How much does it cost to get married in Asheville, NC? This is one of the most common questions, and yet is the one most difficult to answer. For those of you looking to plan a destination wedding in Asheville, there are many factors that determine your wedding costs.

The cost of getting married depends on many factors including but not limited to: your guest count, venue location, travel costs, and more. Each wedding is unique to the couple and thus, so is the budget!

However, on average, most of our couples spend around $30,000 on a wedding in Asheville with a guest count of 100 - 150. That averages to around $240/person. This includes everything from Save the Dates and invitations to wedding favors and cake. Again, this is completely different for each wedding. There is no “right” amount to spend.

While keeping this in mind, we have broken down a few expenses that our couples could expect when planning a destination wedding in Asheville, North Carolina.

Start with a Reasonable Budget

You should always start with a reasonable budget. Do not overextend your finances and keep in mind that there are more wedding costs to follow after you have paid deposits during the early stages of planning.

Your wedding budget should include every wedding-related expense from start to finish. The budget should include expenses that will go towards guests and yourselves - things like your wedding day attire, shoes, etc.

BASIC COST BREAKDOWN OF AN AVERAGE ASHEVILLE WEDDING

RECEPTION COSTS

Generally, the whole reception costs 50-60% of the total budget. This includes everything from venue fees, catering and bar services to entertainment costs and the desserts! We have broken down the most common reception costs in detail below.

VENUE

The first expense most couples take on for their wedding is the venue fee. Unfortunately, with such a wide array of venues surrounding the Asheville area, there is no “average” number that couples should expect to spend on a venue. Venue fees could range from $2,500 to $15,000 - not including catering or beverage fees. Typically, we recommend setting aside 20% of your total budget for the venue rental alone.

CATERING AND BAR

On average, expect to set aside 25 - 35% of your budget on catering and bar services. Decisions on food-service style and bar type will dictate your costs. Plated and family-style dinners tend to cost more than a buffet dinner. A liquor bar will cost more than a beer and wine only bar. Catering and bar staffing fees should also be included in this budget category.

BAND OR DJ?

One of the most commonly asked questions that a wedding planner gets from couples: Should I hire a DJ or a band? Well, this depends on your tastes, preference in music, and most importantly, your budget. Typically bands will be three times more expensive than most DJs. In addition, don’t forget about vendor meals! Most vendors that are on-site for weddings for more than five to six hours require a vendor meal. If you hire a band, keep in mind you’ll be expected to provide hot meals for all members of the band.

Be sure to also keep your venue’s reception space in mind when deciding between the two. A six-piece band needs a space that measures at least 16’ by 12’, whereas a DJ could make do with 10’ by 6’. Bands typically also require more time for set up and breakdown. So, be sure to double-check that your venue can accommodate this time. Of course, each band and DJ has its own preferences - make sure to check their requirements before booking them.

On average, couples hiring a DJ should set aside 5% of their budget on entertainment. This includes ceremony music as well, whether it is provided by the DJ or you are hiring a live musician. However, if you are considering a band, you will need around 15% of your budget to cover entertainment costs.

DESSERT

There are many ways to get creative with dessert selections to fit your budget. A tiered wedding cake tends to be a bit more pricey than an assorted dessert bar. If you and your fiance want to do a traditional cake cutting, you can always order a small 6” wedding cake to cut (and even keep if you’d like to do the anniversary cake tradition) and have an assortment of desserts available for guests. You may have to work with multiple dessert vendors depending on the specific desserts you and your fiance have in mind. If you do decide to go with the wedding cake route, don’t forget to budget in a cake cutting fee. Some caterers charge a per person cake cutting fee, although this may vary depending on the caterer. Always keep this cost in mind and make sure it fits within your budget before deciding to move forward with a cake.

CEREMONY COSTS

OFFICIANT AND LEGAL MARRIAGE FEES

This cost may or may not be included in your wedding budget! If you choose a close family or friend, you won’t need to worry about an officiant fee. However, if you want to hire a professional to officiate your wedding ceremony, you can expect to spend anywhere from $350 to $600 on officiant fees.

Any couple wanting to get married in the state of North Carolina must follow the NC marriage laws. You can read all the steps that go into getting married in North Carolina here. The most important step- applying for and obtaining a marriage license! NC marriage license has a $70 fee associated with it.

CEREMONY VENUE

If your ceremony location is different from reception, be sure to account for the additional costs here! This may include things like transportation fees as well if you are providing guest transportation and/or need to book a ride for you and the bridal party!

REHEARSAL

Some venues charge an additional fee for rehearsals - make sure to confirm rehearsal policies with your venue so you are aware of any additional charges and can account for them accordingly.

CEREMONY MUSIC

This cost should be a part of your entertainment costs - see above!

