Let’s talk about real wedding budgets!

Fun fact about me, I’m a Missouri wedding photographer but also used to teach (and currently work in finance.) So, although you may know me best from my ultra-romantic and swoon-worthy wedding photos…I also get pretty geeky about personal finance and budgeting. Let’s dive into real wedding budgets. It doesn’t have to be scary.

This will not be an all-encompassing guide to wedding budgets, but I hope there will be some insights here that you can carry into some of your initial wedding planning discussions with your partner and your families. In 2024, the average wedding in the Midwest cost just shy of $30,000 according to the Knot.

My Hot Takes on Real Wedding Budgets

I’ll get started with some thoughts that you might find controversial. Currently, they are called “hot takes” on social media but I’m sure that the trend will change and these viewpoints will have some fun new names. Until then…

Social media is NOT your friend when it comes to wedding planning.

Of course, we all use it…but social media is going to create unrealistic expectations for what you should do for your wedding. Some of the posts you see aren’t real, they are stylized shoots! You will make a list of things you think you just have to have and then your wedding will cost 1 million dollars. You need to be prepared for a huge reality check if you’ve been saving ideas to your Pinterest and Instagram. I know this sounds harsh, but I say this with love…be prepared to adjust your expectations! Real wedding budgets are made when we settle in on the handful of things that are most important to us and are willing to let go of the rest. 

You CAN have a stunning and meaningful wedding for anywhere from $10,000 to $100,000.

I know this because I photographed weddings between these price ranges in 2024. Yes, I photographed a $10,000 wedding in 2024. If you go through my Instagram I can guarantee that you can not tell which of the weddings I shared was the least expensive one. Also, my rate remained the same. So, my photographer fee was almost 40% of their entire wedding budget. 

If you are planning on having a wedding with over 150 guests you absolutely need to hire a wedding planner.

Not just the planner or the attendant that the venue provides! There are just too many moving pieces in a larger wedding and although I love being the photographer who can adapt to anything…you are more likely to get the photo gallery you’ve hoped and dreamed of if I’m not also having to manage the timeline, tell the catering where to put something or fix a hem. You may think a wedding planner is too expensive, but a good one is well worth the investment.

What are the main factors that drive up the cost of real wedding budgets? 

Guest Count

Very simply, the more people you invite the more your wedding will cost. There is no way around this one! A huge part of your planning discussions with your partner and your family is what expectations everyone has around the guest list. 

Will you be happy with a smaller wedding surrounded by close friends and family? Have you always known that your wedding would include all your friends, and your parents’ friends, and your grandparents’ friends? There is no wrong answer here. Each couple must decide for themselves what kind of wedding they want…and can afford. 

Once you’ve got an idea of the guest list, you can start inquiring about venues and caterers. You will want to call several, go on tours, and start a general understanding of what different venues provide. Catering can be anything from ultra-casual to fine dining and the price per head will vary accordingly. 

St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church – Lebanon, Missouri

Venue

This is the part that can get very overwhelming and I think you should start getting assistance from someone with lots of wedding experience BEFORE you choose a venue. A wedding planner or an experienced wedding photographer can give you great input on what to look for.

I’ve said it over and over again in my blog posts, but your wedding venue makes a huge difference in the outcome of your wedding photos. And if you’ve wound up here on my blog, your wedding photos are very important to you. The venue sets the tone for your wedding.

If you are thinking about hosting a wedding on private property, versus an existing wedding venue – I’ve written a comprehensive blog about everything that goes into that! 

Aesthetically, a venue that offers more might be more expensive but may also require fewer florals and decor to look the way you want it. Make sure you find out exactly what the venue offers because many come with built-in perks like decor and rentals or even catering. Others may not…the chairs, lighting, and decor may be extra. 

If you are comparing venues, make sure it isn’t just about the price. Know what is included with the price! And like I said before, a venue representative on your wedding day is wonderful but don’t assume that can be a quality substitute for a wedding planner. 

Chrysler Commons – Buffalo, Missouri

Catering and Bar Service

Imagine gathering a group of 10 of your friends on a Saturday night, going to a nice restaurant, and telling them to go ahead and enjoy themselves. Get appetizers, get an entree, and order a dessert! Drink all night…it’s on you! Chances are this isn’t the kind of tab you pick up very often. 

