In short
A wedding in New Zealand for about 100 guests is typically quoted between $28,000 and $90,000, with most couples landing near $45,000.
- Typical total (NZD)
- $45,000
- Simpler day from (NZD)
- $28,000
- Premium reaches (NZD)
- $90,000
- Categories priced
- 5
- Widest range
- Venue hire
- Figures reviewed
- July 2026
NZD for around 100 guests, before 15% GST
Where the money goes
| Category | Share of the biggest line | Low (NZD) | High (NZD) | What moves the number | Vendors |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Venue hire | $2,500 | $18,000 | Site fee only. Popular venues in peak season run NZ$5,000-15,000+; the low end assumes a community hall, a family property, or a winery with a modest fee. | Browse venue hire | |
| Catering and bar | $9,000 | $21,000 | NZ$60-150 a head by service style, plus bar. Caterers working at BYO venues can come in at NZ$60-70 a head. | Browse catering and bar | |
| Photography | $2,500 | $6,500 | Full-day coverage, converging on NZ$2,500-6,000 across published pricing, averaging near NZ$3,500. Hourly rates run NZ$150-300. | Browse photography | |
| Flowers and styling | $1,000 | $7,000 | From published florist price lists. Package tiers scale from a small bridal-party-only set to full ceremony and reception installations. | Browse flowers and styling | |
| Celebrant and licence | $333 | $1,200 | Marriage licence NZ$158, plus the celebrant. A Registry ceremony carries a government-set NZ$175 celebrant fee; independent celebrants price their own way. | Browse celebrant and licence |
There is no official New Zealand series for wedding cost, so every published figure is industry-sourced and they disagree: one full-service planner reported NZ$87,600 for 2025 from a client base that skews high, while Easy Weddings NZ puts the broader market at NZ$35,000-50,000.
Already have a quote? Check it against these New Zealand ranges — free, in your browser.
Turn the ranges into your budget
- 01
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.
- 02
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.
- 03
Get real quotes from vendors
Published starting prices beat guesswork. Shortlist vendors, request pricing with your date and guest count, and compare like for like.
- 04
Track deposits and payments as you book
Log every quote, deposit, and due date as it happens so the running total never surprises you.
See what New Zealand vendors quote for your date.
Your cost questions, answered
How much does the average New Zealand wedding cost?
Published figures disagree sharply. Easy Weddings NZ puts the broader market at NZ$35,000-50,000 while one full-service planner reported NZ$87,600 from a client base that skews premium. For a roughly 100-guest wedding, NZ$28,000-90,000 covers the realistic spread, before GST.
What is the biggest hidden cost in a New Zealand wedding?
GST. Event suppliers routinely quote exclusive of the 15%, because their usual clients are GST-registered and reclaim it. A couple cannot, so on a NZ$25,000 venue and catering quote that is NZ$3,750 appearing at the final invoice.
Where is cheapest to marry in New Zealand?
Wellington and Christchurch sit below Auckland in published bands, and regional venues below all three. Queenstown is the most expensive by a clear margin because it prices as a destination market.
Ranges are directional market figures — your quotes will vary with date, guest count and season. The surest numbers come from vendors with published pricing.