Average Cost of Wedding Decorations

On average, wedding decorations can range from $2,000 to $10,000. This average decor budget can include flowers, centerpieces, ceremony decor, and more. With that in mind, the average cost of wedding decorations can vary greatly, depending on where you’re getting married and how opulent you want to go. For a bare-bones DIY wedding ceremony in a natural setting like the beach, you might spend as little as $500, but if you’re hosting an over-the-top event in a large city venue, you could be looking at a bill of $20,000 or more.

How Much Do Wedding Decorations Cost?

For an outdoor wedding, expect to spend $200 to $3000 for the ceremony and $1,000 to $15,000 for the reception. Indoor weddings are a bit pricer, costing an average of $500 to $5,000 for the ceremony and greatly varying for the reception. To get an idea of how much the decorations will cost you, be sure to tally up everything carefully. This includes everything from the ceremony floral wedding arch, to string lights, to floral centerpieces. (Ask your wedding planner or venue coordinator for an itemized list of wedding decor costs, so there are no surprises.) And don’t forget to include any labor costs associated with setup and breakdown.

To give you a better ballpark, here’s a closer look at the average cost of wedding decorations.

Average Wedding Decor Costs

These numbers can vary widely depending on how many guests you’re having, where you’re getting married, and how much you’ve budgeted for decor. With that in mind, average wedding decor costs include:

• Flowers: $500 to $12,000
• Centerpieces: $50 to $500 per table
• Tablecloths or runner: $20 to $80 per table
• Chargers: $8 to $10 each
• Lighting: $200 to $5,000
• Candlesticks: $10 each
• Photo booth backdrop: $100 to $1,500
• Welcome sign: $10 to $50
• Aisle runner: $30 to $200
• Ceremony arch: $75 to $1,000 (with flowers)

Check in with your wedding venue about decor, too. See if any of the costs noted above—like tablecloths or chargers—are already included in your wedding package. You can also look online for recycled wedding decor and DIY some of these decorations yourself.

The Cost of Decorating an Outdoor Wedding Ceremony

Planning to tie the knot in a beautiful setting outdoors? One of the top benefits is that a lot of the decor is likely already in place. (Thanks, mother nature!) Whether it’s the swaying palm trees on the beach or the evergreens in the woods, the setting will speak for itself—all you need to do is enhance it.

You’ll still need to rent chairs, which you can decorate with simple sashes or ribbons. And you may want an aisle runner and an arch to say your vows under. Keep flowers simple and, if you need extra lighting, add candles, twinkle lights, or lanterns.

To decorate an outdoor wedding ceremony, expect to spend: $200 to $3,000.

The Cost of Decorating an Outdoor Wedding Reception

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How much it’s going to cost to decorate your outdoor reception depends on what type of amenities are already in place. It will also depend on how many guests you have and how much decor you want. For example, if you’re renting a large tent or dining outdoors after dark, you may have to pay for bistro and/or string lights so guests can see. These may cost up to $3,000 to install professionally. You may also want paper lanterns, flowers, tablecloths, chandeliers, candles, and other wedding reception lighting.

To decorate an outdoor wedding reception, expect to spend: $1,000 to $15,000.

The Cost of Decorating an Indoor Wedding Ceremony

For an indoor wedding ceremony, you may want to add an arch, flowers, aisle runner, candles, lanterns, or other decor. These elements can help add some ambiance to an otherwise plain room. But if you are getting married in a beautiful church, mosque, or temple, you may not need much in terms of decorations. (Just let these beautiful venues speak for themselves!)

To decorate an indoor wedding ceremony, expect to spend: $500 to $5,000, depending if you’re going DIY or all out with the decor.

The Cost of Decorating an Indoor Wedding Reception

Indoor receptions may take place in a ballroom, restaurant, historic building, or even a museum. Consider the location and ambiance before you decide on any decorations, and ask to see photos from other weddings at the space, so you can get an idea of what decor you need. For example, some rooftop venues with a view may require less decor than a hotel ballroom that’s a completely blank space.

To decorate an indoor wedding reception, the cost will vary, depending on how much decor is required and what your wedding budget allows.

The Cost of Cultural Wedding Decoration

Cultural and religious decorative elements are another cost to factor into your wedding budget. Some examples are listed below.

Chuppah for Jewish ceremony: $350 to $1,500 Varmala (or Jaimala) garlands for an Indian wedding: $60 to $200 Red paper lanterns for a Chinese wedding: about $25 for 20 lanterns Papel Picado flags for a Mexican wedding: about $5 per bunting

Looking for more decor inspo? Visit Zola’s Expert Advice for all the ideas you’ll need.