How Much Weddings Cost In California 2024
As of April 2024, the average cost of a wedding in California is $41,000. California is amongst the top 10% of most expensive states to get married in in 2024.
What are the Top Costs of Hosting a Wedding?
When planning and budgeting for your wedding, here are the top 8 costs you should be prepared for.
Venue
Picking the perfect venue for a wedding can be hard, especially when working on a budget. Some spaces are being rented for over $10,000 a day nowadays.
When sourcing your venue, make sure you ask about everything included in the cost of the space. Some spaces will include rentals, catering, and even staff.
Wedding Planner
Hiring the best planner definitely will alleviate the stress of planning your own wedding. This, of course, comes at a cost. Wedding Planners in California charge on average $5,000.
In an attempt to save on the cost of a planner, it’s become quite popular to hire a Day Of Coordinator. Day of Coordinators come in the day of the wedding and manage/oversee all of the logistics and operations.
You would still need to do all the preparations, but this is a cost effective solution that could help you not to stress on the day of the wedding.
Rentals
Most of the time, the perfect wedding setup is not the equipment that is provided by the venue. Those perfect chairs and arch’s that you see on Pinterest come from popular rental companies like Bright Rentals or Town and Country.
You should set aside a few thousand dollars for this portion of your event planning depending on your guest count and rental needs.
Catering
Catering can be one of the most expensive portions of planning a wedding. Something that people don’t always take into consideration is the cost of feeding your guests not only during dinner, but also cocktail hour and dessert.
Most catering companies have a minimum cost in order to book an event. We have found that the minimum cost for catering companies in Los Angles is around $3000.
On average, the standard cost for catering at a wedding in California is around $50/person. If you have 100 guests, you are looking at around $5000 in catering costs.
Please note that some catering companies will also include the price of staff in their quotes, some may require you to outsource the service staff.
Photography and Videography
The average wedding photographer costs $3000. This does not include videography services. In California, a wedding videographer is generally around $2000.
While it is hard to cut costs on such an important part of your wedding, it could be advantageous to ask the companies you are sourcing if they have package deals for both photo and video services.
Florals
Floral arrangements are an essential part of every wedding. They are used for bouquets, arches, centerpieces, and decor. In California weddings as of 2024, floral costs typically range from $2,000 to $10,000, depending on the flower types, arrangements' complexity, and florist you are utilizing.
If you are wanting a more cost effective option for florals at your wedding, you should look into renting florals. This is a fairly new concept that can save you thousands on your wedding budget.
Event Staff
Hiring a reputable, professional team of event staff is extremely important for your guests experience at your wedding. Some services you may need to utilize would be production assistants to help set up, catering staff for dinner service, and bartenders for bar service.
In 2024, the average cost of event staff is roughly $50/hr. Prices vary per position, and there may be travel charges included if your event is a significant distance away from the staffing agencies home base. Gratuity is not required for most agencies, but a good rule of thumb is to add a 15-20% tip before or after services are rendered.
When thinking about what event staff you need to hire, make sure you check in with your caterer and event planner to see which services may already be included with their services.
Music / Entertainment
Music and entertainment contribute to the atmosphere of a wedding celebration. In 2024 California weddings, couples typically budget between $1,000 and $5,000 for music and entertainment.
You can hire a live band or a DJ to entertain your guests. Another popular addition to entertain your guests is a photo booth. This offers a fun souvenir for your guests to take home after the event.
Conclusion
The average cost of a wedding in California may seem extensive, but careful budgeting and prioritizing can help you create a memorable event without breaking the bank.
Remember, it's okay to get creative and explore alternative options to reduce costs. Whether it's DIY decor, choosing a less traditional venue, or negotiating package deals with vendors, there are plenty of ways to save money without sacrificing the quality of your special day.
Ultimately, what matters most is celebrating your love surrounded by family and friends. By staying organized, flexible, and focused on what truly matters, you can create the wedding of your dreams.
