Planning a wedding in Poland is no easy feat and one question that often pops up is, what’s the actual price tag of a wedding and reception? It’s a big deal, as your budget will shape the entire event. You could throw a party for PLN 5,000, splash out with PLN 50,000, or even go beyond. The limits you set will guide your decisions.
In this post, I’ll unravel these burning questions about your wedding budget.
- By the way, you may also like reading this article: Planning Your Dream Wedding? Check Out Zakopane Venues
Breaking Down the Wedding Costs in Poland – How Much Goes Where?
Wondering what expenses you need to factor in? How much of your budget should you earmark for each part organizing such event in Poland? Let’s dive into the numbers.
Party and Feasts – 50%
Firstly, you’ll be forking out around half of your budget on the wedding party. That’s why your guest list is such a big deal. It’s the primary reason why budget planning and creating a guest list should go hand in hand when planning a wedding. Let me tell you, these are the first two tasks to nail.
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So, how do you go about planning your polish wedding budget?
- First off, outline the general vision for your wedding – will it be a big bash, a mid-sized gathering, or a small soiree?
- Think about how much you’re willing to shell out,
- Draft a guest list,
- Estimate the cost of the wedding based on the categories and average service rates (more on this here and in other articles),
- Determine if you can afford to host the number of guests within your budget,
- If it doesn’t add up, consider either upping your budget or trimming down the guest list.
When tallying wedding costs, remember it’s not just the venue – you’ve also got to account for the grub, cake, entertainment, guest favors, invitations, and other paper goods.
Musical Beats – 8-12%
The musical accompaniment usually ranks as the second biggest expense after the venue. It boils down to whether you hire a DJ or a band. The more members, the heftier the cost.
Capturing the Moments – 8-10%
Next up is the cost for the photographer and videographer. If you opt for both services, be prepared to set aside 8 to 10% of your budget.
The Ceremony – 5%
The next piece of the puzzle is the ceremony. Here’s where things can vary. If you’re going for a civil wedding, it’ll cost you less (PLN 84). However, if you decide to have it outdoors, you’ll be shelling out an extra PLN 1,000.
For an outdoor wedding, you’re not just paying a higher fee at the Registry Office but also arranging the venue. As for a church wedding, your expenses could swing anywhere from PLN 700 to PLN 1,800. And let’s not forget the wedding rings. They fall under this category too, so ensure you don’t exceed 5% of your overall budget.
Decor and Details – 5-10%
Now, let’s talk about the fourth category – the blooms and embellishments. This one’s the wild card. A lot hinges on where you’re tying the knot, what mood you’re aiming for, and what decor choices you make. Are you a fan of fresh flowers, or are faux blooms and other decorations more up your alley?
A tip: If fresh flowers are your thing, stick to seasonal and locally available varieties. Special imports can inflate your costs considerably.
The size of your decor budget largely depends on the quantity you plan on having and whether you’ll DIY some of them. Consider if there’s an opportunity to snag a bargain from someone else. Maybe even rent some? There’s no shortage of options. However, to stay within your means, your decor-related expenses shouldn’t cros the 8 – 10% mark.
Outfits and Accessories – 8-10%
Next up is the fifth category – attire. A wedding dress is a crucial part of the bride’s experience, no matter the wedding size or type. You’ll likely remember to factor in the groom’s suit too. But, have you accounted for the shoes, jewelry, hairstyling, makeup, and even special undergarments for certain dress styles? All these should fall within the 8-10% range of your budget.
Odds and Ends – 3-5%
The second-to-last category is a grab bag of extras that I’ll call „various”. This includes any additional costs tied to things like transportation and extra accommodation. All expenses that don’t fit into the preceding five categories usually make up about 5% of your wedding budget.
If they don’t add up to this amount, you have the flexibility to shift funds from this category to another.
