Why Is It So Expensive to Get Married in Florida?
Yeah, I know. Just got engaged, are dreaming of white flowers, of wearing awesome wedding attire and of walking down that wedding aisle hand in hand with your soul mate.
Then somebody asks, “So, what’s your wedding budget?”
“Oh No! We have to talk about this? Can’t we be newly engaged for five minutes without having to begin to discuss our entire savings account?”
Whether you decide to have your wedding at one of the beautiful wedding locations here in Orlando, a romantic garden setting, a waterfront resort, an historic estate or even on the beach, including the Gulf Coast, of Florida, you can have your wedding under a beautiful giant oak tree in Winter Park for example.
And if you’re planning a Florida wedding for 2027, you probably have one BIG question.
Need to know how much your Florida wedding is going to cost for your 2027 nuptials?
I want to know how much everything is going to cost for my wedding!
So now you know the average cost of a Florida wedding. Well, so now you know. That’s why I’m going to get us back to reality with a discussion of cost, which I’m going to try to do without offending any bride.
What Is the Average Wedding Cost in Florida for 2027?
First, let’s get into the numbers that many are seeking!
According to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study, the Florida wedding costs, on average, $33,000 for couples who got married in 2025. National average wedding costs for the country is $34,200 for couples who got married in 2025.
For the entire United States, the national average is $34,200.
Florida Weddings in 2025 averaged $30,951 according to The Wedding Report while the median wedding for Florida couples cost $17,556 in 2025.
The median represents the price at which half of the weddings cost less and the other half more. For this study, the median price of a Florida wedding in 2015 was $17,556.
Don’t feel that you need to spend $35,000 to have a beautiful wedding!
If you are planning a Florida wedding in 2027, I would set a basic wedding planning budget of $33,000/ $38,000 for a wedding with 100-120 guests and is traditional in nature.
We don’t have spending data for 2027 weddings yet. Estimates for next year’s average spending will have to suffice until The Knot, Wedding Report, etc. share figures for weddings held in 2027.
There are some who have spent as little as $10,000, while others have had weddings that exceed $60,000.
And somewhere in Florida, somebody is probably planning a $150,000 wedding with a champagne tower to die for. I’d like to know who has to wash all those glasses.
Don’t judge me. I just want to know who is going to wash all of those glasses.
How Much Should You Budget for Each Wedding Expense?
This is where things get interesting.
Remember that a wedding is made up of 50+ different costs. These can be broken up to help you budget for your big day and end up around $35,000 for a Florida wedding in 2027 for 100-120 guests.
Food, cake, dress, photos, music, flowers, venue and a bunch of other things that you swear you are not going to but end up buying anyway.
Because apparently there are welcome signs and now wedding decorations too. Am I right?
An example budget for planning a $35,000 Florida wedding for 2027 weddings is provided below.
| Wedding Expense | Example Budget |
|---|---|
| Venue and rentals | $8,000 |
| Catering and drinks | $9,000 |
| Photography and video | $4,000 |
| Wedding flowers and decorations | $2,500 |
| Wedding dress, attire, and beauty | $2,500 |
| DJ and entertainment | $1,500 |
| Wedding planner or coordinator | $2,000 |
| Cake and desserts | $700 |
| Invitations and stationery | $500 |
| Transportation and miscellaneous expenses | $1,300 |
| Extra money for surprises | $3,000 |
| Total | $35,000 |
These are sample budget categories and do not reflect actual prices for Florida wedding vendors, only how they may be categorized in planning for your wedding based on your wedding date, number of guests, wedding location and what is typically included by your chosen wedding vendors.
Looking at the numbers above makes me cling to my coffee mug a little tighter.
This is Good News. The money you have can be moved from category to category to allow you to spend as you wish.
Don’t care about a fancy cake? Spend less there.
Loving your photographer? Allocate more here.
I actually support you having a smaller wedding with really great food. No guest ever complains about the quality of food at a wedding.
Just try to make your budget fit the wedding you want!
Florida Wedding Venue Costs in 2027
Let’s talk about the big one.
Your wedding venue will likely be one of the more expensive components to your wedding.
From small gardens and community centers to luxury beachfront resorts, venues across the state of Florida abound to suit every wedding style.
