Oh the big, bad “B” word; today we are discussing wedding budget 101 and what you need to know to build an accurate and realistic allowance for your Washington D.C. wedding. After all, it is SO easy to travel down the Pinterest or Instagram rabbit hole and fall in love with gorgeous wedding inspiration that just might be a wedding budget buster.
Although this breakdown will be focusing on the local Washington D.C., Northern Virginia and Maryland markets, it is important to note that every wedding market is incredibly different when it comes to pricing! Make sure to speak with your wedding planner or an industry professional to discuss accurate pricing for your location.
DRUM ROLL. The average cost for a wedding in the D.C. Metro Area with 100 guests is $45,000. Guest count is one of the biggest factors in your overall budget; fewer guests equals less money, more guests equals more money! Now let’s talk about how that average cost of $45,000 breaks down.
- Planning (Full): $4,000 – $7,000
- Venue: $8,000 – $10,000
- Catering: $10,000 – $15,000
- Alcohol: $1,000 – $2,000
- Photography: $3,000 – $6,000
- Videography: $3,000 – $5,000
- Entertainment (DJ): $1,500 – $2,500
- Entertainment (Band): $4,000 – $6,000
- Flowers: $3,000 – $5,000
- Hair and Makeup: $700 – $900
- Cake: $600 – $900
- Invitation Suite: $700 – $900
- Attire: $3,000 – $5,000
- Transportation: $2,000 – $4,000
- Favors: $400 – $600
So what do you think? Do these numbers surprise you? Our goal is to make sure that all of our clients and engaged couples have a great understanding of local wedding pricing; the more you know, the more realistic your wedding expectations; not to mention a less stressful planning experience. Now that you are an educated consumer, it will be much easier to navigate your budget! Keep in mind that every event is different and customizable; a wedding budget is not one-size-fits-all, your wedding budget should be perfectly you.
Are you interested in learning ways to maintain your budget? Or perhaps you’d prefer some professional hands-on expertise? Contact us here to see how L&L Events can help!
xoxo,
Linnie
Photo courtesy of Taken By Sarah Photography