Budget•7 min read
A real €25,000 Irish wedding budget, line by line
Every line of a full 120-guest Irish wedding at €25,000, with the trade-offs made to get there.
Published 27 May 2026 · updated 26 July 2026
€25,000 for 120 guests is €208 per head all-in. That is a comfortable Irish wedding with nothing obviously missing, provided you make three decisions early.
The three decisions
- 1A Friday in May, not a Saturday in July. Roughly 19% off the venue line.
- 2120 guests, held firmly. Not 140.
- 3Prosecco, not champagne. Nobody has ever mentioned it afterwards.
The lines
| Line | Cost |
|---|---|
| Venue and catering, 120 × €105 | €12,600 |
| Drinks reception and table wine | €2,200 |
| Photographer, 10 hours | €2,200 |
| Band (3 sets) and DJ to close | €2,300 |
| Bridal wear, veil and alterations | €1,800 |
| Grooms wear, hire × 5 | €600 |
| Flowers, bouquets, buttonholes, 12 centres | €1,100 |
| Decor, candles and table styling | €500 |
| Stationery, invites, menus, table plan | €400 |
| Cake | €350 |
| Hair and makeup, bride plus 4 | €550 |
| Wedding car and guest coach | €700 |
| Rings | €900 |
| Celebrant / church offering | €400 |
| HSE notification fee | €200 |
| Contingency | €600 |
| Total | €25,400 |
Slightly over, which is realistic. Something always is.
What was deliberately cut
- Videographer (−€1,800). The most-debated cut. Some couples reverse this and take it out of flowers and decor instead.
- Favours (−€400).
- A second photographer (−€400).
- Chair covers (−€360). Most modern venues no longer need them.
- Evening food upgrade (−€500). Standard sandwiches and cocktail sausages, which is what people actually eat at midnight.
Where the money would go first if the budget rose
- 1Videographer, €1,800
- 2Better drinks reception, canapés and a musician, €900
- 3A coach for a second pickup town, €350
Where it would come from first if the budget fell to €20,000
- 1Twenty fewer guests, €2,100
- 2Move to off-peak, €1,500
- 3A newer photographer, €600
- 4Simplify flowers to seasonal only, €400
Notice that both directions run through the guest list first. It is always the guest list.
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