What You Can Realistically Expect for $5k, $10k, $20k, $50k, and $100k

Managing expectations for your wedding costs are one of the most important elements of planning your wedding. When you jump on Google or ask AI to give you average costs, most of the time they are only pulling from a few sources and I find that the numbers are not always accurate.

For a 5k wedding, this is a budget for an elopement. The venue , officiant , photographer and flowers will easily eat up a 5k budget.

For a 10k budget you could have a small gathering up to 25 guests at an inexpensive venue. The food will have to be very simple as in BBQ / pizza , simple basic flowers, photography for up to 4 hours , cake, and a scaled down bar serving beer and wine.

A 20K wedding gives you a bit more wiggle room. Find a venue that is not to expensive, You could invite up to 40 guests, serve a buffet of nice offerings for dinner, have appetizers and drinks at cocktail hour, have simple but beautiful florals, a nice ceremony/officiant and a photographer for 4-5 hours.

For a 50k budget you could invite 100 guests , rent a beautiful venue with all the furnishings, hire a planner/day of coordinator, catering could be either a plated dinner or a buffet , open bar, photography for 6-8 hours, DJ, beautiful flowers and have the venue for the entire day.

A 100k wedding is considered a luxury wedding. This amount of money allows you to have the wedding of your dreams!To do it right invite 150 guests, serve fresh in house made premium food for cocktail hour and dinner, welcome drinks/snacks before the ceremony, open bar with premium alcohol, Video and photography for 8 hours, DJ, planner / coordinator, entertainment, premium florals, wedding designer, hair and makeup services, after party with food and drinks.