That's a classic Midwest / smaller city wedding for 120 guests — roughly $250 per guest. Move the sliders below for your own guest count, style and date.
Most couples pay for the wedding out of pocket over the engagement. Here's what that looks like per month — and where to park the money so it grows while you wait. (Full playbook: how to save for a wedding · who pays for what.)
Classic wedding · 120 guests · peak-season Saturday · 2026 modeled prices
| Category | Typical cost | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Catering (food) | $6,545 | 22% |
| Venue | $5,440 | 18% |
| Photography & video | $3,230 | 11% |
| Attire & beauty | $2,125 | 7% |
| Bar & alcohol | $2,091 | 7% |
| Flowers & décor | $1,666 | 6% |
| Rentals & lighting | $1,258 | 4% |
| Music / entertainment | $1,190 | 4% |
| Planner / coordinator | $1,020 | 3% |
| Rings (bands) | $1,020 | 3% |
| Favors & gifts | $536 | 2% |
| Cake & desserts | $519 | 2% |
| Transportation | $510 | 2% |
| Stationery & signage | $468 | 2% |
| Officiant & license | $298 | 1% |
| Service charge, tax & tips | $2,111 | 7% |
| Estimated total | $30,000 | $250/guest |
A full-service wedding for about 120 guests in a smaller Midwest city runs near $30,000 all-in — venue, catering, bar, photography, flowers, music and the usual service charges and tips. That works out to roughly $250 a guest. Smaller or more pared-back celebrations land well below that; luxury weddings run well above.
Wedding costs in a smaller Midwest city run about 15% below the national average. The same classic 120-guest wedding averages $35,500 nationally versus $30,000 here — see how every city compares.
A simpler celebration for around 80 guests — a restaurant or a modest venue, a shorter vendor list — comes in near $20,500 in a smaller Midwest city. Trimming the guest list is the single biggest lever: fewer people means less catering, bar, rentals and cake, and often a smaller (cheaper) venue.
Step up to a sought-after venue, a plated dinner, premium vendors and a videographer for around 150 guests and you're looking at roughly $47,500. The venue-and-catering block still drives about half of that total, so it's where the money — and the negotiating — lives.
A lot. The same 120-guest wedding in a smaller Midwest city drops to about $21,500 on a weekday in the off-season, versus $30,000 for a peak-season Saturday. Venues discount midweek and off-peak dates heavily, and most other vendors follow.
Divide your share of the total by the months until your date. For a $30,000 wedding where you're covering 60% over 14 months, that's roughly $1,287 a month. Park it in a high-yield savings account and the balance earns interest while you plan — use the savings planner above to run your own numbers.