Let’s face it – planning a wedding is a massive investment. Especially for something that’s only going to last a day.

You’ll spend weeks and possibly months gathering information about vendors, catering, live music, venues and – of course – wedding photographers.

And at the end of the day, you’re only looking for the best wedding services in Melbourne that money can buy – at an affordable rate, of course.

So how much does does a wedding in Melbourne cost?

Below, we’ll outline a complete wedding cost breakdown, highlighting all the wedding expenses you need to know so you can get fully prepared for your big day.

How much does a wedding cost in Melbourne?

Altogether, it could cost anywhere between $450 to $40,000. The costs can get higher if you really want to go crazy.

It will all depend on how much you want to go ‘all out’.

According to Moneysmart, the average wedding cost $36,000. That number has steadily increased over the years.

Below, we’ll outline a complete wedding cost breakdown, including all the costs you need to know associated with:

• The wedding dress
• Marriage celebrants
• Wedding venue
• Marriage registry costs
• Wedding flowers
• Hair and makeup
• Music
• Other costs

Wedding cost breakdown: The guide for Melbourne.

Wedding dresses

A wedding dress may cost on average approximately $2,600.

You will very likely need to prepare your wedding dress in advance – I’d say around 8 months before the wedding.

Of course, it will depend which particular store you buy your dress and how much you want to go all out to look stunning on your big day.

Wedding venue

Your wedding venue could cost around $16,000.

Venues will tend to charge more on public holidays and ‘special’ days like Valentine’s Day, as well as the weekend.

You will also tend to be charged less during the off-peak winter season (1 June to 31 August).

You can read my comprehensive guide on choosing the perfect wedding venue for you and your soulmate.

What is the cost per head at a wedding reception?

It’s about $160 per head.

Wedding venues are probably the most expensive part of your wedding. Couples may spend nearly half of their entire wedding budget on just the venue.

So it’s vital you choose the right one!

Marriage celebrants

How much does a marriage celebrant in Melbourne cost? Really anywhere between $350 to $800 – making the average is around $500.

An authorised marriage celebrant will work closely with you to ensure his or her service is tailored especially for you and your partner.

They aren’t just going to arrange for you to sign the documents. They’ll specifically consult with you on music, what kind of rituals you want, provide advice on your vows and all that sort of magic.

Marriage registry

The Victorian Marriage Registry is the most affordable way to get married in Melbourne.

Located at the Old Treasury Building at 20 Spring St, East Melbourne VIC 3000, the Old Treasury is still very much a beautiful place to get married.

The ceremony costs are very affordable:

Monday to Friday	$450
Saturday and Sunday	$550

A marriage registry wedding will complete all the legal requirements to get married.

This includes a celebrant, a choice of ceremony room, a classic ceremony script (which you can personalise), a Commonwealth and an original marriage certificate, as well as booking administration.

Wedding photographer

The average cost of a wedding photographer could be between $2,500 and $15,000.

Does that sound crazy?

I thought so, hence why I wrote an entire article on why wedding photographers are so expensive.

When you think about it – you’re paying for talent to capture amazing wedding photos that will create long-lasting memories for you and your partner.

Once you see the results, you’ll truly understand why they cost so much (just look at the photos in this blog)!

See my complete guide on choosing the best wedding photographer for more information on this one!

Wedding flowers

The average cost of wedding flowers is around $1,650.

At first you may find that surprising. But you’ll find that wedding flowers play a critical role in capturing the overall theme of your big day.

The price of wedding flowers includes:

• A bridal bouquet
• Flower décor
• Hanging flowers
• Centrepieces
• A whole lot more (depending on how many flowers you want)!

Hair, makeup and all that

Hair and makeup for a wedding in Melbourne can cost on average around $800.

It’s one of the more affordable parts of a wedding but still vital.

The cost includes things like your average style costs, as well as airbrushing and manual makeup for the bridges and the bridesmaids.

Music

The average cost of wedding music is about $1,700.

However, if you’re looking for hire live wedding bands in Melbourne, the costs can exceed to around $2,500 to $3,000 for a four-piece band.

This includes typically three to four sets, but also a meal and refershment if you need them to play for longer than three hours.

Not to mention the lighting and equipment they need to play too.

Wedding cake

A wedding cake in Melbourne costs anywhere between $450 and $1,000. The average is around $655.

Remember – this is not just some ordinary cake from Coles. You are paying for some truly amazing talent.

Wedding cakes are crafted will flavour, texture and style to produce what in many cases are nothing short of a masterpiece.

Other costs

Depending on your wedding, some of the other costs you might be expected to pay include:

• Groomswear
• Wedding videography
• Photo booth
• Wedding invitations
• Bridesmaids dresses

Getting married?

If you’re looking to get married in Melbourne, you’re probably thinking there’s so much cost involved – but it’s worth it for one day.

A wedding will be one of the most magical days of your life – especially when you have amazing wedding photos to remember them by.

(Hint: I took all the photos on this blog!)

Get in touch with me so we can discuss my affordable wedding photography packages – and get ready for an unbelievable wedding day.