You just got engaged (first of all... congratulations! 🤍), and almost immediately, one question starts swirling around in your mind...

"How much is this actually going to cost?"

If you've searched Google, you've probably seen wedding budgets ranging anywhere from $20,000 to well over $100,000.

So...

Who's right?

Honestly?

They all can be.

After planning weddings throughout Minnesota, I can confidently say that most of the weddings I work on fall somewhere between $30,000 and $100,000+.

Why such a big range?

Because every wedding is different.

Some couples dream of an intimate celebration with 50 of their closest family and friends.

Others are planning a 200+ guest celebration with incredible entertainment, elevated food and beverage, custom floral design, and personalized details woven throughout the day.

Neither wedding is better. They're simply creating different experiences—and those experiences naturally require different budgets.

Instead of asking...

"What's the average wedding cost?"

I encourage couples to ask a much better question...

"What kind of experience do we want to create, and how many people do we want to share it with?"

Because those two answers will tell you far more about your wedding budget than any national average ever will.

In fact, one of the very first questions I ask my couples isn't...

"What's your budget?"

It's...

"What's most important to you?"

Once we know that—and we know your guest count—we can build a budget that reflects your priorities instead of someone else's checklist.

If I could give every newly engaged couple one piece of advice, it would be this:

Don't start by deciding how much you want to spend—or even how much you have to spend.

Start by deciding how you want your wedding to feel.

Do you picture an intimate dinner with your favorite people? A packed dance floor? An unforgettable guest experience? A weekend your family will talk about for years?

Once you know the experience you're trying to create...Your budget becomes a roadmap instead of a limitation.

If you've ever asked me what the biggest factor is when it comes to your wedding budget, my answer is almost always the same...

I truly can't stress this enough.

Your guest count doesn't just determine how much food you need—it creates a ripple effect through almost every single part of your wedding.

More guests means… more meals to serve, more drinks to pour, more tables and chairs to rent, more invitations, etc. It all adds up.

But here's the part I think couples often overlook...

The more guests you invite, the more guest experiences you're responsible for creating.

Every additional guest affects more than your catering bill.

You're creating an experience for another person.

That means another meal.

Another chair.

Another invitation.

Another centerpiece.

Another guest you want leaving your wedding saying,

"That was incredible."

That's why I always encourage my couples to think beyond simply asking,

"How many people can we invite?"

Instead...

Ask yourselves...

"How many people can we realistically create an incredible experience for?"

Sometimes trimming just 20 or 30 guests creates room in your budget for amazing food, upgraded entertainment, gorgeous floral design, or a planner who helps make the entire day feel effortless.

Guest count drives almost everything.

Also, think about who those guests are - check out this other blog post I wrote about who to invite to your wedding and who to NOT invite!

Pinterest is wonderful for inspiration. But one of the biggest mistakes I see couples make is trying to recreate someone else's wedding instead of building one that reflects their own priorities.

Before you start pinning floral installations or ordering custom signage, take a step back and ask yourselves: "When our wedding is over, what do we want people to remember?"

Was it... The incredible dinner? The packed dance floor? The heartfelt ceremony? The stunning floral design? The amazing desserts? The late-night snacks? The way everyone felt welcomed and celebrated? Your answers become your roadmap.

Those answers tell you where your budget should go.

Love food? Make it the highlight of your wedding.

Obsessed with photography? Invest there.

Dreaming of the best dance floor ever? Prioritize entertainment.

There isn't a right answer. The best weddings aren't the ones that spend the most money.

They're the ones where every dollar supports what matters most to the couple.

This is one of my favorite conversations to have because there are always a few expenses that surprise couples.

Some of the biggest ones include:

• Service charges
• Sales tax
• Vendor gratuities
• Alterations
• Invitations & postage
• Marriage license fees
• Vendor meals
• Rentals

But there are two that deserve a little extra attention...

I almost always recommend wedding insurance.

Why? Because life happens.

Weather changes.

Flights get delayed.

Vendors experience emergencies.

Wedding insurance gives you peace of mind for one of the biggest investments you'll ever make.

Another expense couples often forget is vendor travel.

If you're getting married outside the Twin Cities—or asking vendors to travel a significant distance—many professionals charge mileage or travel fees.

Depending on the location, those fees may also include:

• Hotel accommodations
• Additional travel time
• Overnight stays
• Multiple-day coverage

None of these fees are unusual.

They're simply much easier to budget for from the beginning than to be surprised by later.

If you're planning a larger celebration—or you're simply curious how I would personally allocate a $150,000 wedding budget—I actually wrote an entire guide breaking it all down.

👉 Read: How to Allocate a $150K Wedding Budget Like a Pro

Absolutely.

Your guest count and priorities will determine what that budget can accomplish, but beautiful weddings happen at every budget level.

Every wedding is different, but a $100,000 budget often gives couples the flexibility to create a highly personalized guest experience with custom design, premium vendors, and thoughtful details.

Typically your venue, catering, and bar account for the largest portion of your investment. And remember... Those costs all increase as your guest count grows.

Immediately after getting engaged.

Your budget influences every single decision you'll make throughout your planning process.

The earlier you establish realistic expectations, the easier every other decision becomes.

At the end of the day...

Your wedding budget isn't about spending the most money.

It's about spending your money intentionally.

One of my favorite parts of being a wedding planner is helping couples figure out where their investment will make the biggest impact.

Every couple has different priorities.

Every wedding looks different.

And that's exactly how it should be.

My job isn't to tell you what you should spend.

It's to help you spend intentionally on the things that matter most to you while creating an unforgettable experience for everyone who shares the day with you.

If you're in the early stages of planning and wondering what a realistic budget looks like for your vision, I'd love to chat.

Even if you walk away with nothing more than clarity and confidence about your next steps...

I'd consider that a win.

🤍 Let's create a wedding that's beautiful, intentional, and centered around an unforgettable guest experience.