Average Cost of Wedding Decorations In 2023
The average cost of wedding decorations in 2023 can get pricey. Different wedding decor styles, the many different decor accessories you can use, and the creative design behind using these decor accessories will all influence the overall cost.
The first step in any successful wedding decoration plan is setting out a wedding decor budget. This budget will help you stay within a specific price range so that you don’t end up overspending your overall wedding budget. With the average wedding costs teetering between $30,000 to $40,000, things can quickly add up. Knowing how much you need to spend and on what can help you keep a tight reign of your budget so that you get the most bang for your buck.
But just because the average cost of wedding decorations is a pricey wedding expense, it does not mean you can’t cut down on costs along the way. Today, we’re going to dive into the specifics of average wedding decoration costs, the cost associated with different styles, and what you can do to have an affordable and equally beautiful wedding day.
How Much Does a Wedding Decorator Cost?
The average cost of a wedding starts at $20,000, but can easily tick upwards of $40,000. When considering wedding decor, you can expect to spend an average of $2,750 on decorations for your wedding venue, ceremony, bridal party, and any other wedding component that needs to be decorated or enhanced with accessories.
Typically, you can expect to pay the following for wedding components that fall under decor costs:
- Wedding dress floral accessories (bouquet and flower crowns) – $500
- Groom accessories – $150
- Bridesmaid accessories – $100
- Reception decor – $1000
- Garland and floral – $500
- Centerpieces – $500
Of course, if your wedding has different components including flowers and floral decor for the ceremony, seating, or tables, you’ll also need to consider how much decor for these elements will cost.
There are other factors that you will need to consider when determining your overall wedding decorations cost. Let’s take a look at how the average cost of wedding decor changes depending on the type of wedding you are having.
Average Cost of Outdoor Wedding Decorations
If you’re going to be having an outdoor wedding, it’s common to have the ceremony and reception located in the same venue. Using the same venue simplifies costs both with venue and wedding decor needs.
With this, the average cost of outdoor wedding decorations can range anywhere from $200 to $3,000. Outdoor weddings have a really unique advantage in that outdoor wedding venue spaces are generally more beautiful than traditional indoor spaces.
Outdoor venues will typically have natural greenery, flowers in full bloom, and other beautiful elements already integrated into the landscape. Because of this, you won’t have to spend as much time decorating the venue because it’s already naturally beautiful.
Average Cost of Indoor Wedding Decorations
Indoor wedding venues will require a little bit more love to get them wedding ready. Because of this, you can expect to pay a little more for indoor wedding venue decor.
The average cost of indoor wedding decorations can range anywhere from $500 to $5,000. Unlike naturally beautiful outdoor venues, you don’t have the appeal of nature to play with. Indoor venues will require a little more decor, florals, and accessories to get them looking wedding ready.
Average Cost of Cultural Wedding Decorations
Cultural weddings typically have a higher price point than traditional American weddings as well. This is because, in addition to the traditional wedding concept, cultural weddings will incorporate other elements that will drive up the cost.
For example, the chuppah for a Jewish ceremony can range anywhere from $350 to $1,500. Indian weddings that incorporate varmala (or jaimala) garlands can cost anywhere from $60 to $200. A cultural element of Chinese weddings is using red paper lanterns. This cost generally ranges around $25 for 20 lanterns. Finally, Papel Picado flags for a Mexican wedding will cost about $5 per bunting.
5 Steps to Hire a Wedding Decorator
Hiring a wedding decorator might sound like a costly expense, but it can be absolutely critical to helping you put together a beautiful wedding venue that is intuitively priced. When you don’t work with a wedding decorator and have no semblance of decor, you could end up spending more than you actually need to with your overall wedding decorations.
The average cost of a wedding decorator ranges from $60 an hour to $100 an hour. This generally works out to anywhere from $600 to $1,000 to work with a professional wedding decor.
In addition to hiring a professional, you’ll also need to account for the cost of the wedding decor that you will be using. A professional wedding decorator will help you determine which decorations you should use to achieve the wedding look you want.
