Typical Kiwi wedding now costs $87,000, says event planner

Susannah Reid, director of The Wedding Planner, told Radio New Zealand that $58,800 was a typical budget throughout New Zealand in 2023.

After COVID, couples typically had smaller, more intimate guest lists, but “didn’t hold back on personal touches, styling and experiences”. Later, more couples began incorporating weekend-long celebrations or destination-style elements, which nudged budgets up, Reid said.

In 2025, “rising costs in the events industry and a clear preference for quality, convenience and personalisation mean couples are investing more than ever in their big day”, she added.

This year, the average cost is $87,600.

Ms Reid said there had been a shift to celebrations over multiple days, including things such as a welcome dinner, recovery brunch or even pre-wedding cultural or traditional ceremonies.

“Most couples are now saving and planning well in advance – typically 18 to 24 months ahead of time, whereas pre-pandemic it was common practice to plan your day within a 12-month time period. This longer lead time helps them budget more realistically and book their preferred venues and vendors without taking on debt,” Ms Reid said.

Ms Reid said families were helping with the cost in some cases. Some couples engage professional support to reduce stress and ensure smooth execution of the wedding. People who do not use wedding planners may be having less expensive celebrations.

Liz Koh, financial coach at Enrich Retirement, said it was not the cost of a wedding that was the issue, but the budget people gave themselves.

“It is possible to have a low-cost wedding. We need to bear in mind that people have different priorities and values,” she said.

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Typical wedding costs $87000 says wedding planner (By Susan Edmunds/Radio New Zealand)