How much should I spend on my wedding?
<div class="user-question">I’m getting married in 2027 & I’m so excited! But also worried about finances. None of our parents are able to contribute to the wedding - how do I make sure I don't go into debt?</div>
Well, we can’t jump in without giving you a HUGE congratulations on your upcoming nuptials! How wonderful is it that you have someone to love and cherish for the rest of your life?
And while weddings can be a wonderful manifestation of that, they can also be a massive outpouring of time, stress and, of course, money.
The average cost for a wedding was $33,000 in 2024. That’s a lot of money for just one event! So let's break it down how you financially prepare for your big day!
Lock in your numbers
Before worrying about the guest list or looking at potential venues, the very first thing you need to do is lock in what your total spend is. How much can you comfortably spend (literally & metaphorically)?
This is your cap. Everything works backwards from this. Add a 10-15% buffer for all of those inevitable unknowns and unpleasant surprises that will pop up, and you should be good.
With your date in mind, now we can do some quick math to get you a target for your monthly savings goal, which should look a little something like this:
Let’s say your cap is $25,000, and your wedding is in August next year. With 10 months before the big day, your monthly savings target would be:
Plug in your own numbers, and you have your starting point!
The Plan: 1️⃣ Build the wedding budget
You may be marrying your partner, but your best friend for the wedding is going to be a budget.
Pick a money management plan that works for how you earn and spend your money. Here are some of my personal favorites:
REVERSE BUDGETING
This is where you “pay yourself first”. Set an automatic transfer to a wedding pot the day after payday, then live on what remains. It front-loads the goal and removes the “I’ll save what’s left” trap.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Here's an easy guide to get started with reverse budgeting.</div>
SINKING FUNDS
Break the wedding into mini-pots (venue, catering, attire, etc) with target amounts and dates, so big bills are pre-saved in stress-free, smaller chunks.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Here's an easy guide to get started with the sinking funds strategy.</div>
ZERO-BASED BUDGETING
Give every dollar a job to avoid a bunch of last-minute purchases. It’s more hands-on, but can be especially useful while you’re juggling quotes and variable costs.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Here's an easy guide to get started with zero-based budgeting.</div>
THE $1,000 PROJECT
Use “parcels” of extra income (overtime, reselling, tiny freelancing gigs) to accelerate your wedding fund. Each parcel locks in real progress, which will keep you motivated!
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Here's an easy guide explaining the $1,000 project strategy.</div>
2️⃣ Define your guardrails
Now you can write your own playbook of if-then rules so decisions happen easier. If a venue quote nudges you over the cap, then trim the guest list by 10, shift to a weekday, or swap the three-course dinner for a brilliant brunch. If photography pushes you past the line, then book fewer hours and prioritize the moments you’ll actually print.
Once you’ve sorted out some pre-agreed moves that keep you on track, outline your non-negotiables, for example:
- The emergency fund is untouchable
- No Buy Now Pay Later
- No unpaid credit card balances
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: Always keep your emergency fund in a HYSA (it grows your money without you doing anything). Here's the one team Frich uses.</div>
3️⃣ Identify your cost levers
When you know what levers you can pull to take pressure off certain vendors, activities and expenses, you can design to your own budget, not what the algorithm thinks a wedding “should” look like.
- The guest list. Every extra chair multiplies costs across food, drink, space, stationery and more, so settle your headcount first and watch half the other decisions get easier.
- Calendar switches. Ask venues for their most affordable day/time windows up front, and be open to weekdays or off-season dates. Consider a morning or brunch wedding, which typically means lighter menus and shorter bar time - without losing charm.
- Menu strategy. Choose a format that matches your people and your price cap - a buffet, food trucks, or a hero dessert table. You can also do some quiet trimming by reducing canapés, offering a single signature drink, and skipping late-night snacks.
- Photography. Booking “hours”, instead of a full day, will always save you a surprising amount of money. Hire a photographer for the moments that matter - getting ready, ceremony, portraits and the first hour of the reception - and skip the rest. You can always add any extras à la carte later if your budget allows.
- Flowers and décor. Go for focal pieces over coverage. Invest in the hero moments, like the bouquet, ceremony backdrop and the head table at the reception. Keep the rest simple, and reuse bits between both the ceremony and reception to get the most out of it.
4️⃣ Keep your cash flow flowing
Your cash flow can be the difference between a calm, paid-for party and panicked, last-minute swiping of your credit card. Weddings have lumpy costs - deposits now, balances later. If you don’t plan the timing, the lumps win.
- Run a three-account setup. Keep separate accounts for Bills, Spending, and Savings so wedding deposits can’t touch rent, tax, or other essentials.
- Ring-fence the wedding pot. Treat the sub-account as off-limits for everyday purchases, and keep the emergency fund separate and untouched.
- Boost the inflow. Add some temporary income - sell unused items, take a few overtime shifts or one-off gigs, offer a small freelance service - and increase your savings by the exact extra you bring in so it doesn’t vanish into day-to-day spending.
- Map every vendor payment. List each supplier’s deposit, midpoint, and final balance, and place those dates on a calendar against your actual paydays.
- Stagger the big outgoings. Aim to space sizeable payments 4-6 weeks apart, and ask vendors early to split or shift dates if two land in the same month.
<div class="frich-tip">Frich tip: If you really want to stay on budget, and more, PocketSmith is your go-to app. Connect your accounts, create sinking-fund budgets, and use the forecast and calendar views to see if your target payment dates will be met.</div>
Found this valuable? Here are some more deep dives from the Frich team 🤝
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✅ How do I catch financial red flags in the guys I'm dating?
✅ What should be my financial goals?
Your wedding day will be, without a doubt, one of the loveliest days of your life. But it’s just that - one single day. The only long-term commitment you should be making is to your partner, not to a mountain of debt. Keep the meaning big and the footprint gentle.
Wishing you a lifetime of happiness and joy!
Chloe Adams from PocketSmith
