Wedding Advice from a Wedding Photographer Mom with two daughters getting married in 2026.
The “B” Word: Budgeting for Your Wedding
No word is more terrifying to a newly engaged bride than the word budget. The love of your life has just asked you to be his person forever, you’ve scrolled Instagram until your thumbs are sore, pinned your little heart out on Pinterest, and now… it’s time to get realistic.
The big question? Do you have the budget to make your wedding day rival Sofia Richie’s timeless luxury or Millie Bobby Brown’s chic fairytale? Probably not—and honestly, you don’t need to.
Because here’s the thing: weddings aren’t about competing with celebrity price tags. They’re about creating a day that feels like you. And your budget is simply the tool that helps you do that.
Start With What Matters Most
Every couple has their “must-have” list. For some, it’s the dream venue with sweeping views. For others, it’s the dress, the flowers, or the photography that will outlast the cake, the champagne, and the music.
💡 Tip: Sit down with your fiancé and write out your top three priorities. These will get the largest slices of your budget pie.
For me (and my daughter’s perspective as well), the non-negotiables are venue, photographer, florals and a full service planner. Your non=negotiable may be totally different but figure that out before you begin even looking at vendors. You’ll save yourself a lot of time and a lot of stress in the long run.
Break It Down (Without Breaking Down)
Budgets feel a lot less scary when you see them in percentages instead of big, overwhelming numbers. A helpful starting point is:
- 40–50%: Venue, catering, rentals
- 10–15%: Photography & videography
- 10–12%: Flowers & décor
- 8–10%: Attire & beauty
- 8–10%: Entertainment & music
- 5%: Stationery & invitations
- 5%: Transportation, favors, extras
- 10%: Cushion for surprises (because there will be surprises)
Pinterest Dreams Meet Real Life
It’s easy to fall in love with that $20,000 floral arch or the couture gown, but the truth is—your guests won’t notice if your flowers are peonies or garden roses, or if your dress was custom made in Paris. What they will remember? How they felt. The joy, the laughter, the energy of the day.
💡 Tip: Ask yourself, “Will this detail change how the day feels?” If not, it might be a good place to scale back.
Give Yourself Grace
This season is full of excitement, planning, and yes—hard decisions. But don’t let the word budget steal your joy. Think of it not as a restriction, but as your roadmap. It’s what will help you create a wedding day that is beautiful, intentional, and uniquely yours.
Because at the end of the night, when the cake is gone and the dance floor has emptied, you’ll realize that the best part of the day wasn’t how much you spent—it was who you got to marry.
What Does a Wedding Cost in Central Mississippi?
I know what you’re thinking: “Okay, Amy, but what does this actually look like in real life?” I had the same question when I started planning my own daughter’s wedding, so I went straight to the source—her wedding planner.
- Venue: $3,500–$10,000
- Catering: $25–$35 per guest
- Photography: around $3,500
- Videography: around $2,500
- Florals: basics starting at $3,500
- Entertainment: DJ $2,000
- Band $5,000
- Wedding Gown & Veil: around $2,500
- Tux/Suit: around $200
- Full Service Planner: $3,500–$5,000
- Month-Of/Day-Of Coordinator: around $2,500
- Rehearsal Dinner: $3,000-$5,000
- Alcohol Service: $15-$20/per guests
- Invitations: $5/set
- Wedding Cake: $3.50/slice
- Hair and Makeup: $150
- Officiant: $200
- Content Creator: $500
- Photobooth: $800
- Tent (in case of weather/rain) $5,000
- Dancefloor $1,000
- Decor/Rentals $2,000-$4,000
💡 Keep in mind: These are average figures. Guest count, venue style, and how elaborate your vision is will shift things up or down. A 300-guest ballroom wedding will look very different on paper than an intimate outdoor garden celebration.
The beauty of planning in Mississippi is that you can still have a meaningful, gorgeous wedding without breaking the bank. It’s all about choosing what matters most to you and letting the rest support the experience, not overshadow it.
So, what does an average wedding with 150 guests, wedding planner, quality photographer/videographer, florals, good food, good entertainment cost? I’m going to take a stab at upwards of $35,000.
Do you have to pay this to have the wedding of your dreams? Absolutely not! If you are a DIY Bride or if you have a tribe of people who can come together and make it happen, do it! I plan to provide the facts as well as $$ saving tips along the way. Follow Along! Next week, I’ll be writing about all things venues.
See you next Wednesday!
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