FLORAL & DECOR

Your floral arrangements and decor include personal flowers like bouquets and boutonnieres, guest table centerpieces, and any additional decor you may want for the ceremony and reception spaces. Of your total budget, we recommend accounting for 8 - 10% of the budget for these costs.

PERSONAL FLOWERS

Personal flowers include the bridal bouquet, bridesmaids bouquets, groom’s boutonniere, groomsmen boutonnieres, mothers/grandmothers corsages, father/grandfathers boutonnieres, and any floral accessories for the wedding party, flower girl or ring bearer. On average, a bridal bouquet can vary in price from $100 to $300, dependent on the requested flower type, seasonal availability, and bouquet size (the bigger the better in our opinion!).

OTHER DECOR

While most florists will include things such as candles, votives, etc. in their costs, others do not. In addition to renting small items like candle holders, etc. if you are considering renting any furniture for lounges, etc. those costs should be included in the floral and decor percentage. Don’t forget about the delivery fees!

PHOTOGRAPHY

Any wedding-related photography should be included in this category. This includes wedding day photography and videography, engagement photo shoots, bridal portrait shoots, etc. In total all of these costs should fall somewhere between 8 - 15% of your budget.

There are so many wedding photographers and videographers in the Asheville area, it may be difficult to choose the right one. Be sure to compare photography packages and find one that includes an engagement shoot, a second shooter, etc. IF that’s what you are looking for! On average, couples can expect to spend at least $2,500 on an experienced photographer for wedding day coverage alone.

STATIONERY AND PAPER GOODS

Consider any and all paper items, signage, and details you may need for your wedding! These include everything from save the dates and invitations to a seating chart or escort cards and food or bar menus. Couples should set aside 3% of their overall budget for these pieces.

There are many ways to cut down on stationery and paper goods costs to help you stay within budget. One way is to limit the number of pieces in your invitation suite; you can leave additional details for your wedding website and so minimize not only the cost of your suite but also the carbon footprint of your wedding. Another great way to cut down on stationery costs is to use a postcard RSVP or online RSVPs. With postcard RSVPs, you cut out an additional envelope charge and with online RSVPs, there are typically no additional fees if using a free wedding website. Our favorite wedding website creator that offers online RSVPs is www.withjoy.com

It is difficult to calculate the average cost of stationery and paper goods. The price can change based on materials used, the designer fees, customized pieces, etc.

APPAREL

Most couples can expect to spend 10% of their budget on apparel. Since this is a broad category, here is a list of everything that should be accounted for under this category:

Wedding day attire and alterations, jewelry, shoes, accessories, hair, makeup, and wedding rings! Yes, your wedding rings should be included in this cost! This one often gets forgotten about.

WEDDING DAY ATTIRE AND ALTERATIONS

With such a beautiful assortment of wedding dress and wedding suit designers and distributors, there is no average cost for wedding attire. The same goes for any jewelry, shoes, and accessories you may want on the big day. If your heart is set on the perfect wedding dress but you’re not sure it fits within budget, try to make compromises. For example, consider wearing a pair of shoes you may already have or visit a local vintage shop or thrift store to find the perfect pair of shoes within budget.

As far as alterations go, this is another cost that is often forgotten about. If you are spending a decent amount of money on your wedding day attire, it is important to make sure it fits perfectly! On average, wedding dress alterations can range from $75 - $250 while wedding suit alterations can range from $25 - $100. Again, these prices may vary depending on the designer and material of the dress/suit.

HAIR AND MAKEUP

While it may seem tempting, we do not recommend doing your own hair and makeup on your wedding day. Your wedding day will fly by, and the less you have to worry about or do, the better. If you decide to do your own hair and makeup, you may get caught up helping others with theirs as well and it may delay your timeline. Typically, a bride can expect to spend at least $300 on both bridal makeup and bridal hair.

Schedule a hair and makeup trial before your wedding day to ensure that you are happy with the services that your assigned hairstylist and makeup artist will provide. Depending on the hair and makeup company you hire, this may be an additional fee, but it is worth it!

REHEARSAL DINNER / WELCOME PARTY

Set aside around 2% of your overall budget for the rehearsal dinner and/or welcome party. This amount should include everything related to the rehearsal dinner/welcome party including venue rental fees, catering and bar services, food, alcohol, decor, etc.

Asheville is home to so many wonderful farm-to-table restaurants and fun craft breweries that are the perfect spot for any rehearsal dinner and/or welcome party. Typically, a welcome party will cost less than a formal, sit down rehearsal dinner.

TRANSPORTATION AND ACCOMMODATIONS

In total, all transportation and accommodation costs should fall under 5% of your overall budget.

