Average 2024 Wedding Cost & Budget Breakdown in Montana
Planning for a wedding in 2024 or 2025 can be challenging. It’s difficult to calculate how much money is realistically needed for a dream wedding day. The purpose of this blog is to help brides see the national average costs of weddings in the United States compared to Montana, how much they can anticipate paying for different vendors and an average wedding budget breakdown.
Average Wedding Cost in Montana
How much does a wedding cost?! According to a survey of nearly 10,000 US couples married in 2023 from the Knot, the average cost of a wedding in 2023 in the United States was $35,000. This cost varies depending on each state and regions across the US. Montana is largely an elopement destination (micro-weddings) for many couples, which brings down our state wide average to $20,000. However, if you were to look in the metropolitan areas of Montana, the averages are about normal to the national average (Missoula: $26K & Bozeman: $35K). It is safe to say, if you want a typical sized wedding in Montana, $30,000-$35,000 is on average what you are looking to spend in 2024 or 2025.
Defining Priorities
When it comes to planning a wedding, I tell my brides all the time do WHAT THEY WANT over pleasing the masses. If you don’t want a wedding cake, don’t buy one! If you don’t want to invite everyone you know, keep the guest count low to about 50-75 people. There really are no rules when it comes to a wedding day!! That being said, it’s best to PRIORITIZE what is the most important. Do you want a killer party? Do you want to give your guests an amazing dinning experience? Do you want to have flowers everywhere you look? I may be completely biased when it comes to wedding day priorities, but I will say this…. After the wedding is over, what aspects live on forever? Besides the marriage and memories, photos/videos are the only things you will take with you after the celebrating is over. That is why on average 30% of couples said they splurged on photography and videography in 2023 over other areas of their budget.
Average Budget Breakdown
Once the priorities have been recognized on where to splurge and where to save in the budget, next comes allocating those funds into percentages. Above is the 2023 US National Average Budget Breakdown into percentages for how couples spent their wedding budget in 2023 according to The Knot, Zola and Brides statistics.
Venue, Catering, Cake and Rentals have on average the largest percent of the total budget being 45-50%. This comes out to $15,750-$17,500 for the average budget of $35,000. It makes sense that 2023 couples were prioritizing their venue because it sets the tone for the entire day. The venue is one of the most important decisions you have to make. If you are looking in the Missoula area, be sure to read my favorite venues at The Finest Wedding Venues in Missoula. Venues can typically charge $5,000-$13,000 in Montana depending on the time of year, day of the week and overall demand. If you are wanting to book a dream venue for cheaper, maybe consider the off-seasons November through April.
Part of the wedding budget that more couples should not skimp on are Florist 7%, Wedding Planners 5%, and DJ/Bands 6% . I could write a whole blog on why each of this vendors play a huge part of a wedding day, but I will try to explain this in a few short sentences. First, like photography, being a Florist is an art form. You can tell when inexperienced Aunt Sally did your flower arrangements and you can tell when flowers are fake. Do not pass up on having an amazing Florist. I go into more depth on my blog Best Florist Around Missoula. Secondly, Wedding Planners know the ins and outs of weddings. They are worth their weight in gold, but every wedding should at least hire a Day of Coordinator. Lastly, weddings receptions without DJs/Bands are very awkward and confusing for guests. DJs/Bands communicate important information to your guests like where to go, what to do it and how to do it. YOU NEED THEM!
Different Tiers to Wedding Photography
Needless to say, I am not surprised Photography on average is about 10-15%. As a Wedding Photographer myself, I have even seen a few of my couples say they spent closer to 20-25% of their wedding budget on Photography and Videography combined. For the average Montana wedding budget, that comes to about $3,500-7,000. Not all wedding photographers are created equal. Laying out the different tiers within wedding photography overall and how much they charge may be helpful for thinking through who to hire.
The Student: $500 - $1500
We have all been there! For my first wedding I ever shot, I charged $800. Every photographer has to start somewhere, but when you choose to opt for this tier of photography, you get what you pay for. They might miss important moments, not because they aren’t present or paying attention, but simply because they are still figuring out their camera settings. You also run the risks of losing images all together. When photgraphers’s are learning, you really can’t guarantee anything.
Entry-Level: $1500-$3000
For all my OGs, you know I was at this level for a time while I was trying to find my style. Or maybe you even snagged a me at a great price. Good for you!! Wedding Photographers book weddings as far as a year out sometimes. Entry Level Photographers are still trying to find their style and learn consistency. They most likely shoot every type of photography under the sun and are very willing to get their feet wet. You run the risk of inconsistency of style when you book at this price point.
Professional Photographers: $3000-$7000
When it comes to shopping around for different Professional Photographers, you’re hiring someone that has a defined style, many weddings under their belt and loads of experience. At this range, you are really hiring and comparing them off their editing type, and personality. You want to make sure you mesh well with your photographer, since you are spending so much time with them on a wedding day. Also, it’s best to make sure their packages align with what you are looking for as far as hours of coverage, offering albums, including an engagement session or bridal session. But overall, this tier offers consistent high quality images you will love.
High-End Photographers: $7,000-$12,000
The High-End tier comprises of photographers that have been in the industry for many many years. They don’t only understand wedding photography, they are the experts. This is the type of photography you will see in magazines or published on sites like BRIDES and Style Me Pretty. They don’t just offer photographs, but an entire wedding photography experience. If you want wedding photographs that are literal works of art, this is your tier.
Luxury Photographers: $12,000-$50,000
Some people don’t even realize this tier exists. Oh does it and the price range really doesn’t have a ceiling as well! This tier of photographers consists of the best of the best, world class, award winning and renowned. Most of the time they are shooting with a large team of multiple photographers. They don’t only get the job done, they blow you away with the most speculator wedding experience you could have ever dreamed of. Obviously, for most couples this is far out of reach, hint the luxury title… But it is worth mentioning if we are to talk about the many tiers of wedding photography.
Take Aways
While it is nice to see on average how much the United States or Montana is spending on weddings or how most people budget, remember its your wedding day! You can plan whatever wedding you want. A dream wedding day for you might look so different than someone else. The biggest things you can do is plan out your wedding budget, prioritize what most important by breaking down the percentages and find the best vendors for you!
Sources: The Knot 2023 Statistics
