3-Day $30,000 DREAM Europe Wedding: How We Do It
If you think a multi-day destination wedding in Europe that looks like it costs six figures is impossible on a $30,000 budget, I’m here to prove you very wrong. In this blog, I’m breaking down a real $30,000 budget using actual numbers from weddings we have produced all across Europe for budget-conscious couples who need to make every penny count. We’ve worked with these numbers, we’ve massaged these numbers, and over the years, we have found the cheapest and most affordable ways to preserve a big impact across a three-day, experience-rich wedding for $30,000.
We’re going to go vendor by vendor today building this budget. Stick around until the end, because I’m going to show you exactly how to customize this budget according to what’s important to you. Along the way, you’ll also pick up tips to plan a low budget destination wedding in Europe that we’ve learned from working with hundreds of couples.
Before I dive into this $30,000 budget, things I want to tell you right off the bat that we are not including in this budget are your personal expenses. Today, we are focusing on the wedding costs and the events over those three days. Things like your outfits, your rings, your flights, and your wedding planner will all be outside of this budget. These are going to be your hard event costs.
1. Venue Costs
Our goal is to spend no more than $5,000 USD on your venue.
There are a couple of different ways to do that. One option is choosing a venue that is inexpensive from the start. Luckily, Europe has some of the best small wedding venues, most of them under $5,000.
Another option is choosing a venue that is more expensive but has accommodations on site. Your guests pay for those rooms, and once they subsidize the cost, we only need what you pay to be $5,000 or less. Many of my couples use this technique and save between $20,000 and $30,000.
A third way is choosing a venue that is literally free. This is typically hotels. They rely on room revenue and food and beverage revenue from your guests instead of charging a separate venue rental fee. Some hotels may charge a nominal fee, but it should be under $5,000.
Where you get married matters. Certain countries and regions are significantly more expensive. Lake Como is expensive. Portugal is not. Give yourself a fighting chance by considering the cheapest wedding destinations in Europe and stay away from high-cost regions.
2. Food and Beverage
For all three days, our goal is to spend no more than $12,000 USD. Between the venue and food and beverage, we’re now at $17,000, which is appropriate since these are your biggest expenses.
Day one is a casual welcome dinner with beer and wine only and low-cost local food. Day two includes a cocktail hour, dinner, dessert, and dancing. Again, we are assuming beer and wine only. We’ll talk about upgrading the bar later.
Day three is brunch. Many venues with accommodations already include breakfast. If not, you can build it into the guest room pricing.
Lunches on day one and day two are choose-your-own-adventure style. Guests pay for those themselves, which is totally normal and highly recommended.
This budget works best for 30 guests or fewer. At 30 guests, $12,000 equals $400 per person for the entire weekend, including taxes and the exchange rate. This will not work for 75 or 100 guests unless you increase your budget or lower your expectations.
3. Photography Budget
Our goal for photography is to spend no more than $4,000, bringing us to $21,000.
This is doable if your photographer is based in Europe, you hire one photographer instead of two, and you book six to eight hours of coverage. Less time on site equals lower cost.
We are not including videography or content creation at this stage. We’ll revisit this later.
4. Rentals Strategy
Our rentals budget is $0.
We are using what the venue and caterer already provide: tables, chairs, linens, flatware, glassware, and napkins. When booking your venue, ask for photos of everything included for free and confirm they have enough inventory for your guest count. With an intimate wedding, this will still look beautiful and elevated.
5. Lighting Choices
Our lighting budget is also $0.
We are leaning into lighting that already exists at the venue. Before booking, confirm that all event spaces are already properly lit, especially outdoor spaces. Many European venues now include string lighting as part of their package.
6. Entertainment Plan
Our entertainment goal is no more than $1,500, bringing us to $22,500.
We recommend hiring a trio of live musicians to play during cocktail hour and dinner. It’s classy, cultural, memorable, and high-impact.
If you want to dance afterward, you can go to a club, use a Bluetooth speaker, or have a friend manage music. A professional DJ that actually makes a difference typically costs $2,500–$3,500, which doesn’t fit here yet.
7. Decor and Stationery
Our decor and stationery budget is $500, bringing us to $23,000.
We are using electronic save-the-dates and invitations. The only paper goods we need on site are place cards or table indicators, which can also double as favors.
You do not need menus, welcome signs, bar signs, custom cocktail napkins, or ceremony programs.
8. Floral Budget
Our floral goal is $2,000.
Many European florists have high minimums, so this requires creativity. You can order a small pickup package from a wedding florist or work with a local flower shop and partially DIY.
If you want to spend under $1,000, you will need someone attending the wedding to handle flower pickup, prep, setup, and breakdown. I don’t recommend this unless you can truly delegate this out to someone who is willing to handle this on your behalf. You don’t want to be de-thorning roses the day before your wedding!!!
9. Hair and Makeup
Our budget for hair and makeup is $600, bringing us to $25,100.
This covers hair and makeup for one person. If both partners want services, double the cost. We are not covering hair and makeup for the wedding party in this budget.
10. Officiant Plan
Our officiant budget is $200, bringing us to $25,300.
This is for a thank-you gift to a friend who officiates symbolically. I recommend getting legally married in the U.S. and having a symbolic ceremony in Europe to avoid costly and complicated legal paperwork abroad.
11. Add-Ons
We now have a $3,000 floating fund.
You can choose one of the following priorities:
Guest experiences (excursions)
Guest comfort (transportation and wedding party hair/makeup)
Aesthetics (florals and rentals)
Food and bar upgrades
Photo upgrade or adding video coverage
DJ and enhanced entertainment
After adding your $3,000 option, your total comes to $28,800, leaving room for variance in the exchange rate, wire fees, and unexpected costs.
This is just one way a $30,000 destination wedding budget in Europe can work but now you know it is possible to have a three-day, experience-rich wedding abroad without spending six figures. You can download my free pricing guide to estimate the cost of your destination wedding before starting to plan your European wedding - the link is below!
Free Guide!
Estimate the Cost of Your Destination Wedding
In Europe before booking a venue!
