Wedding Costs: Planning with Confidence

  • Start With the Dream — Then Build the Budget.

    Let’s dream big first. What does your ideal wedding feel like? Is it cozy and intimate? Is it black-tie and epic? You tell us the vibe — then we’ll help you build the budget to match.

  • Some Key Questions to Ask

    1. How many people do you think you'll invite?

    2.What’s most important to you? (Venue? Photos? Food? Experience?)

    3. What’s your total comfort spend — all in? (Not just the venue, but the dress, the band, everything.)

    4. Who’s contributing financially, and what are the boundaries?

  • THE BIGGEST MISTAKE

    The biggest mistake couples make is picking vendors before knowing what they can really spend.

    Let’s flip that — get clarity first, then invest wisely.

Sample Breakdown (Typical):

Category % of Budget. Notes Songbird Retreat

Venue Hire 40-45% Venue hire alone often $5000–$15000. W/E $12,995, Weekday/Intimate -POA

Marquee 0% Marquee hire typically costs $6000-$10,000

Furniture 0% Furniture hire often adds $3,000–$8,000 or more depending on scale and style

Dance floor. 0% Dance floor hire can cost $1,000 to $3,000

Catering 30-35% $80–$180+ per guest. Includes meals and service. Plated more expensive than buffet. Vendor recommendations

Alcohol 8-12% $2000–$6000 typical. Includes drinks, glassware, service, and/or corkage. BYO no corkage

Photography & Video. 10–15% $3000–$6000 is typical. You may like to splurge on drone or film-style videography. Vendor recommendations

Florals & Decor. 8–12% Often DIY or mixed with hire items. Greenery-heavy trends help stretch the budget. Celebration arch and plinths included

Entertainment 5-8% $800–$3k depending on live band vs. soloist or DJ. Vendor recommendations

Attire & Beauty 5–8% Bridal gowns often $2000–$4000, hair/makeup $500–$1000. Includes groom’s outfit. Vendor recommendations

Planning/Coordination. 5–10% Full-service planning $5,000–$10,000. On-the-day only $2000–$3000 On-the-Day Coordinator+service incl

Celebrant + Ceremony. 2–4% Registered celebrants range from $400–$1,200+. Include PA system hire if not provided. PA system included

Stationery & Extras. 2–5% Invites, signage, place cards, menus. Print vs digital impacts cost.

Contingency/Emergency 5–7% For weather plans, backup gear, last-minute extras. Marquee wet weather plan

What’s Included in “Setup & Pack-Down”

Included Setup by Songbird Team:

We’ll take care of preparing the core ceremony space for you before you arrive — so you can focus on getting ready, not lifting chairs.

✔️ Marquee installation
✔️ Celebration chairs placed and spaced at ceremony site
✔️ Signing table + chair set up in your selected location
✔️ Celebration arch installed and secured
✔️ Toilet trailer positioned and prepped for guest use
✔️ Wet weather backup marquee ready, if needed
✔️ Pathway signage or simple wayfinding if applicable
✔️ Rubbish & recycling bins placed at discreet access points

Included Pack-Down by Songbird Team:

After your event ends (at 11pm (weekends and 10pm weekdays)), we’ll handle all major pack-down so you don’t have to worry about a thing.

✔️ Stack and remove celebration chairs
✔️ Remove signing table and arch
✔️ Close marquee and secure pegs
✔️ Lock and service toilet trailer
✔️ Collect Songbird-owned signage and bins
✔️ Tidy ceremony area and check for personal items left behind

What’s Not Included:

To keep your wedding flexible and affordable, we leave the styling and specialty vendor logistics in your hands (or with your planner/stylist).

  • Guest table setups (if you’ve brought your own or hired tables)

  • Table décor, linen, or florals

  • Rubbish removal from caterers or vendors (must be taken away same day)

  • Pack-down of DIY or hired décor (must be removed by 12pm the following day unless otherwise agreed)

    Want to Keep It Simple?

You’re welcome to bring your own stylist or planner — or we can recommend trusted partners who know the property and can fully manage your setup needs from start to finish.

Make it stand out.

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Make it stand out.