Getting Married In Florida? Here’s Your Ultimate Guide to How Much It’ll Cost

Florida, the sunshine state! All of those rays shining down on the state of Florida may be great for helping Floridians maintain a radiant glow, as well as for growing the orange trees that bear the fruit the state is known for. However, the old saying is still true: money doesn’t grow on trees, and there’s no exception to this when it comes to financing your wedding. No matter how much that might come in handy - getting married in Florida can be very costly.

First Thing’s First - The Average Florida Wedding Expenses

The costs associated with a Florida wedding with 150 invited guests will be in the vicinity of $28,000. Even though the average cost of such a wedding falls into an approximate range of $21,000-$33,000, 40% of couples seem to have no problem celebrating their big day for less than $10,000. Given that these are trying financial times for most people, this is not only a prudent but also a wise choice to make.

Getting Married Anywhere and Everywhere

The chart below shows the approximate percentage of each cost that factors into the overall amount of money spent on weddings. Although it is specific to Florida, the percentages closely reflect those across most states in the US.

As you can see, the largest component of a wedding is the venue, catering, and rental fees, which comprise 40-45% of the cost of the average wedding when combined. Consequently, controlling the amount you spend on the venue, catering, and rental, is a great way to control the costs of your wedding as a whole.

Controlling Major Wedding Costs

Our economy isn’t exactly firing on all cylinders at the moment. Playing your cards right and possessing knowledge of a few tricks of the trade can land you a really good deal when it comes to finding your ideal venue, caterer, and rentals, which usually account for approximately $12,000 spent.

For big ticket items at a user friendly price, try the following:

I’ll Be There for You

Do you have any close friends or relatives with nice homes? Now may be the time to call in a favor. If you think that the person you have in mind might be willing to allow you to use it for your nuptials, and you probably have a pretty good idea of how you think they will react to your request, then why not ask? With a bit of creativity and clever planning, in-home weddings can be as elegant, or trendy depending on your taste, as they are intimate. The money you save is a great gift to give to yourselves as you begin your life as a married couple, and you can also put some of that saved money towards having you friend or relative’s home cleaned and restored to the condition you found it in after your wedding has taken place.

The Early Bird May Catch The Worm…

But the bird that shows up fashionably late can score major discounts. If you are the type of couple who can organize a large event in a small space of time, then check for venues to be free within two – three weeks. You’ll be shocked to learn how good of a deal you can get at the last minute when it comes to booking a venue. The closer your wedding is to the date you’ve booked, the greater chance you have of finding a business owner willing to be flexible when it comes to negotiating a deal.

How Many Friends Do You Really Have?

Catering and venue selection are often influenced by the number of guests invited to a wedding. When you consider that each guest costs an average of about $175, you can see how making cuts to the guest list can lead to a substantial amount of savings!

Breakfast Is The Most Important Meal of The Day

It’s no news that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but perhaps it is news to you that your big day can be celebrated over the early a.m. meal. Breakfast weddings are cheaper and allow you an opportunity to either curb or completely cut alcohol from your bill. A mimosa here and there is a possibility, but no one wants to throw back shots first thing in the morning.

Some of the Best Things in Life Really Are Free

Many stunning vistas call Florida home, so consider checking out whether or not you can use some of these beautiful public spaces for your wedding. A park, the beach, and similar outdoor wedding venues are up for grabs when it comes to finding a beautiful location at a fraction of the cost of many indoor venues.

Silver Service Can Cost Gold

It’s safe to assume that your guests will know how to serve themselves if you choose buffet style serving stations. This is a great way to save money while still having the food you and your guests will love catered.

Rental Advice

Rentals can mean less flexibility for bargaining, but costs usually start lower when renting, and you always have the option to shop around.

Secondary Wedding Expenses

Jewelry

Bridal jewelry in Florida amounts to approximately 14% or $4,000 of total wedding expenses. Jewelry selection can be rather arbitrary, but many view it as a necessity for weddings as well as an investment piece. Diamonds, and the precious metals that encase them have an inherit value, of course, but this doesn’t mean that finding a deal is impossible.

