Aussie weddings are expected to be much smaller in 2026 compared to previous years as the price to say ‘I do’ goes sky-high. Georgia Sullivan discovered this recently when she was looking for venues for her big day next year.
After contacting 112 places across Victoria, she told Yahoo Lifestyle she received quotes as high as $109,000 for 120 guests. It put a real dampener on her plans as she wasn’t expecting her wedding to cost so much.
But this is no surprise to wedding expert Andie Towner, who said ceremonies and receptions have been going up in price in recent years and she believed this will cause brides and grooms to cut down their guest lists as a result.
“I think micro weddings are really going to trend in 2026,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“You don’t have to have everyone and instead have a small group of people, and it still can be amazing.”
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The 10th Annual Australian Wedding Industry Report revealed the average 2025 wedding for 88 guests cost $35,315, which was up 4.5 per cent compared to 2024.
Wedding venues are grappling with the same cost pressures as others in the hospitality industry and have slowly increased their quotes to stay afloat.
The cost of food has gone up exponentially in recent years, as has the cost of electricity and other utilities, as well as labour, which all factor in the prices given to couples for their big day.
Other vendors like photographers, videographers, DJs, musicians and others might have also steadily increased their prices to keep up with the cost of living.
Do you have a wedding story to tell? Email stew.perrie@yahooinc.com
How to keep costs low for your wedding in 2026
Andie founded The Bridal Journey, a global wedding media platform, and said couples need to be “strategic” if they don’t want to cut their guest list down.
“Florals are very, very expensive, but you don’t need all these installations,” she told Yahoo Lifestyle.
“Have one hero moment, or repurpose your florals from your ceremony to your reception, which can save costs.
Andie Towner said many couples across the country are getting overwhelmed after realising how much weddings cost. Picture: Instagram/Andie Towner
“Prioritise what matters for you and your partner. Choose three things and then minimise the rest.
“If florals or styling details don’t matter to you, then don’t spend money there, and then look for a venue where you don’t need to bring in styling pieces.”
She added that while wedding planners can cost a decent sum of money, they can unlock savings in other areas.
“They have a network of suppliers that could help you get discounted rates,” Andie revealed.
“People think they can plan it all themselves, but there’s so much that goes into it, like reading all the contracts, for example. A lot of people don’t understand how to do that, so that’s where a wedding planner can come in and understand all these hidden costs.”
What are the big wedding costs hitting Aussies hard?
Towner did some research for Yahoo Lifestyle and found that more than half of people surveyed (53 per cent) expected to spend more than $80,000 for their big day.
Georgia also isn’t alone in her concerns, with 82 per cent of people saying the venue pricing was much higher than anticipated.
Catering was the most expensive aspect of the day, according to Andie’s research, but florals and entertainment were listed as a majorly unexpected cost, with some couples being quoted as much as $70,000 just for those elements.
Georgia and her fiance have been shocked at how much their big day is costing them. Picture: Supplied
Venue quotes averaged $20,000 to $40,000, while photographers and videographers can start at around $5,000 each.
“Many couples are doubling their original budget once real quotes start coming in,” she said.
“Which is contributing to the shock and overwhelm you see in Georgia’s experience.”
There are also “hidden” aspects that some couples don’t expect to cost as much as they do, including celebrant fees, the cost of registering your marriage and the marriage license, getting your suit or dress tailored, stationary, and meals for the vendors.
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They might not be much individually, but they certainly add up. Andie said these can drive the final bill 30-50 per cent higher than the initial quote.
She also urged people not to get influenced by weddings they see on social media.
“The events that we post online are very, very high-end. They are multi-day. They’re often by an influencer who might get a huge amount of discounts and they’re backed by big budgets,” she added.
“Don’t think your wedding needs to look like the internet to be amazing.”
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