Budget
How much does a destination wedding cost?
Real 2026 prices from the six countries where we plan weddings — what a wedding for 30, 60 or 100 guests actually costs, what the money goes on, and the costs couples forget.
By Caitlin, Founder & Lead Planner··8 min read
Key takeaways
- A 60-guest wedding in shoulder season costs from about $14,000 in South Africa to about $48,400 in Mallorca.
- An intimate wedding for 30 guests starts at around $7,200; a 100-guest luxury celebration can pass $95,000.
- Guest count, style, season and country move the price most. Catering and drinks are usually the largest single cost.
- These figures cover the wedding day itself. Flights, accommodation, outfits and the honeymoon come on top — and keep 10% aside as a contingency.
How much does a destination wedding cost? It’s the first question almost every couple asks us, and the honest answer is: it depends far more on where, how many and when than on anything else. So rather than quote one average, we’ve worked out what the same wedding really costs in each of the six countries where we plan weddings, using the prices our venues and vendors quote today.
The short answer
For a classic wedding day with 60 guests in shoulder season, you can expect to spend roughly $14,000 in South Africa, $26,000 in Bali, $31,000–$33,000 in Greece or Portugal, and $45,000–$48,000 in Italy or Mallorca. That covers the venue, food and drink, photography, flowers, music, extras and on-the-day coordination — the whole day, not just the venue fee.
Smaller weddings cost less in total but more per guest, because so much of a wedding is a fixed cost: the photographer charges the same for 30 guests as for 80. Bigger, more styled weddings climb quickly, because catering and flowers grow with every guest and every table.
Destination wedding costs by country
Here’s the same wedding — 60 guests, a classic style, in each destination’s shoulder season — priced in all six countries. The range is what most couples end up spending, depending on their final choices.
| Destination | Estimated total | Usual range | Per guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa Cape Town & Winelands | $14,000 | $11,200 – $16,800 | $233 |
| Bali, Indonesia | $26,200 | $21,000 – $31,400 | $437 |
| Greece Santorini, Mykonos & islands | $30,900 | $24,700 – $37,100 | $515 |
| Portugal Lisbon coast & manor houses | $32,500 | $26,000 – $39,000 | $542 |
| Italy Tuscany estates & villas | $45,400 | $36,300 – $54,500 | $757 |
| Spain Mallorca fincas & estates | $48,400 | $38,700 – $58,100 | $807 |
Wedding-day costs including planning and on-the-day coordination. Excludes accommodation, flights, outfits and the honeymoon.
What about smaller or bigger weddings?
Guest count changes the picture more than any other decision. The same six countries, at three very different sizes:
| Destination | 30 guests · intimate | 60 guests · classic | 100 guests · luxury, high season |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | $7,200 | $14,000 | $34,200 |
| Bali | $11,400 | $26,200 | $52,200 |
| Greece | $15,400 | $30,900 | $65,800 |
| Portugal | $16,600 | $32,500 | $67,800 |
| Italy | $18,800 | $45,400 | $96,700 |
| Mallorca | $22,800 | $48,400 | $95,000 |
Want to try your own numbers? Every destination page has our live cost estimator — choose your guest count, style and season and it recalculates instantly, alongside the same wedding in every other country. Start with Bali, Mallorca, Italy, Greece, Portugal or South Africa.
Where the money goes
Every wedding we price breaks down into the same seven categories. This is how a 60-guest classic wedding divides up in two very different destinations:
| Category | Bali | Mallorca |
|---|---|---|
| Venue | $6,000 | $6,000 |
| Catering & drinks | $7,400 | $16,000 |
| Photo & video | $1,800 | $6,700 |
| Flowers & styling | $6,300 | $8,900 |
| Music | $1,000 | $2,500 |
| Extras & rentals hair & make-up, cake, celebrant, rentals | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Planning & coordination | $1,500 | $3,900 |
| Total | $26,200 | $48,400 |
Two things stand out. First, the venue itself is often not the biggest cost — catering and drinks are, because they’re charged per guest. In Mallorca they’re a third of the whole budget. Second, the gap between destinations is mostly local labour and food prices, not the venues: a beautiful venue costs much the same in Bali and Mallorca, but a three-course dinner with wine for 60 people does not.
The four things that move the price most
1. How many guests you invite
Catering, drinks and table flowers are all priced per guest or per table, so every ten guests adds a noticeable amount. In Mallorca, ten more guests at a classic wedding adds roughly $2,700 in food and drink alone; in Bali it’s closer to $1,200. If you’re torn between two guest lists, price both — the difference is usually bigger than couples expect.