When planning for 2027, use the following rough estimates for the venue rental:
Small or simple wedding spaces: $1,000–$4,000
Garden venues and historic properties: $3,000–$8,000
Popular estates and larger event venues: $5,000–$12,000
Luxury resorts and high-end properties: $10,000–$25,000 or more
These are rough ranges from coast to coast and even within a state can vary. I’d use these to start comparing quotes from potential venues.
The simple thing to say is that a $5,000 venue can be more expensive than an $8,000 venue.
Wait. What?
Yep!
The tables, chairs, linens, etc. can be included in the price of the venue, or you can get the space rented and then hunt for the rest of the items yourself.
Well, maybe not quite that bad! Just something to consider.
Ask what’s included before signing anything.
Wedding venues for a couple getting married around Orlando, Winter Park, Mount Dora and other Central Florida areas can vary greatly from a barn to a ranch to a country inn and more.
It’s also worth noting that most ceremonies in Florida are held outdoors, so make sure the venue has an indoor space to move the ceremony to in case of rain. And trust me, Florida thunderstorms are notorious for showing up at the worst times!
Florida thunderstorms have terrible manners.
How Much Does Wedding Catering Cost in Florida?
Food is another big wedding expense.
Your guests will likely remember how dinner tasted at your wedding, whether good or bad. And if there was lots of food, that would be even better! Uncle Bob came hungry.
Especially Uncle Bob. That man came hungry.
A Florida wedding in 2027 would likely have a catering cost per person ranging from $50 to $150 per person for a good meal with multiple courses and corresponding level of service to go with it.
A simple buffet style catering will be less expensive than a formal plated meal with multiple courses.
This brings the total for 100 guests to $5,000 – $15,000 for food.
Then there are additional items such as beverages, additional bar staff, waitstaff, service charges and even taxes and tips.
And don’t forget dessert!
Wedding cakes can range in cost from a few hundred dollars to over $1,000, depending on the size of the cake and details of the design.
I really like the idea of having a small decorated wedding cake and serving cupcakes to the rest of the guests or having a dessert table with all kinds of treats. Mini key lime pies would be SO CUTE at a Florida wedding!
Mini key lime pies at a Florida wedding?
Oh, stop. Those would be adorable!
It’s also worth asking your caterer for the price of children’s meals as well as adult’s. Most weddings will have a number of families attending with children, and it can be rather pricey to pay adult dinner prices for a child to eat a small amount of food and then ask for crackers!
Paying adult dinner prices for a 5 year old who eats 3 bites of chicken and then asks for crackers is expensive!
Wedding Photography Costs in Florida
Now here’s one wedding expense I wouldn’t ignore.
Your wedding day goes by SO fast.
You could be getting your hair done one minute, and the next there’s someone taking down the centerpieces and someone else packing up and asking who took the cake topper.
The photos of your wedding will be something you look at and remember for years to come.
I think it’s safe to say that for 2027 you should look to allocate $2,500 to $5,500 for a wedding photographer in Florida. That could be short coverage or a full day with second photographer and even albums but definitely more expensive than others who offer short coverage.
You can sometimes find short coverage with less expensive wedding photographers, but experienced wedding photographers will charge more for full-day coverage of your wedding with second shooters and albums.
Videography might add another $2,000 to $5,000 or more.
And keep in mind, if you love wedding videos, you should budget for them early.
DON’T PRICE SHOP FOR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS!
Look at their complete wedding galleries and ask about the photographer’s backup systems and such as well as how many edited photos you’ll receive.
Also, just because a wedding photographer has great sunset beach photos on Instagram does not mean they can take great pictures inside a dark wedding reception. You want a photographer that can take great pictures anywhere.
How Much Do Wedding Flowers Cost in Florida?
Ah, wedding flowers.
Wedding flowers are beautiful, romantic, colorful and in some cases even expensive – as if they were made of gold.
I love flowers. Give me pink roses, white orchids, soft greenery and a pretty bouquet and I’m happy.
But wedding flower costs can add up quickly.
The cost for wedding flowers can vary for a Florida wedding. For a 2027 wedding, one might budget $1,500 – $5,000 + for wedding flowers and for floral decorations throughout the wedding site.
