Washington Wedding Budgeting
**Updated 1/9/2024**
After planning my own weddings (yes, plural!) and ten years in business, I’ve come to realize the HARDEST part of wedding planning is the budgeting your dream wedding. It’s easy to get swept up in the dreamiest bits of wedding planning, but what do you do when it comes to affording it all? Sometimes our budgets aren’t realistic when it comes to the general cost of wedding vendors. This makes researching vendors daunting when you’re constantly met with numbers higher than your budget.
One good place to start with a general estimate of what a Washington Wedding will cost is The Wedding Report website. This site gives you tons of data based on your location. There are two ways you can find the budgeting information you’re looking for: Wedding Market Search or Wedding Cost Estimator. Below I’m covering both options for you, so you can see a complete overview as well as how to use the more personalized estimator option.
Wedding Market Search Tool
The numbers given for 2019 are actually mildly shocking, so when you prepare to do your own budgeting research, grab a glass of wine or cider or water. This should be enjoyable, not giving you a heart attack. Ready?
In 2022, the United States alone hosted 2,401,148 weddings. Yes, over 2 MILLION weddings, with an average cost of $29,195. Of those 2 million plus, Washington was home to 50,392 weddings with an average cost of $34,385. Surprised? Yeah, me too. That’s a lot of weddings! Breaking the geographic areas down a bit more, Pierce County and the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro have higher average wedding costs. With 25,330 weddings in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue Metro; weddings in this area average $45,225. Pierce County only hosted 6916 weddings with an average cost of $36,923.
The downside to using the free reports is that they leave a few gaps. It doesn’t tell us what the average wedding LOOKS like for our area, just what the budget was. In my experience, couples will pay more for those items they want vs those things they are less concerned about. These items differ for every couple which makes the look and feel of every wedding unique.
Wedding Cost Estimator Tool
You’ll either love or hate the Wedding Cost Estimator. I believe it’s the best starting point for creating a custom budget, though I’ve found this tool in general has a few minor flaws. A few of the sections (wedding attire and HMUAs specifically) tend to quote way on the low end of things. However, this is a great starting tool to get an idea of what you are really looking at cost wise. I put together two estimates to give a good idea of what you might expect to spend and when I was updating this post, I found the numbers a bit shocking though right on par for the wedding industry this year.
The Intimate Backyard Wedding
If you’ve chosen to elope in your parent’s backyard, you can still have the time of your life. Budgeting for a wedding with up to 25 of your closest friends at a private residence, you can expect to spend $18,418-$22,510 depending on the amount of DIY elements you include. One thing that adds to this cost is the rental items. Usually, people don’t keep enough tables and chairs for 25 guests at any given time, so expect to spend more money on those items than you would if you rented a venue that included them.
Going through this there were a few things I noticed that were completely unreasonable.
+ The “Bakery” budget (aka: Cake/desserts) was extremely LOW, coming in at $48-$58 total. I can buy Safeway doughnuts for around $12 a dozen, but if you’re hoping for a pretty cutting cake and some extra treats, expect to spend upwards of $250.
+ The “Invitations” budget (including guest book, invites, reply cards, save the dates, etc.) was extremely low unless you’re planning to print them at home which I still believe would be more expensive (I mean, printer ink alone anymore is like $139 for a box with a black and 3 primary color inks). They estimated $50-$61 which is unreasonable, though they may be assuming you need about 5 invitations. A pretty guestbook at Hobby Lobby runs about $25 and save the dates through my online engagement gallery system start at $30 for a pack of 25.
+ Gifts + Favors were also really low, being that it is including vendor tips at the end of the event. Now, as a vendor who takes your wedding day very seriously, I’ve covered how to tip your vendors and when it is/isn’t appropriate. As far as the wedding favors, with intimate weddings many forgo buying these. But if you really want them, consider something that doubles as decor for your wedding: like live lavender plants as table centerpieces which the guests can take home and put in their gardens. I’d place this budget closer to $800-$1000 depending on how many vendors you’re tipping and whether you forgo the favors.
Their Estimated Budget Breakdown:
Wedding Attire (including dress, suit/tux, accessories and shoes) $2,785 – $3,403
Bakery (Wedding Cake/Desserts) $48 – $58
Beauty & Spa (includes HMUA and mani/pedi) $272 – $332
DJ/MC $1,175 – $1,436
Table/Chair Rentals $161 – $197
Flowers & Decor (includes bouquet, boutonnieres.) $897 – $1,097
Invitations (Invites, RSVP cards, Thank you cards, Postage) $50 – $61
Jewelry (engagement ring NOT included) $6,132 – $7,494
Photography (Photo, Video + Engagement) $6,543 – $7,997
Officiant $300 – $366
Gifts + Favors (includes wedding favors and vendor tips) $57 – $69
Total Wedding Estimate: $18,418 – $22,510
You can view their budget breakdown by clicking here.
For intimate backyard wedding inspiration take a peek at Patricia and Shawn’s backyard wedding. For some big elopement style view Jazmin and Dominic’s Seattle Elopement.
