The split
MoneyBalance's mid-range costs for an 80-guest wedding in 2026, turned into shares of the total and rounded, with a 5% buffer added.
Free tool · New Zealand
Wedding budget calculator NZ
Tell it what you've got to spend and how many people are coming. It gives you a first split by category in NZD, what that works out to per guest, and how it compares with what weddings your size cost here.
- Cost per guest
- $438
- Venue and catering per guest
- $184
- Set aside, just in case
- $1,750
$438 a guest is above the usual $220–380 for a wedding this size: room for a premium venue or a bigger buffer.
| What for | Share | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venue hire and cateringCatering scales with every guest | 42% | $14,700 |
| Photographer and videographerAbout 10% if you skip the video | 17% | $5,950 |
| Dress or suit, hair and makeupFor both of you | 9% | $3,150 |
| Rings for you bothThe widest range of any line | 8% | $2,800 |
| FlowersBouquets, ceremony and tables | 7% | $2,450 |
| Music, DJ or bandCeremony and reception | 4% | $1,400 |
| Cake, invites and stationeryLower if you send invites online | 4% | $1,400 |
| Celebrant and licenceThe licence fee is set by the government | 2% | $700 |
| Transport and wedding nightCars, shuttles, your accommodation | 2% | $700 |
| BufferThe bar tab, extra guests, surprises | 5% | $1,750 |
| Total | 100% | $35,000 |
Each extra guest adds roughly $150–250 in catering, MoneyBalance estimates, and possibly more if it means a bigger venue. For comparison, MoneyBalance puts a 2026 wedding for 80 to 120 guests at $28,000 to $45,000. There's no official NZ average.
How much does a wedding cost per guest in NZ?
MoneyBalance's 2026 estimates put a New Zealand wedding at roughly $220–380 a guest for 50 to 100 guests, and much the same per head for smaller and bigger weddings. Small weddings cost less because there are fewer guests, not because each one is cheaper.
The split here is built from MoneyBalance's mid-range figures for an 80-guest wedding, with 5% kept aside: venue and catering about 42%, photography and video 17%, rings 8%. Shift money towards what matters to you, then check the big lines against real quotes. Expect to pay more in Queenstown, Wānaka and on Waiheke, and less in the regions.
How we worked it out
The per-guest check
MoneyBalance's per-guest ranges for weddings of each size, from under 20 guests to over 150.
The fixed bits
The marriage licence fee is set by the government (it was $158 when we checked govt.nz for our cost guide). It sits in the celebrant line.
- MoneyBalance, Average wedding cost in NZ (last checked 22 October 2026)
- govt.nz, Get a marriage licence (last checked 22 October 2026)
Questions
Things people ask us
What's a normal wedding budget in NZ?
There's no official average. MoneyBalance puts a 2026 wedding for 80 to 120 guests at $28,000 to $45,000, and planner-run weddings cost a lot more.
How much does each extra guest cost?
About $150–250 in catering, by MoneyBalance's estimate, and more if the extra numbers push you into a bigger venue.
Why is photography such a big share?
Because the split includes a videographer, as MoneyBalance's mid-range figures do. Leave out the video and that line drops to about 10%.
Should Queenstown or Waiheke couples budget more?
Yes. MoneyBalance rates Queenstown, Wānaka and Waiheke as very high cost, Auckland and the wine regions as high, Christchurch as moderate and regional New Zealand as lower.
Is the marriage licence included?
Yes, in the celebrant line. The fee is set by the government; check the current amount on govt.nz when you apply.
Does anything I type get saved?
No. It all runs in your browser and nothing is sent to us. To keep track of real quotes and what's left to pay, use the planner in your account.
Keep the real numbers in one spot
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