What Does a Maine Wedding Cost? Here’s Our Guide.
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January 2023: Some information in this article is outdated. Please do your own research to verify accuracy. We hope to have it updated in early 2023.
Obviously the cost of a Maine wedding and reception depends on your venue choice and the number of wedding party and family attendees. But together with a study by The Knot, a most trusted Real Wedding publication and our experience in the Maine lodging and tourism realm, here are some guidelines on what wedding expenses are like in Maine in order for you to prepare a budget for your wedding.
Maine ranks 25th in the US for wedding spending, with an average cost of just under $30,000, which is also the national average. If you compare that with a Manhattan wedding at over $86,000, Maine weddings start to look like a bargain. In fact, Maine weddings are far less expensive than Boston, Connecticut, Long Island and the rest of New York state – all popular wedding destinations.
Idaho has the least expensive weddings, at just over $16,000. It makes sense that Maine ranks is less expensive for wedding costs as most everything is less expensive in Maine! Maine is ideal for a Destination Wedding.
Back to beautiful Maine; there can be a big price range depending upon whether or not you host a formal oceanfront resort wedding on a prime summer weekend, or if you plan a casual BBQ or lobster bake on a beach. Are you inviting everyone?
The average wedding size these days is 138 guests, with wedding parties of 4 bridesmaids and groomsmen. Is your wedding a destination weekend long affair with a Friday arrival party, Saturday pre-wedding activities like lighthouse or Lobster boat tours or a beach volleyball game, followed by a large ceremony and sit down reception with live music and an after party plus a Sunday brunch? These are all contributing factors to your final wedding costs.
What’s wonderful about Maine weddings is you have so many options from casual in the countryside in a rustic chic barn or on the beach, to elegant and upscale at beautiful waterfront resorts where all your guests and wedding party are lodged. Kennebunkport weddings on the water can be more costly than a camp on Lake Sebago. A Bar Harbor Hotel wedding would be more expensive than getting married on a Maine farm in the country.
One of the biggest trends according to The Knot and Real Weddings is that Brides want their guests to have a great overall experience, a wedding is no longer just about tying The Knot, it’s about a personalized themed wedding weekend with activities, events, parties before and after the actual ceremony and reception.
Rehearsal Dinner and morning after brunches are becoming more the cool wedding trends. Maine is a perfect place to expand on these concepts with chartered boat rides or a sunset sail, beach gatherings, and ending with brunch at a waterfront restaurant before everyone departs for home.
Hopefully some of these numbers will help you plan your Maine wedding budgeting…
Maine Wedding cost averages and estimates:
- Venue – $13,000
- Photographer – $2,000
- Wedding Planner – $1,800
- Live Band – $3,400 or DJ $1,000
- Flowers – $2,000
- Videographer – $1,700
- Wedding Dress – $1,200
- Groom Tuxedo – $250
- Wedding Cake or Cupcake Display – $500
- Ceremony Venue – $1,500
- Musician for Ceremony – $500
- Invitations – $400
- Limousine – $700
- Party Favors – $250
- Rehearsal Dinner – $1,100
- Engagement Ring – $5,000
- Catering Price Per Person – $65
These Wedding Cost Estimates are purely for a budget concept, and are based on The Knot survey of actual bride expenses for hired professionals, read: not Gramma’s cupcakes served at the reception or cousin Joe’s GoPro filming your wedding video.
Your Maine wedding can be as luxurious or relaxed as you wish. Enjoy the wedding planning for your Maine event, and best wishes to you both.