Average Wedding Cost in Australia (2027 Planning Guide)
What Australian couples spend on a wedding in 2027, by category and by state, in AUD, from the latest Easy Weddings survey, and what pushes the cost up.
In short
The average Australian wedding now costs about $38,000: Easy Weddings' 2026 industry survey puts it at $38,252, up 8% on the year before. Most couples spend far less or far more than that, and the biggest single line is the venue, at about $17,500 on average.
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If you're planning a 2027 wedding, this is the most recent national survey available. We'll update this page when the next one comes out.
Last checked: 22 October 2026. All figures are in AUD and come from the sources listed at the end. They're survey averages, not quotes. Your venue and suppliers will give you the real numbers.
The headline numbers
| Figure | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Average total spend | $38,252 | Easy Weddings 2026 report |
| Average starting budget | $29,471 | Easy Weddings |
| How far over budget couples end up | about 23% | Easy Weddings 2026 report |
| Couples spending $60,000 or more | 17% | Easy Weddings 2026 report |
| Share of spend that goes on the venue | about 46% | Easy Weddings 2026 report |
| Couples who get money from family | 69% | Easy Weddings |
| Average guest count | around 85 | Paperlust's summary of the Easy Weddings report |
The gap between the starting budget and the final spend is the number to take seriously. Couples in the survey planned for about $29,500 and spent about $38,000. Build a buffer in from the start.
Keep in mind that an average is pulled up by the big weddings. With 17% of couples spending $60,000 or more, the typical wedding probably costs less than $38,000. The surveys we read don't publish a median, so we can't tell you how much less.
Cost by category
Easy Weddings' averages for each category, from its 2026 survey. Not every couple pays for every line (many skip a videographer, a photo booth or cars), so the categories don't add up to the total.
| Category | Average spend | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | $17,518 | Day of the week, season, guest count, whether catering and drinks are included |
| Catering (when separate from the venue) | $6,177 | Guest count, service style (alternate drop, feasting, buffet, food trucks) |
| Photography | about $3,600 | Hours of coverage, second shooter, albums |
| Videography | $3,125 | Length of the edit, drone, raw footage |
| Decorations and styling | $2,849 | How bare the venue is to start with |
| Flowers | $2,639 | Season, imported vs local stems, installations |
| Dress | $2,591 | New, custom-made or pre-loved; a second outfit |
| Furniture and hire | $2,203 | Marquee, tables, chairs, lighting |
| Music | $2,142 | DJ vs band, hours |
| Formal wear (partner and groomsmen) | $2,102 | Hire vs buy, number in the party |
| Cars and transport | $1,223 | Number of cars, distance, guest shuttles |
| Photo booth | $1,038 | Hours, prints |
| Celebrant | $1,031 | Personalised ceremony, travel, rehearsal |
| Invitations | $1,001 | Printed vs online, postage |
| Hair and makeup | $992 | Number of people, trials, travel |
| Bomboniere (favours) | $678 | Guest count |
| Cake | $645 | Tiers, real vs display tiers, dessert table instead |
| Bridesmaids' dresses | $645 | Who pays, number of bridesmaids |
| Engagement ring (listed separately) | $6,842 | Not part of the wedding budget for most couples |
A note on photography: Easy Weddings gives $3,567 in one article and $3,657 in another, so we've rounded to about $3,600.
Some of the survey's detail is useful when you're working out your own numbers:
- Venue and catering per guest. Easy Weddings' venue guide suggests allowing around $170–220 per guest for venue and catering together, and $250–300 per person at higher-end venues with bespoke menus and exclusive use. Saturday nights are the most expensive time to book.
- Bridesmaids' dresses. 48% of couples spend under $150 a dress, and 34% spend $150–300.
- Bomboniere. 44% of couples spend under $5 a guest.
