We shared an article in January of 2021 about Austin Wedding Cost and received lots of great feedback. Well…. times have changed and we’re now in the world of product shortages and increased cost of living. So we thought it was time to update the information and set the record straight (for now)!
So what does that mean for you? That there’s a lot of outdated information available out there which makes budget planning an even more challenging task. And that makes answering the question- “how much does an Austin wedding cost?” a varying answer that we’re going to guide you through.
For the purpose of simplifying things, I’m going to categorize price ranges as Economic, Average and Luxury. I’ve listed below several of the major wedding vendor expenses and what you can expect to spend.
Venue Costs:
Economic: <$7,000
Average: $8,000-$11,000
Luxury: > $12,000
Pro Tip: Most venues include tables & chairs and these numbers are based on that inclusion. However you want to know if they set them up and break them down, or if your catering company (or a staffing company) needs to provide that service. You can expect to spend at least $1,500 for the labor or more depending on the size of your event.
Photography:
Economic: <$5,000
Average: $5,000-$8,000
Luxury: >$9,000
Pro Tip: You can find fantastic photographers in each of the pricing categories! Be sure to discuss your priorities and budget with your Wedding Planner!
Band:
Economic: <$5,000
Average: $6,000-$10,000
Luxury: >$12,000
DJ Costs:
Economic: <$1,500
Average: $2,000-$3,000
Luxury: >$3,500
Catering:
*This is based on a wedding with approximately 150 guests. Catering is one of the places we’ve seen the most drastic increase in pricing. The drastic increase in cost of food and labor are the drivers.
Economic: <$18,000
Average: $20,000-$30,000
Luxury: >$30,000
Pro Tip: Your catering quote should include staffing for your event, not just providing food & drinks. Some caterers will automatically include staffing in your quote and others won’t, so you want to make sure you have a full understanding of what is included & what you may need to add.
Pro Tip: Some venues provide the catering ‘in-house’ meaning they handle all the catering services within the venue. Typically in addition to a venue rental fee, you will have a food & beverage minimum you’re required to meet.
Floral:
*This is based on a wedding with approximately 150 guests. Again, floral has seen a huge price increase, so these numbers are reflective of what to expect.
Economic: <$7,000
Average: $8,000-$14,000
Luxury: >$15,000
You still of course will have things like cake, hair & makeup, stationery, possibly rentals like linens, lighting, etc. which should all be factored into your wedding budget, but the vendors included above will take care of all your major factors. Every wedding is very different, as is how each couples’ budget gets allocated between vendors based on the importance of each element. If these numbers are quite surprising to you, the best thing you can do for yourself is- hire a wedding planner and if you’re really wise, hire Uptown Events!
We have over two decades worth of combined experience planning weddings in Austin and Texas Hill Country, and have a strong knowledge of how to make your budget go further -where to splurge, where to compromise. With our full service planning package we guide you each step of the way to ensure your budget is maximized and you get the wedding of your dreams while keeping the cost within a price point you’re comfortable with.
Written By: Jessica Upton
