"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!

@hito.bear

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.◎

@nagisa_marry

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.

@hire_wedding

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.*

@hire_wedding

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.◎

@y_wedding.repo

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.*

@kn_eternallovewedding

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.*

@wedding.ringo

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.◎

@peanuts0830

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.*

@natsu921_wedding

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.*

@sr_wedding_1123

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.*

@y_wedding.repo

➡ Check out the stylish opening movie product page created by marry here.*

Cost of a Wedding ⑬ BGM

There is usually a cost associated with playing your selected music.*

The costs can vary per song or may be offered as a package, so confirm this with the wedding venue.*

Cost of a Wedding ⑭ Master of Ceremonies

You will also need a master of ceremonies for the wedding.◎ You can hire someone from the wedding venue or go through an MC company.*

Venues often have in-house MCs who know how the venue operates, so it’s common to hire from the wedding venue.*

Cost of a Wedding ⑮ Performances

Weddings often include various performances,* from traditional balloon releases, candle services, and flower showers to trending favorites like fruit liquor-making or confetti showers.*

While performances are optional, they often create memorable moments for both you and your guests.*

There are also low-cost performances, like photo rounds, so think about what kind of performances you’d like to include.*

@hire_wedding

Cost of a Wedding ⑯ Paper Items

Items such as invitations, seating charts, place cards, menus, and profile books are also needed.*

You can order paper items through the wedding venue, a paper goods vendor, or create them yourself.*

Prepare cute paper items to coordinate the venue beautifully.*

Don’t forget to additionally include postage for sending invitations and return postcards in your paper item budget.*

@yuki_txs

Cost of a Wedding ⑰ Bridal Esthetics and More

Pre-wedding bridal esthetics, nail care, eyelash extensions, and whitening are also significant factors.*

Even if you don’t usually engage in special care, be sure to treat yourself to some special treatments to achieve that beautiful bride look before the wedding!♡

Cost of a Wedding ⑱ Transportation Fees and Gratitude

Consider the transportation fees for guests coming from afar and any gratuities for your reception staff in advance.◎

Many guests may also incur hotel costs in addition to transport fees.*

Guests take time to attend, investing in attire, hair, and makeup for your special day, which involves their own travel expenses.

Hence, if you are unsure about the transportation fee or gratuities, it’s better to err on the side of generosity!*

@chanmarrywedding

Cost of a Wedding ⑲ Family Attire

You may also need to rent attire for parents or family members for the wedding. While it’s great if they own their own morning suits or formal wear, not many people have those readily available!*

Therefore, including this in the wedding estimate beforehand would be a wise decision.*

@st.wedding0811

Cost of a Wedding ⑳ Other Wedding Items and Decorations

Additionally, decorations for your welcome area and items like ring pillows are necessary.*

Create a beautiful wedding by purchasing ready-made items or making them yourself.♩

However, I often hear brides say, "I tried to make things to save money, but it was more difficult and surprisingly expensive for materials!"

While making things yourself can be enjoyable, prepare accordingly; it can be challenging when you take on too much!♡

@sr_wedding_1123

Cost of a Wedding ⑴❶ After Party

If you plan to have an after-party for your wedding, remember to consider those expenses too.◎

Items such as meal costs for guests, drinks, game prizes, projector and sound system rental, and gratuities for organizers and reception staff all add up.*

Sometimes, if the participation fee is set a little higher than the meal costs, it can effectively make the event cost-free for you, but be sure to consider your guests’ burdens.*

@0917wd_aya

Make Sure to Understand All Expenses for a Beautiful Wedding ♩

I have shared the costs associated with weddings.*

You might have discovered some expenses that you hadn’t considered before.*

If you don’t understand all the items involved in wedding expenses, unexpected costs can arise.*

Review the costs from all items associated with the wedding to ensure you have a magical wedding!*

➡ Managing household finances from early on is crucial. Get a free household budget assessment from a financial planner.

@hito.bear