Officiant: $300
Officiants serve a vital role when it comes to your wedding. Officiants can be religious figures, close friends, family members, professional celebrants, or anyone that legally has the right to marry a couple. As for the price? Justices of the peace may only cost you $50-$100. However, more experienced priests or professional celebrants could charge you up to $450. On average, expect to pay around $300.
Cake: $550
Several factors can affect how much you end up spending on this wedding day staple. Things like the size of the cake, the layer count, the experience level of the baker, decorations, number of tiers, and more can greatly affect a cake's price. A customized wedding cake will most likely end up costing you around $550.
Ceremony music/musician: $600
For many couples, choosing to hire live music for their ceremony is a no-brainer. This added expense will cost you, however. The average fee for hiring musicians to play during your ceremony or as you walk down the aisle is around $600.
Hair and makeup artists: $650
Hiring professional hair and makeup artists is one surefire way for a bride or groom to make sure they look their best on the big day. These services, however, don't run cheap. You should expect to pay $650 on average for a professional wedding day hair and makeup service. This figure may also include any trial-runs you do leading up to the wedding day.
Transportation: $1,050
If you need to hire buses, limos, or other means of transportation to get your guests to and from your venue or venues, expect to pay around $1,050. Transportation costs can also include the expense of renting a getaway car to escort you from the reception at the end of the night.
DJ: $1,200
DJs are the cheaper music option when it comes to your wedding reception — the average cost to hire a DJ is less than half of what it is to hire a band! However, you should still set aside around $1,200 to cover the costs of your DJ.
Lighting and decor: $1,400
Making your venue look picture-perfect may cost you a pretty penny. Couples reported spending an average of $1,400 on lighting and other decor items for their wedding ceremony and reception.
Event rentals and photo booths: $1,700
Novelty photo booths and other activities will ensure your guests will be having fun and making memories all night long. The cost of renting things like photo booths, however, can add up. You should expect to pay around $1,700 for most event rentals.
Flowers: $1,800
What would a wedding be without gorgeous flowers? This expense is a must-have on most couples' lists. Hiring a florist for your wedding can be extremely pricey — couples reported spending an average of $1,800 on floral arrangements and bouquets for their wedding day.
Videography: $1,800
Hiring someone to capture every moment of your wedding day can be extremely tempting. If you do choose to hire a videographer, you should be prepared to pay a hefty price tag. Videography services can cost around $1,800.
Rehearsal dinner and additional meals: $1,800
One expense that many couples forget about when it comes to their wedding celebration is the rehearsal dinner. The cost of catering a rehearsal dinner or any other additional meals can reach up to $1,800 — no small expense when you consider all of the other costs that go into planning your wedding.
Wedding planner: $1,850
Wedding planning can be extremely stressful, especially for a first-time bride or groom. Many couples choose to leave it up to the experts. Hiring a professional wedding planner can cost up to $1,850, but many say they don't regret shelling out for that added expense.
One Business Insider contributor claimed that hiring a wedding planner was the best decision she made while preparing for her wedding. She said, "No matter how organized you, your family, or your bridesmaids are, you'll never be able to stay on top of everything the way a wedding planner can...I was amazed at all of the little tasks they assisted with, like helping my bridesmaids steam their dresses or packing up all the cards and gifts at the end of the night."
Photographer: $2,400
Hiring a professional wedding photographer is one way to ensure that your memories will last a lifetime. Between your engagement photo shoot and photos on the actual wedding day, costs can definitely add up. Couples reported spending an average of $2,400 on their wedding photographer.
Band: $3,900
Hiring a band for your wedding day can end up being one of your highest expenses. Much pricier than a DJ, live bands tend to charge around $3,900.
Catering: $6,700
Depending on what kind or how much food you would like at your wedding, the costs of catering may vary greatly. According to Wedding Wire, for a plated meal, the average cost of wedding catering in the U.S. is around $40 per person. For a buffet, the average price is around $27 per person. Couples should plan to budget around $6,700 for total food costs including beverages, appetizers, and the actual wedding meal.
Venue: $9,000
Out of every expense that goes into planning your wedding day, you should expect to set aside the most amount of money for your venue. Most wedding venues will cost you around $9,000 to $10,000, but some high-profile or luxurious venues could cost you up to a whopping $60,000. Overall, however, there is a venue out there to suit any budget.
- Read more:
- 7 ways millennials are changing marriage, from signing prenups to staying together longer than past generations
- 27 unique wedding traditions from around the world
- From rings to cakes, Costco has what you need for a budget wedding
- How to make sure you stick to a wedding budget, according to a financial planner
