"Are You Prepared for the Financial Aspects of Your Wedding? A Comprehensive Overview of 21 Cost Factors"
2019.12.27 published
How Many Items are There for a Wedding?
To all the brides-to-be, do you know how many items are involved in a wedding?
You can receive estimates at bridal fairs at wedding venues, but there are many costs associated with a wedding beyond what you pay to the venue.
You may have a rough idea of how much a wedding will cost, but wouldn’t it be frightening if unexpected expenses popped up, costing you tens of thousands of yen? ><
So today, I will introduce all the items that incur costs at a wedding!
Cost of a Wedding ① Ceremony Fee
The ceremony fee often includes the location fee for the chapel, the minister, the choir, and other necessary components for the ceremony.*
Prices vary depending on the venue, but for Christian weddings, it typically ranges from 200,000 to 500,000 yen, while for non-religious ceremonies, it's about 100,000 to 300,000 yen.*
Non-religious ceremonies are becoming more popular as they allow for original weddings and are often less expensive.
Cost of a Wedding ② Food
The meal for guests is a significant portion of the overall cost.* Many brides choose course meals priced between 10,000 and 20,000 yen.◎
Consider the type of cuisine (Japanese, French, Western-Japanese fusion, etc.), the number of dishes, and the budget to prepare meals that guests will enjoy.*
Additionally, make sure to check with the venue about alternative meal options for guests with allergies or special meals for children.◎
Cost of a Wedding ③ Venue Rental Fee
This is an often-overlooked expense, so be careful. Venue rental fees for the reception can range from 100,000 to 500,000 yen, or in some cases, around 500 to 2,000 yen per guest.*
Restaurant weddings tend to be less expensive, while guesthouses are generally pricier.
Cost of a Wedding ④ Wedding Cake
Wedding cakes typically cost about 1,000 to 2,000 yen per guest if you choose the standard options from the wedding venue.*
If you wish to change the design, there may be additional design fees.*
Cost of a Wedding ⑤ Beverages
The cost for beverages ranges widely from 2,000 to 10,000 yen.*
It’s less expensive if you serve only soft drinks, beer, and wine, but it increases with the addition of cocktails, original drinks, and premium champagne or wine.
If you have many guests who enjoy drinking, it’s a good idea to invest in the beverage options.◎
Cost of a Wedding ⑥ Attire
The attire for both the groom and bride can vary significantly. There are dresses that range from a few tens of thousands to over a million yen, so be sure to pick your favorite tuxedo, dress, hakama, or traditional attire.*
Don’t forget to plan attire for pre-wedding photos, outfit changes, and after parties well in advance for peace of mind.◎
Also consider the costs for the groom’s shirt, shoes, ties, gloves, and the bride’s bridal undergarments and accessories.*
Additionally, many venues charge a fee for bringing in attire purchased or rented elsewhere, so it’s recommended to confirm this beforehand.*
Cost of a Wedding ⑦ Hair, Makeup, and Attendants
You’ll also need to budget for hair and makeup, outfit changes, and attendants.*
The cost of hair and makeup can vary based on the number of outfits worn and how many changes you wish to make.*
Although it may add to your expenses, changing your hairstyle can significantly enhance your look, so it's worth considering.*
Cost of a Wedding ⑧ Photography
There are various packages available for photography on the day of the wedding, so think about whether you want to include an album or if you prefer to receive all the photo data.*
For brides who want to save money, it’s common to receive all the data and create their own albums afterward.*
You might also consider hiring additional photography for family or group photos separately from the event. If so, it's a good idea to think about sharing those photos with family members as well.◎
Cost of a Wedding ⑨ Video
Video recording on the day comes in many forms, from all-day recording to highlight reels, or live edit-style end-roll films.*
Some brides may say, “I don’t need a video because I’ll never watch it!” while others regret not hiring one later.*
To avoid regrets, if you are even slightly unsure, it’s advisable to hire a videographer.*
Cost of a Wedding ⑩ Favors, Sweets, Lucky Items, and Small Gifts
There are also items to provide to guests like favors, sweets, lucky items, and small gifts.*
It’s common for brides to choose items that are about one-tenth the value of the received monetary gifts, with sweets and lucky items generally ranging from 800 to 2,000 yen.*
Additionally, you will also need to prepare bags for the favors.*
The average cost for small gifts is around 200 to 1,000 yen. Don’t forget to also consider small gifts for after parties.◎
Be cautious, as some venues may charge around 500 yen per item if you bring in your own favors. Using delivery services for favors is also recommended.*
Cost of a Wedding ⑪ Floral Arrangements
Weddings involve significant floral expenses! This includes the main floral arrangement, guest table decorations, bouquets, cake decorations, mic decorations, toss bouquets, chapel decorations, reception decorations, glass centerpieces, and many more!*
Be aware that elevating the rank of your floral arrangements can significantly raise costs.*
Also, since cake flowers and mic flowers are not absolutely necessary, discuss your budget and create a lovely wedding ambiance accordingly.*
Cost of a Wedding ⑫ Video Elements
Many brides opt for profile movies, opening films, end-rolls, etc.*
You can certainly ask the wedding venue for these, but you might also consider hiring a video company or creating them yourself.◎
However, if you’re not familiar with video production, it can be quite challenging, so it’s advisable to start well in advance!*
Additionally, there may be usage fees for projectors when playing back videos, so make sure to confirm this in advance.*
➡ Check out the stylish opening movie product page created by marry here.*