2. The style of the day
We price three styles: intimate (small, relaxed, personal), classic (the full day, done well) and luxury (nothing held back). Moving from classic to luxury roughly doubles flowers and styling and lifts catering by about a third — it’s where budgets grow fastest.
3. The season
Venues charge more in high season. Across our destinations, venue hire is around 10% higher in peak months and around 15% lower in the low season. Shoulder months — late spring and early autumn in Europe, the edges of the dry season in Bali — usually give you the best balance of weather and price. One caveat: some places don’t really work out of season. Most Greek island venues close between November and April (Visit Greece has the island-by-island picture).
4. The country
Local price levels matter more than the venue’s prestige. South Africa and Bali give extraordinary value for money; Italy and Mallorca are at the top of the range. Currency plays a part too — many European vendors quote in euros, so the dollar price moves with the exchange rate between your first quote and your final payment (the European Central Bank’s euro–dollar reference rate is a good one to watch).
The costs couples forget
The estimates above cover the wedding day. These are the costs that most often catch couples out — none of them are unusual, they just rarely appear on the first quote:
- Minimum stays and buyouts. Many villas and resorts only host weddings if you book accommodation too — a two- or three-night minimum, or an exclusive buyout. One of our Bali clifftop venues, for example, requires a three-night stay for at least 12 guests.
- Tax and service charges. Some quotes are net, some are “plus plus”. Always ask whether VAT, local tax and service are included.
- Food and beverage minimums. Some venues have no hire fee but a minimum spend on food and drink — a good deal for big weddings, an expensive one for small ones.
- Legal paperwork. A legally binding ceremony abroad means documents, translations and sometimes fees — your own government’s guidance is the place to start (for example GOV.UK or Smartraveller). Many couples have a symbolic ceremony at their destination and sign the legal papers at home.
- Vendor travel and overtime. Photographers, musicians and hair and make-up artists may charge travel for remote venues, and overtime if the party runs late.
- A plan B. A marquee or indoor alternative for bad weather is rarely free.
- Travel insurance. Buy it as soon as you pay your first deposit, and check what it covers if a vendor fails or the trip is cancelled — Smartraveller and Which? both explain what to look for.
We always suggest keeping 10% of your budget aside as a contingency. For a $30,000 wedding, that’s $3,000 you hope not to spend.
Who pays for what at a destination wedding?
The usual convention is simple: the couple pays for the wedding day, and guests pay their own flights and accommodation. Many couples also host a welcome drink or a farewell brunch, and some contribute towards accommodation for close family. There’s no rule — but deciding early, and telling guests clearly with your save the dates, avoids awkward conversations later.
Is a destination wedding cheaper than a wedding at home?
Often, yes — but mostly because destination weddings are smaller. When fewer guests travel, the per-guest costs fall away, and in places like Bali or South Africa the quality you get for the money is far higher than at home. Where couples overspend is in assuming a destination is cheap and then inviting everyone anyway. Compare like with like: the same guest list, the same style.
How to set your destination wedding budget
- Decide your guest count — a realistic one, knowing that not everyone invited will travel.
- Choose your style — intimate, classic or luxury — and be honest about which one you really want.
- Shortlist two or three destinations and price the same wedding in each with our estimator.
- Add 10% contingency, then add flights, accommodation, outfits and the honeymoon separately.
- Get real quotes for your date — and read every contract before you sign, line by line.
- Book in the right order. Our destination wedding planning timeline shows what to book when, from 18 months out.
Questions couples ask
What is the average cost of a destination wedding?
For a classic wedding with 60 guests in shoulder season, our 2026 prices range from about $14,000 in South Africa to about $48,400 in Mallorca, with Bali around $26,200 and Greece, Portugal and Italy between $31,000 and $45,000. That covers the wedding day, not flights or accommodation.
What is the cheapest destination for a wedding?
Of the six countries where we plan weddings, South Africa offers the most for the money, followed by Bali. A classic 60-guest wedding costs around $14,000 in Cape Town and the Winelands and around $26,200 in Bali.
Do guests pay their own way to a destination wedding?
Usually, yes. The couple pays for the wedding day and guests pay for their own flights and accommodation. Many couples also host a welcome drink or farewell brunch, and some help close family with accommodation.
How much contingency should we keep for a destination wedding?
We recommend keeping 10% of your wedding budget aside for things that change between the first quote and the day — exchange rates, extra guests, weather plans or overtime.
Does a destination wedding budget include accommodation?
Our estimates don’t. Accommodation is quoted separately because it varies so much — some venues include rooms for the couple, others require a minimum stay or an exclusive buyout for your guests.
Caitlin has spent ten years in events and planned more than 200 weddings across four continents — from Cape Town to Mexico, Mallorca and Bali. She founded The Aisle Advisors to give couples honest, independent advice and real prices.