The Large Elegant Wedding
Thinking of large elegant weddings, we’re probably looking at a guest count of 151-200, so I used that as the parameter to put together this second wedding budget breakdown. For a large spring wedding in Tacoma Washington, you can expect to pay $64,878 – $79,296. This breakdown is more aligned with the current trends in the wedding industry, and almost all areas of the budget seemed reasonable. If you’re planning a big wedding and this budget breakdown scares you, check out 13 ways to keep from going broke while wedding planning and save those dollar bills friends.
As with the other estimate, I see a few things I’d budget higher for.
+ Beauty & Spa is an ok estimate for JUST the bride. I would estimate HMUAs to be closer to $350 for bridal hair and makeup (they usually offer trials which add to the cost), and you’ll need to decide if you’re paying for bridesmaids to have hair and makeup done as well.
+ Again with the bakery… While you might be able to get a cake for the budget, you wouldn’t be able to do a cake, plus dessert table, plus doughnut wall. BUT you could likely do a cutting cake and sheet cakes from Costco for serving.
Their Estimated Budget Breakdown:
Wedding Attire (including dress, suit/tux, accessories and shoes) $3,587 – $4,385
Bakery (Wedding cake/Dessert) $815 – $997
Beauty & Spa (includes HMUA and mani/pedi) $303 – $371
DJ/MC (Includes Event Lighting) $2,367 – $2,893
Flowers & Decor (includes bouquet, boutonnieres, table centerpieces, etc.) $4,172 – $5,099
Gifts & Favors $1,327 – $1,621
Invitations (All possible stationary) $1,356 – $1,658
Jewelry (includes engagement ring) $9,554 – $11,677
Photography & Videography $9,545 – $11,666
Coordination/Planning $2,723 – $3,328
Officiant $300 – $366
Event Venue (includes bar service, catering, venue rental) $27,081 – $33,099
Rehearsal Dinner $1,266 – $1,548
Hotel Room after Reception $483 – $591
Total Wedding Estimate: $64,878 – $79,296
As you can see, it’s easy to imagine a wedding that doesn’t meet your budget needs. I’m not going to abandon you here though; I gathered information from my network of wedding vendors, and they’ve offered up their best advice for planning your wedding day! Keep in mind, your budget is very personal, and you shouldn’t let ANY of this deter you from the wedding of your dreams. Instead, pick the parts that are most important to you to splurge on, and get creative with the rest of the items!
Want some large scale inspiration? Check out Caroline and Paul’s California Destination Wedding, Laurie and Joe’s Sumner Garden Wedding or Stephanie and Mike’s Seattle Ferry Wedding.
Budgeting your Seattle Wedding Vendors
Venue: $2500 – $50,000+
The major factors here are what the venue includes. Venue packages range from just the space to including all vendors. Prepare to book 12-18 months in advance for popular venues.
Invitations: $100 – $5,000+
Depending on where you choose to order your invitations and your guest count, DIY options can be as low as $100 for print your own invites. One of a kind stationery, that’s custom designed for your event (personalized wedding logos please!) can end up on the high end. I personally love customized paper goods, and will be covering some extra specifics in my budgeting series this week! Book your stationery artist 12-14 months out.
Day of Coordination: $750 – $5,000
One of the big things here that factors into the cost is the services your day of coordinator offers. Some are simply there to keep things running smoothly, while others include setup & tear down. This is another topic for my series this week! If you’re not booking Full Coordination, you’ll want to book your day of coordinator 6-12 months in advance.
Full Coordination: $1900 – 32000+
Again a big factor is what the individual coordinator’s package includes. You’ll pay more for an all-inclusive company who provides rentals in addition to set up and teardown. Coordinators are worth their weight in gold, and can offer you peace of mind while you plan your big day. For full service coordination, book as soon as you’ve decided your budget or a minimum of 12-18 months in advance of your wedding day. Some coordinators will also help you determine your budget if you get stumped (and it can be nice to have another person explain the best way to divide your budget).
Hair & Makeup Artists: $400 – $3000
Hiring a HMUA is one of the best ways to feel your best on your wedding day. This is an area that many budgets discount big time. Be sure to hire someone with the proper licensing as they’ll be touching your face. This is the most important thing when you’re hiring hair and makeup services. Many HMUA teams book 12-14 months in advance, so if you have someone you really love, hire them asap!
Wedding Dress: $500 – $15,000+
For some, the wedding dress is the most important part of the day. Others choose to buy off the rack and save, while spending more on other aspects of their day. I recommend beginning your wedding dress search a minimum of 9-12 months in advance. Schedule any alterations closer to your wedding day, especially if you’re choosing to embark on life changes during this time.
Grooms Attire: $0 – $5000
Budgeting for the grooms attire starts at $0 because if your partner wears a suit or tux they already own, it will keep the cost very low. Of course a cost of $0 doesn’t account for any accessories or gifts you might want to give your partner on the day of. Begin your search for your partner’s attire 4-6 months in advance of your wedding.
