In short
A Wellington wedding for about 100 guests is typically quoted between $30,000 and $65,000, with most couples landing near $42,000.
- Typical total (NZD)
- $42,000
- Simpler day from (NZD)
- $30,000
- Premium reaches (NZD)
- $65,000
- 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 | $14,000 | Site fee only, before food and drink. Wellington's mix of compact urban rooms and Wairarapa country venues means the low end is genuinely reachable here in a way it is not in Auckland. | Browse venue hire in Wellington | |
| Catering and bar | $9,000 | $19,000 | NZ$60-150 a head by service style, plus bar. Confirm whether the quote includes GST before comparing it with another supplier. | Browse catering and bar in Wellington | |
| Photography | $2,500 | $6,000 | Full-day coverage, in line with national pricing. Wellington's weather makes a confirmed wet-weather plan worth more than an extra hour of coverage. | Browse photography in Wellington | |
| Flowers and styling | $1,000 | $6,000 | Bouquets, buttonholes and table arrangements at the low end; ceremony installations are what move the total. | Browse flowers and styling in Wellington | |
| Celebrant and licence | $333 | $1,200 | The marriage licence is NZ$158 nationally. A Registry ceremony carries a government-set NZ$175 celebrant fee; independent celebrants set their own. | Browse celebrant and licence in Wellington |
Wellington's published band is NZ$28,000-45,000, the same as Christchurch and below Auckland.
Already have a quote? Check it against these Wellington 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 Wellington vendors quote for your date.
Your cost questions, answered
How much does a wedding cost in Wellington?
Most Wellington weddings land between NZ$30,000 and NZ$65,000 all-in, with a typical 100-guest celebration around NZ$42,000 before GST — below Auckland and well below Queenstown.
Is Wellington cheaper than Auckland?
Modestly, and mostly on venue hire. Published bands put Wellington at NZ$28,000-45,000 against Auckland's NZ$35,000-55,000, and the gap comes from a deeper supply of smaller city venues rather than from cheaper catering.
Does the wind actually matter?
For an outdoor ceremony, yes. Ask every venue what its wet-and-windy alternative is and whether moving indoors costs extra — a plan you have already agreed is worth more than hoping for a still day.
Ranges are directional market figures — your quotes will vary with date, guest count and season. The surest numbers come from vendors with published pricing.