Ways to get the best deal on bridal jewelry include:

Research, Research, and More Research

No one expects you to have the expertise of a diamond merchant, but the 4 Cs are worth knowing about. Color, clarity, cut, and carat weight are used for determining the grade of diamonds. A 1.50 carat stone is going to cost you more than a 1.49 carat stone, regardless of the fact that many people won’t be able to tell the difference between the two. You can educate yourself further online, and knowledge is power, as they say. Shopping around with the slightest bit of knowledge can help you to find a great deal on a diamond from an online merchant with, pardon the pun, a flawless reputation.

Finding a Reputable Jeweler

No matter how much you’ve educated yourself, making sure to deal only with reputable jewelers is one of the best things you can do for yourself. Checking a jeweler’s credentials online is not difficult, and money back or buy back guarantees, as well as the ability to upgrade, are good signs of a bona fide jeweler.

Don’t Be Afraid of Interstate Shopping

The world is a smaller place thanks to the internet. What does this mean for you? It means that being in Florida is no reason to limit your purchasing options to merchants found in that state. If an online merchant based out of state has an impeccable reputation and the price is right, go for it.

Photography & Video

Most wedding photographers will tell you that the photos and video they provide will be the only lasting and tangible memories of your wedding day. This statement isn’t exactly wrong, but how often do you suppose you’ll actually look back at your wedding album or video? Determine for yourself how important these things are to you and try to ground your decision in reality.

You may have friends who are amateur photographers, and chances are they’ll be willing to assist you. Opting for digital copies is another way to save money on wedding photos, and uploading said digital photos to the many sharing sites available is a great way to allow your family and friends to relive the event as well. Remember, photos and video usually account for about 9% or $2,7000 spent on the average wedding. Taking steps toward savings in this area can mean pocketing a substantial amount of money.

Attire & Accessories/ Event Planner Costs

Look at the subtitle above. One of the components of this category is absolutley essential for your wedding, the other is not. Still, each comprises about 5% or $1,500 of the average wedding cost so they do they tend to add up.

Just because J-Lo starred as a wedding planner doesn’t mean that we all need one. Clothes are a must have, but do you really need a wedding planner/consultant for about $1,500?

While the costs of attire may vary greatly, there aren’t many cheap options when it comes to wedding planners, especially if you want the quality associated with a big name. Wedding dresses and tuxedos or suits can be sourced second-hand in perfect condition, and renting is always an option. Wedding dresses are usually only worn once, so take advantage of the great deals to be had online that can save you heaps.

Flowers & Decorations

5% of the cost of an average wedding, or about $1,500, goes towards flowers. While they may be beautiful, they have an even shorter shelf life than the food.

A venue with a garden setting probably won’t require you to utilize any additional flowers sourced form an expensive florist, and if you want to add color and save money, use colored fabrics. They are cheaper and more durable than flowers and can be used decoratively and functionally in many different ways.

The Rats and Mice

The remaining wedding expenses comprise approximately 17% of the costs of an average wedding. They include things such as entertainment, invitations, and gifts and favors for guests and the wedding party. Although these expenses won’t make or break the bank, there are still savings to be had.

Who needs printed invitations at a cost of $800 in this hi-tech world? Set up a free wedding website and send invitations by email – it’s much cheaper, better for the environment, and allows your guest to be an interactive part of the process.

A band or DJ that will cost around $1,200 can be replaced with pre-recorded music. Most DJs use iPod playlists these days anyway, so cut that cost and you can potentially save over $1,000.

Gifts and favors, usually ranging in the vicinity of $650, should be significant and meaningful. Keep the environmentally friendly theme going with a donation to a charity or maybe even by having a tree planted in your guests’ names. Cookies in individual containers for dessert gives the guests something practical and appealing that they can take home. There is no need to go overboard with money when you can be as over the top as you want with the thought that goes into each favor and/or gift.

Your wedding day will always be a special and fond memory to you and to your family and friends. Enjoy it for what it is, a display of love rather than wealth, and a moment for contemplation.

Is Florida too expensive for you? See how the cost of a Florida wedding compares to Tennessee, New York and California.