WEDDING COUPLE

Whether you are staying with your bridal party in a local Airbnb or booking the honeymoon suite at the Biltmore Estate, be sure to account for these costs under this category. The same goes for any transportation. In general, we do not recommend driving yourself on your wedding day! We want our couples to relax and enjoy their wedding day. When you have spent months planning, let someone else do the driving! Depending on the vehicle type, a getaway car can cost anywhere from $75 to $250.

GUESTS

One of the best ways to keep things easy and organized for your guests is to arrange guest transportation and accommodations. This includes a hotel block at a nearby hotel. We typically recommend booking a courtesy block so you are not stuck with any fees for unreserved rooms. If you are absolutely confident that your guests will book all the rooms under your room block, you could consider an attrition block.

If your wedding venue is a bit far from the hotel, it may be beneficial to set up guest transportation! Most transportation companies will reserve a vehicle for the entire day if you need two-way transportation. And so, couples could expect to spend at least $1,000 to transport 50 - 60 guests both ways.

MISCELLANEOUS

Always set aside 10% of your wedding budget for miscellaneous costs.

PLANNING

Your wedding planner fees should be included in this category! Always be sure to find a wedding planner who will fall within your budget. If possible, try to book your wedding planner as early as possible. This way they can help keep you on track and help find vendors that charge somewhere within the accounted budget.

WEDDING INSURANCE

It is ALWAYS a good idea to get insured! The same goes for wedding days! Most venues require liability insurance- policies are usually less than $200. We also recommend purchasing cancellation wedding insurance before paying any deposits, etc. In the event that your wedding is postponed or canceled, a vendor falls through, or any other possibility occurs, you should be covered!

Our favorite resource for wedding insurance is wedsafe.com

BUDGET SUMMARY

Here is a quick summary of the budget breakdown!

• TOTAL RECEPTION COSTS: 50 - 60%

• FLORAL & DECOR COSTS: 8 - 10%

• PHOTOGRAPHY/VIDEOGRAPHY: 8 - 15%

• STATIONERY: 3%

• APPAREL: 10%

• REHEARSAL DINNER/WELCOME PARTY: 2%

• TRANSPORTATION: 5%

• MISCELLANEOUS: 10%

SO, HOW DO YOU START AND KEEP UP WITH A WEDDING BUDGET?

KEEP READING BELOW FOR SOME BUDGETING TIPS AND CREATIVE WAYS TO SAVE MONEY!

BE FLEXIBLE

Your budget should allow for flexibility while still remaining within your overall expected total. What does this mean?

Once you have your total wedding budget, you should start to designate a certain percentage of the budget to each vendor and/or category of spending. However as you move forward with planning, you will find that these pre-determined amounts may not work or be enough for certain expenses. This will be the time to start thinking about what you want to prioritize for your wedding day and start to make compromises elsewhere.

For example, if you originally budgeted $5,000 for the caterer and $3,000 for the florist, but now realize you really love the ideas that an out-of-budget florist is providing, you might want to consider adjusting your budget to allocate $4,000 to the caterer and $4,000 in the florist!

QUICK TIPS AND TRICKS

Chat with your wedding planner about the best strategies to stay within your budget. And if you find yourself completely overwhelmed or confused about how to designate certain percentages of your budget to certain resources, take a look at our full-service package or ask about a custom package to help us guide you through the financial logistics and process of planning a wedding. As industry pros, we know all the insider tips and tricks to make the most out of your budget.

In the meantime, here are a few tips to keep your finances in order and plan your dream wedding while staying within the budget you have set:

• Review your contracts carefully - check for any hidden fees, late fees, etc.

  • For example, if a venue offers in-house catering, their venue fee itself may be lower than others, however, their food and bar costs may be significantly more. Be sure to check the costs of all required vendors/elements before booking.

• Keep a calendar to remind you of any payment dates, etc.

• Think ahead! Put aside money every month to go towards your next round of payments.

• Start saving early!

• Be sure to include ALL wedding expenses when creating your budget - this includes but is not limited to:

  • Save the Dates & Invitations

  • Thank You Notes

  • Wedding Attire & Accessories

  • Wedding Favors for Guests

  • Bridal Party Gifts

  • Rehearsal Dinner Expenses

  • Gratuity for Vendors/Staff

• Don’t forget about the sales tax!

  • While sales tax does not apply to all vendors, it is charged for catering, alcohol, etc.

  • Be sure to ask your vendors ahead of time about this possible cost and account for it in your budget

STAY ORGANIZED

One of the best ways to stay on top of wedding planning, and staying within a budget, is to stay organized. Set reminders, do your research, organize any wedding documents, keep receipts, and stay calm. While it can be overwhelming to plan a wedding and organize your finances, with the right vendor team, anything is possible!

At Carolina Love Events, we offer full planning packages and take care of the budgeting for you. We will remind you of any payment deadlines coming up, help you readjust within your budget, and keep you on track! Learn more about our services here.