What Is a Realistic Budget for a 100-Guest Wedding?

Planning a wedding for 100 guests? Let's talk money. No fluff, no fairy tales—just the real numbers you need to know before you book anything.

100-Guest Wedding Budget: What You'll Actually Spend in 2025

Based on 2025 US market rates, here's where your total budget will likely land:

Budget Wedding: $10,000–$15,000

You're looking at weekday ceremonies, village halls, or registry offices. Expect to roll up your sleeves with DIY decor and enlist friends for setup. It's doable, but you'll be making trade-offs.

Average Wedding: $22,000–$28,000

 
This is the standard Saturday wedding at a proper wedding venue. You'll get a three-course meal, a dedicated coordinator, and professional suppliers throughout. This is where most UK couples actually land.

Luxury Wedding: $40,000+

Exclusive-use manor houses, Michelin-quality catering, celebrity florists, and designer everything. If you're not wincing at the price tags, this is your category.

Wedding Budget Breakdown: The Percentage Rule for 100 Guests

Whatever your total budget, this percentage split works for 100 guests:

• 45-50%: Venue & Catering – This will eat up half your budget. Always. The venue hire, food, drinks, and service charges dominate your spending.
• 10-12%: Photography & Videography – Most couples prioritize this. Your memories are worth it.
• 10%: Attire & Beauty – Wedding dress, alterations, suit hire, hair, and makeup for the wedding party.
• 8-10%: Flowers & Decor – Ranges dramatically. A few table centrepieces or a floral ceiling installation? You decide.
• 5-7%: Entertainment – DJ or live band, plus any sound system hire.
• 3-5%: Stationery & Extras – Invitations, thank you cards, wedding cake, and rings.
• 5-10%: Contingency Buffer – Non-negotiable. Things will come up. Always keep a reserve.

Cost Per Person: What Does Wedding Catering Really Cost?

For 100 guests, thinking "per person" makes budgeting clearer.

Catering costs: $60–$120 per head That's for a three-course meal plus basic wine and soft drinks. Champagne reception? Open bar? Add £20–£40 more per person.

The hidden per-head costs:

• Corkage fees: $10–$25 per bottle if you bring your own wine
• Cake cutting fees: $2–$5 per person (yes, really)
• Vendor meals: Budget 2–3 extra meals at $15–$25 each for your photographer, videographer, and band

Top 5 Hidden Wedding Costs Nobody Warns You About

1. The "Alterations" Trap

Most couples budget for the dress or suit, but rarely for the fit. In 2025, standard bridal alterations (hemming, taking in the bodice, and adding a bustle) typically range from $250 to $500 (sometimes more than the dress itself).

• Why it sneaks up: High-end fabrics like lace or heavily beaded gowns require specialist hand-stitching, which can drive costs closer to $800 in some cases.

• The Tip: Ask your bridal boutique for an alteration estimate before you buy, or set aside a flat $500 "fit fund."

2. Service Charges & "Plus VAT"

In the UK, many venue and catering quotes exclude VAT (20%) or fail to highlight the mandatory service charge (usually 10–15%). For 100 guests, a $10,000 catering bill could instantly jump to $13,500 once these are added.

• The Tip: Always ask, "Is this quote inclusive of VAT and service?" If the answer is no, do the math yourself before signing anything.

3. Vendor Meals

You’ve counted your 100 guests, but did you count your "workers"? Your photographer, videographer, band members, and wedding planner will likely be with you for 8–10 hours. Most contracts require you to provide them with a hot meal.

• The Cost: Expect to pay $30–$60 per vendor. For a 5-piece band and two photographers, that’s an extra $400 you didn't plan for.

• The Tip: Ask your caterer for a "Supplier Meal" rate—they are usually cheaper than the guest three-course meal.

4. Admin, Legal Fees & Postage

The ceremony itself has its own paperwork. Giving notice of marriage and the registration fees usually cost around $70–$100, but church fees can be significantly higher (up to $600+).