When we say a floral arrangement will cost $X, that price will generally include a large floral arch, hanging flowers, and the most elaborate centerpieces for the tables in the Reception area.
Here’s one idea I love.
Use your ceremony flowers again at the reception!
Those can sit beautifully on either side of the sweetheart table too.
Can your ceremony flowers be moved to the reception and re-used?
Also, consider plants that are in season during your wedding. A local florist can help you pick out the most colorful options to fit your colors and budget.
Many local florists have options in a variety of price points and can help you choose flowers that fit within your budget and match your wedding colors.
Wedding Dress, Hair, Makeup, and All the Pretty Stuff
Oh, the wedding dress!
Here is the beginning of that section of notes.
My practical side says, “Set a budget.”
My practical side says, “Set a budget.” My girly side says, “BUT LOOK AT THE LACE!”
This includes an estimate for new wedding dresses for 2027, which can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a simple design to over $3,000 for designer gowns.
And keep in mind that many wedding dresses also require the addition of hundreds of dollars of alterations.
When choosing shoes, jewelry, undergarments, and a veil, be sure to factor in the cost to your overall budget.
And hair and makeup?
This can cost anywhere from $200 to $600 for just you, and then more for the rest of the bridesmaids and family members.
Here’s a Florida-specific thought: When picking hair for your wedding, choose styles that will hold up to your gorgeous blowout at 10 a.m. of being a totally different hair by 2 p.m. for your July wedding.
I cannot stress this enough.
A gorgeous blowout at 10 a.m. can have an entirely different personality by 2 p.m. in July.
Talk to your hairstylist about how you can use other products to hold your style until you can re-touch your hair and make sure your style looks wonderful for your wedding photos.
Your wedding photos will thank you.
Can You Have a Florida Wedding for $10,000?
Yes!
I love talking about this! You don’t have to spend a ton of money for a beautiful wedding.
Having a beautiful Florida wedding and spending under $10,000 is very possible with a small amount of guests and simple ideas to complete your special day.
Think about having your ceremony at a small garden venue, a restaurant or even a permitted beach location. Have a dinner with your closest family and friends instead of a formal reception at a big ballroom.
A more intimate affair with family and closest friends could be served well with a dinner party-like setting instead of a formal reception in a ballroom.
Use simple flowers, a wonderful wedding dress picked out in your price range and a good photographer for fewer hours.
Here’s a possible $10,000 wedding budget:
| Wedding Expense | Budget |
|---|---|
| Small venue and ceremony | $1,500 |
| Food and drinks | $2,500 |
| Photography | $1,500 |
| Flowers and decorations | $500 |
| Wedding attire and beauty | $1,200 |
| Officiant and marriage license | $300 |
| Cake and desserts | $300 |
| Music | $300 |
| Invitations and miscellaneous items | $400 |
| Extra money for surprises | $1,500 |
| Total | $10,000 |
This is an example of a very small wedding budget, using only modest vendor packages and planning carefully.
It really does sound like a lovely little wedding of thirty or so close relatives and friends with whom you are very close.
No running around all night to greet 200 or so guests.
No worrying whether your mom’s coworker and husband are coming.
Simple. Good food. Happy tears. A beautiful wedding celebration.
Does the Florida City You Choose Change the Price?
Oh, absolutely!
Getting married in Miami or Palm Beach can cost so much more than having a wedding in a smaller Central Florida town.
Luxury waterfront venues, historic mansions and high-demand destination wedding venues will typically cost more than basic Orlando wedding venues and event spaces.
Large cities like Miami, Naples and Palm Beach have many upscale wedding venues.
From simple garden spaces to the largest ballrooms in the biggest resorts, in Orlando you can find the perfect venue to hold your special day.
A couple with flexible plans may even find better prices in smaller communities outside of major tourist areas.
Weddings in Jacksonville such as this one averaged $32,000 per couple according to The Knot’s 2026 wedding costs, while across the rest of Florida they averaged $33,000.
Of course not!
Your zip code will be of little to no importance when it comes to setting a price for your wedding. The true determinants of cost for your wedding will be the number of guests attending and the specific wedding venue you select.
If you find a venue a little out of your preferred area,