Wedding Budget Breakdown: $30,000 for 100 Guests, Every Line Item

The Knot's 2026 study puts the average reception venue at $12,900, but that figure rises with guest count. For 51 to 100 guests the average was about $10,400. Zola's cost index lists an average venue spend of $8,573.

Our $7,000 line assumes the ceremony and reception happen in one place, so you pay one site fee. Ask whether tables, chairs and linens come with the space, because that decides how big your rentals line needs to be.

The Knot's study puts catering at $80 a person on average. At $60 a guest, think buffet, family style or a simpler plated menu, depending on your area.

Ask what the per-person price covers. Appetizers, staff, cake cutting and plates are sometimes extra.

Couples in The Knot's study spent $2,800 on alcohol on average. Beer and wine plus one signature drink costs less than a full open bar.

Ask two questions early: can you bring your own alcohol, and is there a corkage fee if you do?

Many caterers and venues add a service charge on top of food and drinks. Zola's guide puts service charges and gratuities at 18 to 22 percent of vendor costs, and its 2026 Wedding Spend Survey found 57 percent of couples faced a mandatory venue service fee. We used 20 percent of the food and bar lines.

A service charge isn't always a tip for the staff. Ask your caterer what it covers. This is the line most couples leave out, and it's first on our list of hidden wedding costs.

The Knot's 2026 average for a photographer was $3,000, and Zola's index lists $4,400. Fewer hours of coverage is the usual way to bring the price down.

Ask what the package includes: hours, a second shooter, an online gallery and prints.

Couples spent $2,800 on flowers and $1,900 on lighting and decor on average, per The Knot. At $1,600 combined, the money goes to the bouquet, a few personal flowers and simple centerpieces.

Bud vases, candles and greenery go a long way on a long table. Ask your florist which flowers are in season for your date.

The Knot's average rental spend was $2,000. Our $600 assumes the venue supplies tables and chairs, so this line covers extras like a cake stand, an arch or extra linens.

If your venue is an empty space, move money here from decor or the buffer.

A DJ averaged $1,800 in The Knot's study, and a live band averaged $4,500. A DJ who also runs the ceremony sound can save you a second rental.

The Knot puts the average videographer at $2,300 and transportation at $1,100. We left both out of this example.

If video matters to you, take the money from flowers, the bar or the buffer rather than adding it on top.

This line covers a $1,200 dress, $300 for alterations and $250 for a suit. The Knot's average dress spend was $2,100, and Zola lists alterations at $550 and a tux at $225 on average.

Get an alterations quote before you buy, because it can run higher than you'd expect.

The Knot's study lists about $150 for a hairstylist and $150 for a makeup artist for one person. Trials and touch-ups may cost extra, so ask when you book.

Couples spent $3,000 on wedding rings on average in The Knot's study, with the engagement ring counted separately at $4,600. Simple bands cost far less, and the ring line is easy to move if you already own them.

The Knot's average cake was $540. A small display cake plus a sheet cake in the kitchen, or a dessert table, can serve 100 guests for less.

Zola lists an average invitation suite at $500. You send one invitation per household, not per guest, so count households first.

The USPS Forever stamp rose to 82 cents on July 12, 2026, and each extra ounce is 29 cents. If you mail 60 invitations with one stamp each, postage is $49.20, before reply card stamps or square envelopes.

The Knot lists an average officiant fee of $260, and Zola lists $325. A friend who gets ordained online may only ask for a thank-you gift, but check your state's rules first.

This is an example amount for tips that aren't already covered by a service charge, such as for a hairstylist or a delivery crew. Read each contract first, because some already include gratuity.

Zola's 2026 survey found 79 percent of couples bought a marriage license and 58 percent bought wedding party gifts. License fees are set by your county or state, so check your county clerk's website for the real number.

This looks like the $30,000 plan with 20 fewer guests. The venue and food lines shrink the most, and the photographer stays close because coverage hours don't change much with guest count.

At this size, a restaurant private room or a venue that includes catering can fold two lines into one. Friday and Sunday dates are often priced lower than Saturdays, so ask for both.

Think park pavilion, a family backyard or a courthouse ceremony followed by dinner. Music becomes a playlist and a rented speaker, and photography covers the ceremony and a few hours after.

The buffer stays at 10 percent, because small budgets have the least room for a surprise fee.