Short answer: as much as you want it to cost.

Every wedding has unique aspects that affect the cost, and while having a lower guest count is the number one way to keep costs down, you could easily find a way to spend $500,000 (or more!) on a 100-guest wedding. 

This is why, at Emily Berg Weddings, we approach wedding finances by estimating the cost per guest; it’s a bit easier to put decisions into perspective: “The embroidered napkins will only cost $3 more per guest! Let’s do it!” or “That extra draping is going to cost $112 per guest, and it’s not that important to me anyway. Pass.”

For 100 guests, the equation will look something like this:

(Wedding planning or coordination/100) +
invitation +
(ceremony venue/100) +
(musicians/100) +
(officiant/100) +
(bouquets + boutonnieres + ceremony florals/100) +
(reception venue/100) +
per person bar package price +
per person appetizer price +
(cocktail hour entertainment/100) +
(linen rental/8 guests per table) +
napkin +
place setting rental +
menu card +
place card +
(centerpiece/8 guests per table) +
(meal + service fee) +
chair rental +
(other rentals/100) +
(reception entertainment/100) +
(reception floral decor/100) +
(gratuities/100) +
(guest shuttle transportaion/100) +
(photography/100) +
(videography/100) +
(other expenses/100) = price per guest

Please note that the above equation does NOT include hair & makeup, the couple’s attire, rings, or hotel accommodations.

Sample costs from a wedding we’re currently working on:

$80 all-inclusive wedding planning +
$8 invitation +
$15 ceremony venue + (family musicians) + (family officiant) +
($19 bouquets + boutonnieres + ceremony florals) +
$50 reception venue +
$32 per person bar package price +
$20 per person appetizers +
$25 cocktail hour & reception entertainment +
$8.50 table linen rental +
$1.50 napkin + (included place setting rental) +
$2 place card +
$85 meal and service fee +
$6 chair rental +
$78 reception floral & decor +
$5 cake/dessert +
$15 gratuities +
$1 valet +
$31.50 photography = $482.50 per guest (excluding postage, signage, welcome bags, favors, guest book, hair & makeup, couple’s attire, couple’s rings, hotel accommodations, etc)

The events in our portfolio generally reflect a total spend of at least $450 per guest.

Most of our clients have unique guest experiences as one of their top priorities, along with being hands-off as opposed to DIY, so they don’t fall into the mythical $23,000-for-200-guests wedding category (that’s only $115 per guest!).

Hope that helps!