When one of my couples asks me “What is the average cost of a wedding these days”?
That question always makes me pause? Why? Because your average wedding budget is different from her average wedding budget. Why? Because you don’t live where she lives? Why? Because your pockets are scary while her pockets are LIT! Why? Because what someone else spends or doesn’t spend has nothing to do with whether or not you can put food on the table tomorrow.
HOWEVER… I can tell you on overage, what MY clients in NYC spend on a NYC raw space wedding for an average of 150 guests. No problem. BUT… is that what you want to know or do you NEED to know how much pole time is this wedding going to cost you?
How much pole time is this wedding going to cost me
Pause for reaction…
So, since most of my clients really want the latter, I answer the question with the following questions:
- Where are you getting married?
- What day of the week do you want to get married?
- What time of year are you looking to get married?
- How many guests are you inviting?
- Do you love, like or dislike flowers?
- No really, how do you feel about flowers?
- How important is food..good food?
- What do you want your guests to say when they leave your wedding?
- Who is your photographer?
Once you have answered these questions, I can say okay, your average spend on your wedding will be between $X and $Z and here is why.
Whoever created the term wedding budget is seriously disturbed
You see, your budget or your “average spend” depends on a lot of variables. One client may spend 15k on a wedding that is super over the top because they hosted 40 guests at a tented wedding in great gran’s backyard in June. While another client will spend 80k for 350 guests on a Saturday night in June at a castle venue in New Jersey and have zero custom details, half a bell and not a single whistle not even a ding or a ling.
So does it really matter how much Karen or Simone spent on their wedding? Or do you want to narrow it down to what you should spend or what you WILL spend considering your wants, needs, loves, likes and OMG’s to create the space and experience that will be memorable.
Go ahead, Im listening ( well… reading).
Photo: Amy Anaiz Photography
