How much do weddings cost in South Australia?

Weddings can be complicated & difficult to budget once those quotes start flooding your inbox

You will start to question which quotes are value for money, and which are not. Trust me, I have gone through it all myself.

So, before you start spending hours emailing service providers, read this, to hopefully give yourself a bit of a heads-up perspective.

First up, according to the Easy Wedding’s annual report for 2024, the average wedding in Adelaide costs just under $30,000 and the average for Australia is just over $33,000. However this is only an average and many of my clients have had beautiful weddings on budgets less than half that, so please, don’t feel discouraged. Your prefect wedding does not have to cost that much.

I have been in the Wedding industry as a Hair and Makeup artist since 1999 and I have great access to many different brides all over Adelaide. Not only that, I planned my very own wedding, so the averages I have collated have come from my own research, Easy Wedding’s annual report and that of my clients. Please keep in mind though, they are averages and there are always so many variables that can influence the costs.  Your choice of day or season for example, can greatly affect the price. Winter is often cheaper than summer. Weekdays are often cheaper than Friday, Saturday or Sundays.

Reception Venues

$50-$120 per person for a cocktail style menu
$100-$200 per person for sit down multi-course meal

Around $15,230 total Reception venue cost in SA according to the Easy Wedding Annaul for 2024.

Ceremony Venues

$800 – $1300

If you have your ceremony and reception at the same place, you often get your ceremony costs complimentary, or up to half price off at many venues.

Celebrant

$650 – $800

This generally includes all legalities, and sound equipment too.

Photography

$2000 – $3600

Now, in my opinion, this is one of the most important elements of your wedding. Because at the end of the day, your photos are what you have left to help you remember.  This is one provider, I do not recommend skimping on.

Videography

$2000 – $4500

Another provider not to skimp on, but many people don’t want video. If it’s your thing, this type of price range is what you are looking at. Price will mostly depend on how many hours you want filmed.

Makeup

$85-$150 per person

With fear of sounding biased here…. There are a lot of amateurs out there, so please do your research. I have done too many post wedding photo-shoots, because brides have hated their makeup in the photos. This costs a fortune, so please, check your artist’s credentials and work before you book. Don’t book based on price. Honestly, it will save you regret and cost in the long run.

Hair

$60-$150 per person

Some in-salon hairdressers do Bridal hair styling as well, or you can book a specialist stylist to come to you at your house or hotel, it’s up to you which is more convenient.

Hair and Makeup Packages

$180-$280 per person

This often saves you money and it makes it easier to pay just one provider.

DJ/Music

$750 – $2500

A good DJ will also have great MC talents too, to get things going if the party has any quiet moments. But you also have the option of having a live band, or a singer there, creating your perfect atmosphere

Florist

$250- $1500 per bouquet

Obviously depending on size and type of flowers you want, in relation to the season too. Out of season flowers may cost more, due to importing costs.

Cars

$600-$2000

This will depend on the type of car and how long you will need it for.

 

Wedding Dress

$500 – $3400 for pre-made
$4000 – $10,000 for tailor made

If you go shopping during stocktake and January sales, you can enhance your chances of snapping up a bargain. I saw a stunning dress for as little as $250!!

Wedding dress Alterations

$300 – $1000

This will depend on what alterations you need. The bigger the changes the more it will cost.

Bridesmaids dresses

$200-600 per dress

Although I did get a quote for $900 per dress, which I thought was a little ridiculous. I am getting mine made by my aunty, and was lucky enough to get the fabric from Spotlight on a 40% off day, so the fabric for 4 dresses cost me around $400, including Guipure Lace!

Invitations

$5-$12 per invitation

You can also buy pre-made invitation pads at news agencies for around $7-$10 for sheets of around 25-40. So that might be a cheaper alternative if you’re on a budget.

Cakes

$300 – $1000

The more tiers you have, the more the cost. Fake cakes are a little cheaper at around $200-$400.

Sashes

$3-$7 per chair

Many venues include sashes in the price, but if they don’t have the colour you like, you may have to hire these yourself.

Photobooths

$500 – $1300

Photobooths are so much fun. I had one for our reception and everyone loved it!! It also meant we got a photo album with messages and the photos from the guests having fun.

So there you have it.  Now I realise there are many other things that you will need to organise, but these are the most essential, or most common providers.  When shopping around, you want a good deal, and you don’t want to get ripped off.  Keep in the mind, the best price is the price that is fair for both you and the person doing the work. Don’t forget, they have bills to pay too.

There are some brilliant gems to be found and great bargains to be had. So, no matter what the quote you get, do your RESEARCH, get multiple quotes for each provider and you should be fine.

Your wedding day, is not just one day. It’s the lead up and the party planning too, so enjoy the process and the party, celebrating your new life.

I also have other wedding blogs, 2 of which relate to costs. One is about how to plan a wedding on a budget and the other on hidden wedding costs, so please read those too, so your budget doesn’t blow over the top. The links are below.

https://makeoversaust.com.au/tips-for-brides/budget-saving-wedding-tips

https://makeoversaust.com.au/tips-for-brides/hidden-wedding-costs