Vendor cost guides
How much do wedding vendors cost?
National-average 2026 prices for every major wedding vendor, with what each tier gets you and how to save. Tap any vendor for the full breakdown. These are estimates from credible U.S. averages — not quotes.
Quick answer
Venue, catering, and photo/video are the biggest lines — together often more than half of a roughly $34,000 average budget. Entertainment (a live band runs well above a DJ), flowers, planning, hair & makeup, and the officiant fill out the rest.
Photographer
$2,900 avg
Typical photographer packages, what each tier includes, and how hours and a second shooter move the price.
Videographer
$2,300 avg
Average videography package prices, from a highlight reel to a full cinematic film with drone footage.
DJ
$1,700 avg
Average DJ pricing, what packages include (MC duties, lighting, ceremony sound), and how to save.
Live band
$4,500 avg
Live band pricing by size and hours, plus the space, power, and break logistics to plan for.
Florist
$2,800 avg
Average floral budgets, what personal flowers and centerpieces cost, and how to stretch the flower budget.
Caterer
$85 per person avg
Per-person catering prices by service style, what's usually included, and where the fees hide.
Venue
$11,000 avg
Average venue pricing, what the fee usually includes, and how date and location move the number.
Planner
$4,000 avg
Full-service planner pricing vs. partial planning and day-of coordination, and when each makes sense.
Hair & makeup
$250 per person avg
Per-person hair and makeup pricing for the couple and wedding party, plus trials and touch-up add-ons.
Officiant
$300 per ceremony avg
Professional officiant fees, clergy donations, and what it takes for a friend to perform the ceremony.
Vendor costs at a glance
Typical price and rough share of a national-average budget, largest first.
| Vendor | Typical cost | Share of budget |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | $11,000 | ~30% |
| Caterer | $85 per person | ~25% |
| Live band | $4,500 | ~13% |
| Planner | $4,000 | ~12% |
| Photographer | $2,900 | ~9% |
| Florist | $2,800 | ~8% |
| Videographer | $2,300 | ~7% |
| DJ | $1,700 | ~5% |
| Officiant | $300 per ceremony | ~1% |
| Hair & makeup | $250 per person | — |
Frequently asked questions
How much do wedding vendors cost in total?
Vendors are the bulk of a wedding: venue, catering, and photo/video alone are typically more than half of a roughly $34,000 average U.S. budget. Add entertainment, flowers, planning, beauty, and an officiant and most couples spend the large majority of their budget across these vendor categories. Every figure here is a national-average estimate, not a quote.
Which wedding vendor is the most expensive?
The venue and catering are almost always the two largest line items — together commonly around half the budget — followed by photography and videography. A live band is usually the priciest entertainment option, well above a DJ.
How much should each vendor be of my wedding budget?
A common split is venue ~30%, catering ~25%, photo & video ~12%, entertainment ~8%, and flowers ~8%, with planning, beauty, attire, and an officiant making up the rest. Use the wedding budget calculator to turn your own total and guest count into a category-by-category plan.
Last reviewed June 2026 by Jared Waterworth. Estimates use widely accepted wedding-planning rules of thumb — see how we estimate. Numbers vary by region, season, and vendor, so verify before you book or buy.