When hiring a wedding decorator, there are five tips you should consider thoroughly in order to make sure that you are making the best choice. Here’s what you need to know.
1. Engage In an Initial Consultation
Your initial concentration is the time to talk about price ranges, explore previous work of the professional decorator, and determine whether they would be a good fit with you. During an initial consultation, ask the decorator whether or not they have worked with the venue you will be hosting your wedding at. This can be a big advantage as they might have access to other resources or perks you might not be aware of.
2. Make a Budget and Begin Planning
Before you ever commit to a wedding decor professional, it’s important to determine what your decor budget is. Typically, your overall budget should be anywhere from 10% to 15% of your total wedding budget. Determining this budget allows you to know what you can afford, and can help you narrow down options.
3. Rent or Buy
Will you be renting out your wedding decor or will you be buying it to own? This is an important question to consider with your wedding decorator because it will drive costs. Renting out will typically be cheaper, but buying the decor means you’re not liable for any damage that might occur. If you do buy your decor, you might also want to consider resale value as this can be a way to recoup some of the money you spent on the decor in the first place.
4. Set Up and Tear Down
If you have a professional wedding decorator selected, it’s time to consider how the decor will be put up. Depending on your wedding decorator, they may be able to provide you with services that include setting up the decor and then tearing it down.
If this is included in your wedding decor price, this can be a big advantage. If not, this will be another expense you should anticipate.
5. Communication
Finally, your wedding decorator should communicate with all parties involved including a wedding planner if you’ve hired one. It’s important to determine whether your wedding planner has the ability to communicate with these parties and whether they have the ability to oversee the logistics of when the decor arrives, how it is set up, and how it is torn down.
If there are any other fee requirements that pop up along the way, you’ll need to ensure that your wedding decorator can properly communicate these fees and avoid them if necessary as well.
Useful Tips for Money-Saving Wedding Decorations
Despite the costly price of wedding decor, there are still ways you can save money along the way. Let’s take a look at some useful tips for saving on your wedding decorations.
DIY Your Wedding Decor
With all the inspiration and decor ideas on social media sites like Pinterest, Etsy, and Instagram, it’s never been easier to create beautiful DIY wedding decor on a dime. Figure out the type of wedding style you want and explore similar ideas to get a sense of different decor themes available. You might be surprised just how fun and affordable it is to create these DIY decor elements.
Plus, creating these decor elements beforehand and then setting them up the day of can be a really cost-effective way to bring down your overall wedding decor costs.
Purchase Wedding Decor Wholesale or Secondhand
It can get costly whether you rent or buy your wedding decor. An easy way to go about this is by shopping for wedding decor pieces on online marketplaces like Facebook Marketplace, Let Go, and even eBay. There are many couples who will sell you their wedding decor at discounted prices simply because they’re looking to recoup some of the cost of their own wedding decor budget.
If buying secondhand is not an option, contact wedding decor wholesalers directly to see what available options you may have. If you live in an area where you can have access to fresh flower farms, this can be another great avenue for saving on wedding decor florals.
Use Wedding Decor Pieces You Can Repurpose
If you’re going to be buying your wedding decor pieces, why not purchase pieces that you can use in your actual everyday life? This can be a great way to spend money wisely so that you can cut down on costs for decor in your own home years after the wedding. When you get creative, you’ll be impressed with how versatile wedding decor can be.
Make Your Money Back
We’ve mentioned this a couple of times, but one of the best ways to save on wedding decor costs is on the back end and not on the front end. If you purchase your wedding decor, you can always sell the decor on online platforms to make some of your money back. If you’re able to successfully sell your wedding decor, you’ll be surprised at just how much money you can make back at the end of it all.
Final Thoughts
While the average cost of wedding decorations in 2023 is undeniably as costly as it has ever been, that doesn’t mean you can’t find room for savings. We hope our helpful guide has helped you plan out your special day so that you can find ways to save all while creating the most beautiful wedding possible. Be sure to share with us in the comments section below some of your favorite ways to save on wedding decor.
