What Does a Maine Wedding Cost? Here’s Our Guide.
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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:
Planning a wedding in Maine offers a range of options to suit various budgets.
As of 2024, the average cost of a wedding in Maine is approximately $29,000 for a guest list of around 125 people. This is slightly below the national average, which stands at $33,000.
Here’s a breakdown of typical wedding expenses in Maine:
- Venue: $5,000 – $15,000, depending on location, size, and amenities.
- Catering: $50 – $150+ per person, based on menu selection.
- Wedding Dress: Approximately $2,000.
- Engagement Ring: Around $5,000, though this can vary significantly.
- Photography and Videography: $4,000 combined.
- Music (Band or DJ): Approximately $2,500.
- Florist and Decorations: Around $2,000, depending on complexity.
- Wedding Planner: $1,500 – $5,000, based on experience and services provided.
- Invitations: Approximately $500.
- Transportation: Around $800, varying with location and number of vehicles.
- Wedding Cake: About $600.
- Hair and Makeup: Approximately $300.
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.
To manage expenses effectively, consider the following strategies:
- Prioritize Essentials: Determine which aspects of the wedding are most important to you and allocate your budget accordingly.
- Research Affordable Options: Explore various vendors and venues to find those that offer quality services within your budget.
- Limit Guest List: Keeping the guest list intimate can reduce costs related to catering and venue size.
- Consider Off-Peak Seasons: Hosting your wedding during off-peak times can result in significant savings on venue and vendor fees.
By carefully planning and prioritizing, you can create a memorable Maine wedding that aligns with your financial goals.
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.