Venue hire
Many LA venues are dry-hire, meaning the fee buys the space only — catering, rentals, staffing and often power are separate lines.
$8,000 – $25,000
Browse venue hire in Los AngelesWedYesDay
Los Angeles · CA
What a Los Angeles wedding really costs
Simpler days start around
$26,000
Most couples land near
$42,000
Premium celebrations reach
$78,000
USD for around 100 guests, before sales tax and the 20-25% service charge caterers add · reviewed 2026-07
Where the money goes
Typical Los Angeles price ranges by vendor category — and the verified vendors behind them.
Catering and bar
Roughly $100-240 a head. Dry-hire venues make this larger than it looks, because rentals and staffing land here rather than in the venue fee.
$10,000 – $24,000
Browse catering and bar in Los AngelesPhotography
A deep, competitive market — the middle of this range buys an experienced full-day photographer.
$3,500 – $8,500
Browse photography in Los AngelesFlowers and styling
Local growing season keeps stems relatively affordable; installations and rentals are what move the number.
$2,500 – $9,000
Browse flowers and styling in Los AngelesOfficiant
California also allows a Deputy Commissioner for a Day, letting a friend legally marry you for a small county fee.
$300 – $1,000
Browse officiant in Los AngelesTurn the ranges into your budget
Step 1
Set a working budget
Agree the total you're comfortable spending before you fall in love with anything. Wedyesday's budget tracker splits it across categories for you.
Step 2
Pick your top three priorities
Choose the two or three things that matter most — venue, photography, food — and let them take a bigger share. Trim what you won't remember in five years.
Step 3
Get real quotes from verified vendors
Published starting prices beat guesswork. Shortlist verified vendors, request pricing with your date and guest count, and compare like for like.
Step 4
Track deposits and payments as you book
Log every quote, deposit, and due date as it happens so the running total never surprises you.
Your cost questions, answered
How much does a wedding cost in Los Angeles?
Most Los Angeles weddings land between $26,000 and $78,000 all-in, with a typical 100-guest celebration around $42,000 before tax and service charges.
What is a dry-hire venue and why does it matter?
It means the fee buys the space and little else — catering, tables, chairs, glassware, staffing and sometimes power and restrooms are all separate. A $9,000 dry-hire venue can easily total more than a $15,000 all-inclusive one, so always compare all-in.
Can a friend marry us in California?
Yes. California's Deputy Commissioner for a Day programme lets a friend or family member be deputised to perform your ceremony for a modest county fee, which is why many LA couples spend little or nothing on an officiant.
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Ranges are directional market figures — your quotes will vary with date, guest count, and season. The surest numbers come from verified vendors with published pricing.