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Jayla
Champion October 2025

Over or Under: 27k Wedding Budget?

Jayla, on September 11, 2018 at 11:05 AM

Posted in Planning 187

This one is definitely a frequently asked question! When you exclude the engagement ring and the honeymoon, the average cost of a wedding is $27,000. Unfortunately, most couples budget an average of $16,000 for their wedding and 40% of couples go over their budget! Based on the total ceremony and...

This one is definitely a frequently asked question! When you exclude the engagement ring and the honeymoon, the average cost of a wedding is $27,000. Unfortunately, most couples budget an average of $16,000 for their wedding and 40% of couples go over their budget! Based on the total ceremony and reception costs, couples end up spending an average of $216 per guest.

Is your wedding budget in the same ballpark? Are you over or under $27,000? *you don't have to share exact numbers!!


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Next question - Over or Under: 4.5 hour reception?

187 Comments

  • Jayla
    Champion October 2025
    Jayla ·
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    That's going to be so nice!! Did you always want to keep it small and intimate?

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  • Jayla
    Champion October 2025
    Jayla ·
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    You definitely can! If you have a good plan, stick to the budget, and spend/save where necessary you can make it happen!!

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  • Jenna
    Super October 2019
    Jenna ·
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    Agreed, ours is way over too!!

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  • Lacy
    Super December 2018
    Lacy ·
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    Under, but it's a small wedding and we did a lot of research and was smart about it. All in all, about 11k for 50 people.

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  • Taylor
    Devoted May 2019
    Taylor ·
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    Under! We are keeping it at $10k

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  • Meghan
    Super September 2019
    Meghan ·
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    Way under! We're trying to keep things below $10K.

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  • adrey_naners
    Beginner September 2019
    adrey_naners ·
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    Preach! We're having our wedding in the Santa Cruz mountains and we're at about 45k with everything (minus rings). Weddings in California are not cheap!
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  • Kenneth
    Just Said Yes October 2019
    Kenneth ·
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    Our wedding budget is $10k. If we exceed it, it wont be by much, as we have most everything already purchased/selected, and from my estimation were pretty close to 100% on track.

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  • A
    Expert August 2019
    Ami ·
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    Over 🤦‍♀️ CA is expensive
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  • Jayla
    Champion October 2025
    Jayla ·
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    Oh yea I'm sure!!!! I've heard it's crazy!!

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  • Jayla
    Champion October 2025
    Jayla ·
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    That's awesome Kenneth!! How is your planning coming along so far?

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  • Candi
    Super September 2024
    Candi ·
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    Over by a little. Our wedding was $300 so renewing will be the big bang with a small group we love.

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  • Chandra
    Master May 2019
    Chandra ·
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    We arent done yet....but we originally set a 15k budget. However if every person invited comes (basically a DW so I'm figuring only 50% of people will come) then we'll be around 20k.
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  • Maria
    Super October 2019
    Maria ·
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    Under and grateful to get married in affordable Indiana Smiley laugh


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  • Angela
    Dedicated September 2018
    Angela ·
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    WAAAAYYYYY under. I came in below 10K for an out of state intimate wedding in upstate NY. Wouldn't change a thing.

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  • Laura
    Master October 2019
    Laura ·
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    WAY WAY WAY WAY under that!! Right now we're hoping to keep it around 10 to 15,000.

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  • Erin
    Devoted June 2019
    Erin ·
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    Yes! This is me all day. I'm just like damn, where did the money go? But yeah to answer the question, we are over lol.
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  • M
    Dedicated January 2019
    Maggie ·
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    Yeah we are getting married in Hawaii and we are WAYYYYY over that too.

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  • Alexandra
    Super December 2018
    Alexandra ·
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    We are coming up on being a little over our budget... and I had taken costs into consideration, but then the little things add up: stamps, HAMU (and trials for this), outfit for rehearsal dinner, shoes, etc...

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  • Gipperkm
    Super September 2018
    Gipperkm ·
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    Our wedding was slightly over and we stayed right on budget. Well, we went over...by one penny. Smiley smile

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