• The "Stamp" Factor: Sending 60–70 physical invitations and RSVP cards? With 2025 stamp prices, you could easily spend $150+ just on postage.

• The Tip: Go digital for your "Save the Dates" and use a wedding website for RSVPs to save on both printing and stamps.

[Check out our guide to: The Best Wedding Websites for Your Big Day ]

5. Overtime & "Late" Collection Fees

Venues and transport companies have strict finish times. If your party is still going at 12:05 AM and your contract ended at midnight, you could be hit with an hourly overtime fee of $200–$500. Similarly, some décor hire companies charge extra for "midnight collection" of items like chairs or light-up letters.

• The Tip: Check your venue's "carriages" time and ensure your DJ/Band is booked to finish 30 minutes before the lights go up to allow for a smooth exit.

US Wedding Prices: How Location Affects Your Budget

Where you marry changes what you pay:

• London and South East: Expect prices 25-30% higher than the national average
• North, Wales, and Scotland: Generally better value without sacrificing quality
• City centre vs. countryside: Urban venues charge premium rates for location alone

This comparison table illustrates the difference between a "Sticker Price" (what couples see on a website) and the "Total Reality" (what they actually pay after taxes and hidden logistics) for a 100-guest wedding in 2025.

Budget vs. Reality: The 100-Guest Breakdown

Where to Splurge and Where to Save on Your Wedding

When you have 100 guests to account for, you can’t have everything at the highest tier. Use this guide to decide where your money works hardest.

💎 Where to Splurge

• Photography: After the cake is eaten and the flowers wilt, the photos are all you have left. A cheap photographer is the #1 regret for couples. Expect to spend at least $1,800–$2,500 for a professional.

• The Food (Quality over Quantity): With 100 people, guests will talk about the food for years—either because it was incredible or because it was cold. Prioritise a caterer with excellent reviews over a fancy five-course menu.

• Entertainment: A great band or DJ sets the atmosphere for the entire evening. For a 100-guest crowd, you need someone who knows how to read the room and keep the dance floor full.

✂️ Where to Save

• The Stationery: High-end letterpress invitations for 100 guests can cost upwards of $800. Switching to high-quality digital printing or using a digital RSVP system can save you $500+ instantly.

• Wedding Favours: Most guests leave them on the table. If you spend $3 per person on a favour for 100 guests, that’s $300 that could have gone toward an extra hour of an open bar or a better photographer.

• The Cake: A five-tier bespoke cake for 100 people is a massive expense. Consider a smaller "display" tier for cutting and a "cutting cake" kept in the kitchen to be sliced and served.

⚖️ The "Middle Ground" (Be Smart)

• Flowers: Focus your floral budget on "high-impact" areas like your ceremony backdrop or your top table. For the other guest tables, use more greenery or candles to keep costs down while maintaining the "wow" factor.

• Transport: You only need a fancy car for about 20 minutes. Unless you are a "car person," consider booking a nice local executive car instead of a vintage specialty vehicle to save hundreds.

Dry Hire vs All-Inclusive Venues: Real Cost Comparison

Dry Hire Venues You rent an empty space (barn, village hall, marquee site). Seems cheaper at first glance—often $500–$2,000 for the venue alone.

But then you need:

• Tables and chairs ($5–$10 per person)
• Glassware and crockery ($3–$6 per person)
• Linens ($8–$15 per table)
• Outside caterers
• Bar setup and staff
• Lighting and heating
• Toilets (if not provided)

Total reality check: What looked like a $2,000 venue can become $8,000–$12,000 once you've rented everything.

All-Inclusive Venues One price covers venue, catering, tables, chairs, linens, glassware, coordination, and often accommodation. Less flexibility, but far less stress. You know exactly what you're paying from day one.

Best for: Couples who want simplicity and guaranteed service quality.

100-Guest Wedding Budget Examples: Budget vs Luxury