Well, a wedding means that you are picking up the tab on a night like this for 30-250 of your closest friends and family. It simply gets expensive fast. As we’ve already discussed, the number of guests you have is going to be the biggest factor here. The next will be the theme or the level of food that you want to serve. A buffet, or service? BBQ versus steak and chicken? Cocktails versus beer and wine? Cash bar vs all-inclusive.

Something to consider…if a party atmosphere at the end of the night is what you want then you have to feed people well and give them drinks. Lots of my brides want that party and all those fun reception moments, so you can’t cut too many corners on the catering and bar service.

Finley Farms – Ozark, Missouri

Size of Your Wedding Party

Much like the size of the guest list, the size of your wedding party makes a big difference in how much everything else costs. From gowns and tuxedo rentals to florals and hair and makeup – these expenses multiply quickly. Everything also takes more time and with weddings, time is money. Your wedding day timeline will be impacted by the size of your wedding party. You can discuss this in more depth with your wedding planner or your wedding photographer. 

Sparrow Lane – Willard, Missouri

Decor and Floral

I’ve noticed that one area where couples experience sticker shock is florals. Social media shows some incredible floral installations in popular wedding content and getting educated on those prices – although justified- can be a humbling experience. Much love to all the florists out there as they are handling fresh, live blooms that have to be temperature-controlled and handled carefully. It’s a big deal! Florals are such an important part of the decor and the feel of a wedding, but they are one of the larger line item expenses. Also impacted greatly by the size of the venue, the number of tables (guests), and the number of people in your bridal party. 

Of all the wedding vendors I work with, florists work the hardest at preparing an initial bid for their floral services so be prepared with as much information as you can when you inquire with a wedding florist. Hopefully, you’ve done some work on your budget and have an idea of what you can spend. 

Private Property Wedding near Jefferson City, Missouri

Putting my Personal Finance Teacher Hat On to Discuss Real Wedding Budgets

There is no one but YOU who can decide what is the right amount of money to spend on your wedding. Only you and your spouse can comfortably decide on that number. If you have family members pitching in, obviously that plays a part, too. 

You do not have to go into debt and start your marriage in a stressful state. 

Begin by making a list of things that are important to each of you. Think about what you’ve always hoped for in a wedding, or what you’ve seen at family and friends’ weddings that stood out to you. Or things that you saw and thought… that’s not for us! Consider your family traditions or traditions you hope to start. 

Ask your recently married friends what they loved about their wedding days or what they would have done differently. 

Assume you know nothing about how much things cost. Because it is 2025 and everything is different now. What your aunt paid for your cousin’s wedding in 2019 is not relevant anymore.  

Don’t feel obligated to others. If you have been a bridesmaid three times, but you were hoping for a smaller, more intimate wedding – that is okay. You don’t have to ask your friends to also be in YOUR wedding party. They will be just as happy to be a guest. I promise. Just because someone invited you to their wedding does not mean you have to invite them to your wedding. 

Mighty Oak Lodge – Lebanon, Missouri

Resources You May Find Useful in Creating Your Wedding Budget

• Everything You Need to Know to Create a Wedding Budget: Breakdowns, Examples, & Pro Tips from Minted.com
• How much does the average wedding cost according to data? by The Knot
• Wedding budget breakdown: Here is how to allocate your entire wedding budget from Brides.com
  

Still looking for a Mid-Missouri wedding photographer?

I’m located in Lebanon, Missouri but I do travel to many beautiful venues in the Ozarks. If you hope to have a wedding photo gallery that looks like the pictures I’ve shared here, please take a look at my Instagram and Pinterest to explore more. You can always reach out to me through my contact form to begin a conversation about your wedding photography. 

Other blogs I’ve written to assist in your wedding planning: 

• Just got engaged…now what? 
• Why weddings don’t stress me out.
• Why is wedding photography so expensive?
• Why have black and white wedding photos in your wedding gallery?
• Is the blurry wedding photo trend right for you? 
• What is a black-tie wedding? 

Bailey Morris of Morris Imagery is a wedding photographer from Lebanon, Missouri. She loves telling stories through authentic imagery and catching those unexpected in-between moments that turn into favorite photos. You can connect with Bailey here.