, your wedding is likely just the first of many big expenses you’ll shoulder as a couple. By being selective about where you splash out and where you save, you can ensure your big day gives you a joyful, memorable start to your life together without compromising your future finances.

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