- The wedding reception will take up the largest portion of your wedding budget if you’re like the average bride. It’s not difficult to see why when you consider that most of the things you’ll buy for the wedding will be used at the wedding reception rather than at the wedding ceremony. Think: reception table centerpieces, wedding favors, the wedding disc jockey, etc.
- You should expect to spend 48‐50% of your wedding budget on the wedding reception. For the average $20,000 wedding, the wedding reception will cost about $10,000. Of course, the reception costs can escalate quickly if you invite more guests than average. Budget extra if you are having more than 150 guests.
- There are plenty of things to pay for when it comes to the wedding reception. First, you have to rent a wedding venue, and if the venue doesn’t have a dedicated caterer, you’ll have to find one of those. There’s the baker and the bartender, not to mention the wedding favors, the wedding disc jockey, and the cost of decorations, if these won’t be provided by the wedding venue.
- Reception venues vary in cost based on location, type of venue, and popularity. A hugely popular venue in a large city like New York will be the most expensive to rent, costing up to or even above $10,000 for the venue alone. However, the average cost of venues for the U.S. is around $1,250 for venues that don’t include catering.
- Catering fees change based on the type of food ordered, the experience and ability of the caterer, and the number of guests you have to feed. Hiring the highest rated caterer in town to feed 300 guests will be costly. However, there are ways to cut prices, like choosing some of the more inexpensive items on the menu. Catering fees for 50 guests could come to $12,000, which is about $80 per person, if you choose a higher-end caterer.
- You’ll want a delicious and beautiful cake to cut on your wedding day, so don’t skimp on the price of the cake. Some bakers charge per slice, while others have a flat fee. No matter the pricing scheme, make sure to buy enough for all of your guests. Think $500+ when calculating your wedding budget if you’re inviting about 100 guests. Ask your caterer whether they will charge you to slice and plate the cake. One way to cut costs is to choose a dessert other than cake, like pie, cookies, or a sundae bar.
(Photo by Jon Day)
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