Wedding Party Attire: $150 – $1500 per person
When choosing your attendants consider if you’ll be purchasing your attendants attire or not. A good rule of thumb is to consider if they’ll be able to wear their outfits again. If they are, then it’s not 100% necessary to purchase their outfits. However, considering your attendants budgets is the kind thing to do. If you’re set on an outfit they may not be able to wear more than once, it’s customary to provide their wedding day attire. Begin your search for wedding attendant attire 4-6 months in advance of your wedding day.
Florals & Floral Artists: $300 – $10,000
When you’re searching for your florals, I always recommend having your wedding bouquet done professionally. This is a centerpiece to your wedding and will be photographed up close with your detail shots. Availability of different florals will be dependent on the seasons, so if you have your heart set on a specific flower, consider getting married during its bloom season. Consider booking your floral artist 9-12 months in advance.
Officiants: $0 – $600
Officiants seem to be the last thing anyone considers when they’re planning their weddings. Some venues include their own officiants, while others don’t. Sometimes, you may have a friend or relative that you’d like to perform your ceremony. Professional officiants are also a wonderful option, as they’ll know when to move left or right for your first kiss, have options for different ceremony wording and ideas to tie in your special traditions. When booking a professional officiant, 9-12 months is ideal, but many can be hired up to 3 months in advance.
Rentals: $500 – $15,000+
Your rental budget will depend on the scale of your rental wishes. You can rent practically everything from basic tables, chairs and linens, to specialty seating, farm tables and wedding arches. Rentals can elevate the look of your wedding, and keep your carbon footprint lower than disposable items would. Book large rentals (and bulk items) 9-12 months in advance.
Photography & Videography: $1500 – $8000 per service
I may be a bit biased, but this is one of the vendors I recommend you start looking at almost immediately. Two reasons: 1) there are SO MANY of us and 2) services differ greatly among vendors. There are teams that only provide photo or video, and teams that do both. Give yourself plenty of time to search through their websites and really get to know your photo/video team. Aside from the Coordinator, this is the one person/team you’ll spend the most time with. Book 12-18 months in advance for full weddings, and a minimum of 4 weeks in advance for weekday or 6 weeks for weekend elopements.
Photobooth: $600 – $1600
Photobooth services may or may not be provided by your photo team, but if you’re looking for something swoon-worthy and have budgeting funds for a conversation piece, there are some pretty amazing photo-bus options out there. Book these 6-9 months in advance.
DJ/MC: $1200 – $10,000+
DJs do much more than just direct the party. They’ll read the crowd, get your nana dancing and provide some extraordinary reception lighting. Great DJs can help you create a specific reception timeline and be up to date on the current reception trends (shoe game anyone?). Book your DJ 12-18 months in advance of your wedding.
Cake Artists, Bakers & Desserts: $500 – $3000
Most cakes are priced by the slice and dessert bars tend to be priced per person. Your budget for either will be determined by your guest count. Some brides choose to get one large cake for all their guests. Personally, I had a fancy 8 slice cake made for my husband and I, then had a large dessert bar and sheet cakes for everyone else. This saved us some money because my food allergies required specialty cake. You’ll want to book a cake artist 9-12 months in advance, though some will take orders within 3 months of your wedding day.
Catering: $15 – $100+ per person
Catering is a big category because it encompasses all food types and options. You can stick to a smaller budget by serving buffet style, or go all out with a 3 course plated meal. You’ll want to book your caterer 9-12 months in advance, and be sure to taste test the food first. No one wants unsavory dishes at their wedding.
Bartending & Specialty Drinks: $300 – $5000
Don’t think that skipping the alcohol means you won’t be budgeting a bartender. Having a bartender can be a fun way to offer specialty drinks in the form of mocktails at your reception. There’s no limit to what you can do, and the kids at my wedding LOVED being able to go up to our “bar” and order fancy drinks. The fun doesn’t stop there though… no Seattle shindig is complete without coffee. You can even have a mobile espresso stand to keep the party going all night long. Book these specialty vendors 9-12 months in advance.
Setup, Cleanup & Design: $500 – $15,000+
Many coordinators have teams where they can offer setup and cleanup, but if you don’t have a coordinator, you may want to hire these vendors for yourself. Another aspect of creating a dream day is the Wedding Designer. They may include rentals, set up and clean up as well. If you’re less inclined to create a wedding design, I recommend budgeting for a good wedding designer. Their main job is to help you create a cohesive vision for your wedding and bring it to fruition. Book these vendors 6-18 months in advance.
A huge thank you to the following vendors for their budgeting contributions:
Grain Artisan Bakery
Bakers’ Dozen
Aisle Less Traveled
Block Weddings & Events
CME Experience
Puget Sound DJ
Flux VJ
Pj Parsons Presents
Espresso Elegance Inc
Urbanista Weddings
Seattle Bride Hair
Yessie Libby
Korrine C Makeup & Esthetician
Greatest of Days
Lifetime Memories Officiating
Liebe Photography
Salt and Pine Photography
Zoe Burchard Studio
Tasha Owen Photography
Lemonade Photography
Sablewood Paper Company
Lavender Bouquet Photography
And a final thank you to Kate of GSquared Weddings for her original budgeting article and lighting a fire under my rear to do my own research and get this budgeting article finished.
