Let's face it—after the question has been popped and you've answered with a resounding, "Yes," your heart immediately leaps, with thoughts of the dress of your dreams, signature cocktails, late-night dessert bars and more. Hopefully, though, your brain eventually steps in with a plan for perhaps the most important element of your big day agenda—budget.
You may think you have a good idea of what you would like to spend on a wedding in Coastal Virginia, but it is a rookie mistake to rely on national averages to estimate the cost of your local event. To help you put together a more realistic idea of prices, we surveyed local vendors for input on the amount most brides spend on their services.
Make appointments and schedule consultations with these averages in mind. Do consider that the size and style of your wedding make a big difference in the budget, but the numbers below provide you with a starting guide. It's a good practice to first consider the aspects of your event that are most important to you and your groom and plan to spend the most in those areas. Good luck!
Gown: about $800–2,000
Makeup: $125–200 bride only; $500–700 bride and bridesmaids.
Coordination/Planning: $1,500–1,800 day of; $2,700 partial; $5,500 full service
Flowers: $3,000–6,000 total cost; $200–300 bridal bouquets; $75–140 bridesmaid bouquets; $50–150 low centerpieces; $150–300 tall centerpieces
Photography: $3,000 and up for wedding collections
Cake: $800 for cake that serves 150
Reception DJ: $1,000
Limo/Transportation: $175 per hour
Venue/Catering: Varies greatly depending on location and food/alcohol. Call to schedule consultations and visits. Generally the largest portion of the wedding budget.
Melissa M. Stewart
Melissa M. Stewart was the former editor of Savor Virginia and Coastal Virginia Magazine. After she got her first story published in the second-grade school newsletter, she has since been an avid writer and word nerd for 20 years. She has served as production editor for AmeriForce Media and marketing communications manager for Volvo Penta. When she is not working, Melissa spends her time in Virginia Beach keeping up with her two spunky daughters, planning beach days, creating craft cocktails with garden ingredients and running to make up for all the wonderful food she discovers around Virginia.
