Before you begin, let me just say — welcome. I have been exactly where you are now.
Wondering how much it's really going to cost.
Trying to be sensible.
Wanting your dream day without scrimping on the things that matter most.
To be honest, I do feel like I went overboard with our wedding expenses. I didn't have a great wedding budget spreadsheet. I had never seen another couple's real wedding budget breakdown. I had no reference point beyond the vague "average wedding cost" figures you see online.
So I'm sharing ours.
Not because you should spend what we did — but because seeing a real New Zealand wedding budget is far more helpful than looking at averages.
And if you want to stay organised from the beginning, the Little White Book wedding planner includes a structured wedding budget section so you can track every expense clearly from day one.
How Much Does a Wedding Really Cost in New Zealand?
You'll often see the "average" cost of a New Zealand or Australian wedding quoted around $35,000.
But averages are misleading.
Some couples spend $15,000. Others spend $80,000+. What matters most is how you prioritise your budget — not what someone else says is normal.
Your guest count, venue type, catering style, and personal priorities will shape everything.
For us, we had:
75 guests
A private home in Coromandel
A full weekend hire
Accommodation for family
BYO beverages
Significant hireage costs
And we ended up spending just shy of $53,000 NZD (excluding honeymoon and engagement rings).
An Overview of Our Wedding
We were married on 20 February 2016 in Coromandel, New Zealand at a private home we hired for the weekend.
Renting the property was expensive — around $10,000 NZD — but it included accommodation for many of our closest family and friends who had travelled a long way to be with us.
Because the venue was a private home, we had to hire absolutely everything:
Glassware
Cutlery
Tables and chairs
Catering equipment
Staff
Styling items
What you save on BYO beverages, you often spend on hireage.
We chose not to hire a marquee because we loved the venue in its natural state. Instead, we squeezed 75 guests into the main dining room. If you're considering unique venue options, check out our guide to alternative wedding venues.
The Wedding Budget Breakdown
We started with an estimated wedding budget of $48,000 NZD.
We finished just under $53,000 NZD.
Where Our Money Went
Major Expenses:
Venue hire: $10,000
Dress: approx. $10,000
Photography
Catering (canapés, feasting dinner, dessert tables, cake, late-night pizzas)
Hireage
Where We Saved:
No videographer
No transport
BYO alcohol
Used an existing ring as my wedding band
DJ instead of live band
Simple invitations
It is remarkable how small upgrades add up quickly. For more insights on catering choices, read our article on wedding catering and grazing tables.
Splurge or Save? Our Priorities
Every couple should decide early where they will splurge and where they will save.
For us, we prioritised:
Dress
Photography
Food and drink
Guest experience
We chose to forego:
Videography
Elaborate transport
Marquee hire
If I could give one piece of advice: set 3–4 non-negotiables and protect those.
Everything else is flexible.
What We Would Do Differently
Honestly? Not much.
We don't regret our wedding budget. It was actually five days of celebration including family accommodation.
But I would absolutely:
Track smaller expenses more carefully
Build in a contingency buffer
Use a proper wedding budget template from day one
For everything in one place, explore the Ultimate Wedding Planning Bundle.
You Don't Need to Spend $50,000
This is important.
You do not need to spend what we did.
Our wedding budget reflected:
Location
Guest accommodation
Personal splurges
Building a venue from scratch
You can absolutely plan an incredible wedding at $15k, $25k or $35k. What matters most is clarity around your priorities.
A wedding budget is not about impressing people — it's about intentional spending.
Why Small Costs Blow Out Wedding Budgets
Here's the real truth.
It's rarely one massive decision that causes budget creep.
It's:
Upgrading linen
Adding extra florals
Extra canapés
Extra hireage
Last-minute decor
Extra guest additions
Ten small "just $500 more" decisions = $5,000.
That's why tracking every cost matters.
Download a Wedding Budget Template
If you're starting your planning journey, begin with structure.
The Little White Book Wedding Planner includes:
A full wedding budget section
Timeline planning
Supplier tracking
Guest list management
Realistic monthly checklists
Whichever method you choose — track everything from day one.
Final Thoughts
Seeing someone else's real wedding budget can be confronting — or reassuring.
But transparency helps.
You now know:
What a real 75-person New Zealand wedding can cost
Where the biggest expenses usually sit
How quickly hireage adds up
How splurges can be balanced with smart savings
Plan intentionally. Track carefully. Protect your priorities.
And remember — your wedding is not defined by its budget. For more wedding planning guidance, explore more wedding planning advice on our blog.