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Wedding budget.
Real percentages.

From real CA weddings, not Pinterest fantasy. Pick your tier, see the percentage breakdown, plan the categories. Budget builder + reference in one.

Tiers

What weddings cost.

Intimate · 30-50 guests
$15,000 – $30,000

Backyard, restaurant buyout, small venue. Photo + film bundle. Limited rentals.

Mid-tier · 80-150 guests
$45,000 – $90,000

Boutique winery, mid-tier hotel, planner included, full photo + film. Sweet spot for most CA weddings.

Luxury · 150-250 guests
$120,000 – $250,000

Premium venues (Hummingbird Nest, Montage, Hotel Del). Full-service planner. Live band + DJ. Multi-day weekend.

Ultra-luxury · 250+ guests
$300,000+

Estate buyout. International planner. Custom design. 4-day weekend. Multi-tier travel logistics.

Category breakdown

Where the money goes.

Category
% of total
Venue + rentals
The single biggest line. Includes ceremony space, reception space, chairs, tables, linens, sometimes catering minimum.
30-40%
Catering + bar
Per-head food + drink. CA averages $90-$180/person for full-service catering. Open bar adds $30-$60/person.
20-30%
Photo + Film
AGV: $5,500-$12,500 depending on tier. The single highest-ROI line — photos last forever.
10-15%
Florals + design
Bouquets, ceremony arch, table centerpieces, lighting. Photographs 30% of every shot.
8-12%
Music (DJ / band)
DJ $1,500-$5K. Live band $4K-$12K. Live + DJ rotation $5K-$9K.
5-10%
Attire (dress + suit)
Dress $1.5K-$8K. Suit $500-$3K. Hair + makeup $1.5K-$3K extra.
5-10%
Planner / coordinator
Day-of $1.5K-$3K. Partial $3.5K-$7K. Full-service $8K-$20K. Highest-leverage line — saves you 200+ hours.
5-15%
Stationery + signage
Save-the-dates, invitations, programs, table cards, welcome signs.
2-4%
Transportation
Limousine, party bus, guest shuttles for hotel-to-venue.
2-4%
Officiant
$400-$900 civil. Free if friend-officiated.
1-3%
Cake + desserts
$400-$1,200 mid-tier. $2K+ for premium designs.
1-3%
Buffer (10% always)
Always reserve 10% of total budget for surprise costs — you'll use it.
10%
Budget tips

Where couples regret cutting.

  • ◆Photo + film is the only category whose value compounds — wedding day fades, photos don't. Don't cut here first.
  • ◆Venue is where most couples overspend. A $25K venue with full catering can cost less than a $10K venue with $40K of separate vendor minimums.
  • ◆Padrinos / family-funded weddings — assign categories to specific contributors with named line items so there's no confusion later.
  • ◆Cut Categories tier by tier — first cut transportation (Uber instead of limo), then DJ-only (skip live band), then florals (less = more impact).
  • ◆Don't cut planner for budget reasons — they save you more than they cost. Day-of coordinator ($1.5K) is the absolute minimum even for budget weddings.
  • ◆Build in 10% buffer ALWAYS. Average wedding goes 8-12% over budget. Don't plan tight to the dollar.

Want a real number for your wedding?

10 minutes. Tell me your venue + guest count + style — I'll send back a budget worksheet with realistic numbers for your specific wedding.

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