Just-in-case Funds – 8-10%
The final and extremely crucial category – unforeseen expenses. Why’s it so important? Because it’s a given that unexpected things will crop up. Remember, you’re planning a wedding and reception over several months. Anything can happen in that time.
You’re not the only one involved in organizing the event – there’s a whole team and sometimes, things can go awry. Having a contingency fund means you can cover expenses from another category if it turns out to be more than what you budgeted.
However, be prudent and don’t deplete your entire emergency budget at once. When do the most unforeseen things crop up? Just before the wedding.
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The Cost of the Wedding – A Reality Check
Now that we’ve explored the theory, let’s bring this into the real world. First off, what’s your budget? If you’ve already settled on a specific amount to spend on your wedding, the percentage breakdown allows you to distribute your budget across the different aspects. So, be clear about how much you are willing to spend.
If you later decide to go over the budget for a certain category, make sure you compensate by reducing expenses elsewhere, assuming, of course, you don’t want to exceed your total budget.
Next, draft a guest list. Determine the total cost by multiplying the average cost per guest by the number of guests.
What’s the average cost for a wedding with 100 guests?
Wondering about the cost of a wedding for 100 guests? Take the average cost of PLN 250 per person, multiply it by the number of guests, and then double the total. So, in this case: PLN 250 x 100 people x 2 = PLN 50,000.
Likewise, the average cost for a wedding with 50 guests would be approximately PLN 25,000, and for 200 guests, it’d be around PLN 100,000. Check whether you can handle such a wedding cost, or if you need to cut down on your guest list.
The Average Cost of a Wedding in Poland
Finally, let’s examine what most brides and grooms typically spend on their wedding. Most couples I know spent between 41 to 60 thousand PLN (38%). However, 32% of couples spend between 21,000 and 40,000 PLN. But if we’re looking for an average figure, couples generally spend around PLN 48,000 on their wedding.
Let’s round that up and asume a budget of PLN 50,000. How would the costs break down per category?
- Wedding celebration – approx. PLN 25,000,
- Music – approx. PLN 4,000,
- Photographer – approx. PLN 4,000,
- Ceremony – approx. PLN 2,500,
- Flowers and decorations – approx. PLN 4,000,
- Attire – approx. PLN 4,000,
- Miscellaneous – approx. PLN 1,500,
- Unforeseen expenses – approx. PLN 5,000.
This budget can serve as your baseline. Of course, each category includes many smaller details that you’ll need to consider.
Summary – Managing Wedding Costs
First and foremost, ascertain the total amount you can afford to allocate for the wedding. Check the proportional breakdown for various elements of the wedding (celebration, ceremony, bridal attire) and establish the limits you need to adhere to. Once you have this information, you can start planning your guest list. Remember, this comprises roughly half of the wedding’s total cost. Consequently, the number of guests significantly impacts whether the expenditure fits within your budget.
What’s the Typical Cost of a Wedding?
A traditional wedding for 100 guests costs around PLN 50,000. On average, couples in Poland spend approximately PLN 48,000 on their wedding. The majority of couples allocate between 41,000 and 60,000 zloty for their wedding celebration.
Financing Your Wedding
Some couples I know personally have savings set aside specifically for organizing their wedding. Others manage to finance their wedding through regular savings over the course of one and a half to two years. It’s also common for family members, such as parents, to contribute financially to the wedding. Nonetheless, there are scenarios where these options aren’t viable, and the couple resorts to taking out a loan or credit.
What Should You Keep in Mind About Wedding Costs?
Plan and monitor your expenses diligently. This ensures that your event will align with your vision and won’t result in post-wedding debt. This day will be a beautiful one, filled with memories to cherish forever. It would indeed be regrettable for financial burdens to tarnish it.
References:
- https://sklepslubny.love/smartblog/134/%C5%9Alub-i-wesele-na-100-os%C3%B3b-w-2022-roku—ile-t.htm
- https://www.grzymala-weddings.pl/blog/koszt-wesela-na-100-osob/
