Guest post by Katie of Venues & Vows.
Did you know the average wedding venue costs over $14,000? And the average wedding adds up to just over $32,000? Quite a hefty price for a six-hour event. That’s about $5,333 per hour.
You sacrifice a bit of your savings or dip into credit card debt to have your dream day.
Luckily, there are a LOT of alternatives to the “traditional” wedding.
To save money on a wedding venue, some couples choose to elope; others have intimate/informal gatherings; some sacrifice the weekend to have it on a weekday.
These are quick cost-cutting ideas but have you ever thought about renting a private residence, farm, ranch or beach house for your wedding?
It’s important to find a venue within your budget, but still gives you the wedding you’ve dreamed of, right? I just got engaged over Memorial Day (woo!) and I’m choosing between three venues right now that will help me save money on a wedding venue.
Check out the three venues I’m choosing between:
Option #1: An Oasis Ranch
Option #2: A Private Estate in Hill Country
Option #3: A Lake Travis Getaway
These venues all for the freedom to use different vendors and create the style that fits you and your fiancee’s personalities.
To demonstrate the cost savings a bride and groom can experience, Party At The Moontower and Venues & Vows partnered to create a “mock” wedding ceremony, cocktail hour and reception at a killer (private) spot in East Austin.
| Wedding Component | Our Cost | National Average |
| Venue Event Fee | $1,000 | $14,788 |
| Weekend Accommodations for 13 | $2,500 | $3,300 |
| DJ | $750 | $1,171 |
| Alcohol/Bartender | $1,200 | $2000 |
| Cakes/Desserts | $455 | $575 |
| Catering | $5560 | $9452 |
| Party Favors | $188 | $267 |
| Flowers/Décor/Lighting | $1930 | $2300 |
| Tables/Chairs/Furniture | $1336 | $1231 |
| Grand Total | $14,919 | $35,084 |
For an entire 10-acre weekend rental with overnight accommodations for 13 people, the food, DJ, lighting, flowers, and of course, the furniture totaled to $15,000.
While the cost can sometimes be daunting, it is possible to have the wedding you want and still save money on a wedding venue. And I count myself lucky because the different vendors throughout the Austin have really unique offerings to make it personal.
If you’re looking for a wedding venue, contact Katie and check out Venues and Vows or find her on Instagram.
