Free planning tool
Work out what your Irish wedding will actually cost
Put in your budget and your guest count, and it splits the lot across all 22 categories using real prices. Change any line you like and the rest keeps up.
Your wedding
| Category | Share | Budget |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding Venues Typical €8,000–€25,000 | 42% | |
| Photographers Typical €1,800–€4,000 | 8% | |
| Videographers Typical €1,500–€3,500 | 5% | |
| Wedding Bands Typical €1,600–€3,500 | 5% | |
| Wedding DJs Typical €400–€900 | 2% | |
| Wedding Cars Typical €400–€1,200 | 2% | |
| Florists Typical €900–€3,000 | 5% | |
| Wedding Hair Typical €250–€800 | 2% | |
| Wedding Makeup Typical €250–€800 | 2% | |
| Wedding Cakes Typical €300–€900 | 2% | |
| Wedding Decor Typical €600–€3,000 | 4% | |
| Celebrants Typical €400–€900 | 2% | |
| Wedding Entertainment Typical €300–€1,500 | 2% | |
| Photo Booths Typical €350–€800 | 1% | |
| Wedding Stationery Typical €250–€1,200 | 2% | |
| Bridal Wear Typical €1,200–€3,500 | 6% | |
| Grooms Wear Typical €400–€1,500 | 2% | |
| Wedding Jewellery Typical €900–€4,000 | 5% | |
| Wedding Accommodation Typical €500–€2,500 | 3% | |
| Guest Transport Typical €400–€1,500 | 2% | |
| Wedding Websites Typical €150–€800 | 1% | |
| Wedding Speech Coaching Typical €150–€600 | 1% | |
| Contingency | €1,591 |
Ways to bring it down
Move to a Friday or Sunday
10–15% of venue costIrish venues discount hard outside Saturday. On a €14,000 venue spend that is €1,400–2,100.
Choose an off-peak month
15–22% of venue costNovember through March, excluding New Year, is the cheapest window.
Cut twenty evening guests
€400–600Evening food, a drink and their share of table styling, at around €20–30 each.
Use seasonal Irish flowers
20–30% of florist costImported peonies in October cost triple what they do in June.
Skip the favours
€300–600The most consistently abandoned item at every Irish wedding.
Book a photographer for eight hours, not twelve
€400–700Most couples find the last hours are dance floor shots they rarely print.
Common questions
Budget calculator, answered
How much should we budget for an Irish wedding?
The average is €36,641 for 141 guests, about €260 per head all in, according to the weddingsonline Irish Wedding Survey 2025. Couples marry well for under €20,000 and others clear €50,000. The number that matters is cost per head, divide your total by your guest count.
What percentage of the budget goes on the venue?
About 41% of a typical budget. The survey average venue spend is €15,087, excluding accommodation. It is by far the largest line and, because it is priced per head, it multiplies every guest-list decision you make.
How much should we hold back for contingency?
Around 5%. Something always comes up: a bar extension, extra evening food, a supplier travel charge you did not budget for.
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