What it costs by state
From the same Easy Weddings 2026 survey, as reported by Paperlust and Forbes Australia:
| State or territory | Average total spend |
|---|---|
| New South Wales | $42,322 |
| Victoria | $39,502 |
| Western Australia | $35,961 |
| South Australia | $34,888 |
| Australian Capital Territory | $32,915 |
| Queensland | $32,645 |
| Tasmania | $25,423 |
There wasn't enough data for the Northern Territory.
Average venue spend by state follows the same pattern, from $18,662 in New South Wales down to $15,524 in the ACT.
Capital city vs regional
None of the surveys we read splits costs between capital cities and regional areas, so we can't give you a reliable number. What we can tell you is what drives the difference:
- Venue hire and minimum spends tend to be higher in Sydney and Melbourne. Easy Weddings notes that a Brisbane venue would cost closer to the national average than Queensland as a whole, and that rural areas have some affordable finds.
- Popular regional wedding areas aren't cheap. The Hunter Valley, Byron Bay, the Yarra Valley, Margaret River and the Barossa price for weddings, especially on spring and autumn Saturdays.
- Travel adds up on the supplier side. If your photographer, celebrant or hair and makeup artist comes from the city, expect a travel fee or accommodation on top.
- Guests carry more of the cost. A regional or destination wedding moves money from your budget to theirs: flights, a car and a night or two of accommodation. That can mean a smaller guest list, which brings your catering bill down.
The fairest way to compare is per guest: ask venues in each area for a quote for your guest count on the same day of the week and month.
Where couples save
Without going below what matters to you:
- Change the day, not the venue. A Friday, Sunday or off-peak month at the venue you love is usually cheaper than a Saturday in October. Easy Weddings says non-Saturday, daytime and cocktail-style weddings come in at lower price points.
- Cut guests before you cut suppliers. At $170–220 a head for venue and catering alone, ten fewer guests saves $1,700–2,200 before drinks.
- Pick a venue with its own catering and furniture. Fewer bookings, and no separate hire bill.
- Send invitations online. Printing and postage for every household adds up, and Australia Post now delivers letters less often, so posted invitations also need to go out earlier (how much earlier).
How to use these numbers
- Pick a total you can pay without debt you'll regret.
- Divide it by your guest count to get a figure per head, and compare that with the $170–220 venue-and-catering range above.
- Split the rest across the categories that matter to you.
We go through that step by step, with a template, in our guide to making a wedding budget, or try the free wedding budget calculator. For when to book each supplier, see the month-by-month planning checklist.
Sources
Last checked: 22 October 2026.
- Easy Weddings, How much does a wedding cost in 2026? (updated 6 March 2026): national average, starting budget, category averages, family contributions.
- Easy Weddings, 2026 wedding industry (18 February 2026): the 2026 Annual Australian Wedding Industry Report summary, 8% rise, 17% spending $60,000+, 23% over budget.
- Easy Weddings, Wedding venue cost (updated 28 February 2026): per-guest venue and catering ranges, venue spend by state.
- Paperlust, The average cost of a wedding in Australia (13 August 2026): state averages and average guest count from the Easy Weddings report.
- Forbes Australia, How much does the average Australian wedding cost in 2026? (17 February 2026): NSW, Victoria and Tasmania averages.
Keep track of what you're actually spending
Survey averages are a starting point. Your own numbers matter more. The vendor tracker in Online Wedding Invitation keeps every supplier's quote, deposit and balance owing in one place, so you can see where you stand against your budget.
Start tracking your wedding costs
Quick questions
How much does the average wedding cost in Australia?
About $38,000. Easy Weddings' 2026 survey puts the average at $38,252, with the venue the biggest single cost at about $17,500 (last checked 22 October 2026).
How much should we allow per guest?
Easy Weddings suggests around $170–220 per guest for venue and catering together, and $250–300 at higher-end venues.
Which state has the most expensive weddings?
New South Wales, at an average of $42,322 in the same survey, followed by Victoria at $39,502. Tasmania was the lowest at $25,423.