The Cost of a Vegas Wedding: Your Guide to a Sin City Ceremony

Flying into Las Vegas for the wedding of your dreams might be the only way you can picture starting your married life. If you love the lights and thrills of the Las Vegas strip, make your bridal dreams come true by estimating a realistic budget. Once you know the cost of a Vegas wedding, you’ll feel more prepared to sign contracts with local vendors.

Perks of Getting Married in Las Vegas

Your friends and family might wonder why you want to get married in Sin City once you tell them the news. The truth is that people travel to the incredible destination for their ceremonies for numerous reasons, like:

• Everyone has numerous hotels to choose from.
• There’s no lack of dining or entertainment options.
• The unique destination has fun activities you can’t find anywhere else.
• Las Vegas has many non-traditional wedding venues for couples who want something different.
• The range of wedding ceremony types makes getting married in Vegas more affordable than in other big cities in the U.S.

Invite your loved ones to Vegas and they’ll quickly understand why you’re getting married there. Once they see the Fountains of Bellagio or catch a residency show at Caesar’s Palace, your guests will adore the location for your big day.

What Is the Cost of a Vegas Wedding? 

Las Vegas weddings cost slightly different fees than ceremonies in other big cities. Let’s estimate that 50 people are coming to your big day and you’re shipping some things from home, like your dress or DIY floral arrangements. Break down the cost of a Vegas wedding by location-specific vendors to better understand what you’ll pay local business owners for a traditional ceremony.

Venue: $5,000-$10,000

Wedding venues in Vegas range widely in price. You’ll pay pennies at a drive-through chapel compared to the five-star Mandarin Oriental Hotel. Couples spend up to $10,000 for a classic wedding venue, but the price will change throughout the year. There may be upcharges for in-demand bridal or tourist seasons, so get a few quotes to estimate your specific fee more accurately.

Photographer: $300-$800 Per Hour

There are multiple kinds of professional photographers in Vegas. Some specialize in traditional weddings while others only photograph elopements. You’ll pay anywhere between $300-$800 per hour, which may change depending on the packages offered by each photographer.

Officiant: ~$240

Experts estimate that a wedding officiant costs around $240 in Las Vegas. They’re highly in demand, but one of the most affordable parts of a classic Vegas ceremony. Get quotes to see if you’ll also have to pay for their dinner or cover extra fees to travel into the city during the height of tourist season.

Wedding Cake: $300-$700

You’ll get various quotes for wedding cakes because bakeries charge differently for tiered cakes, delivery ranges and decorating fees. The average couple spent between $300-$700 on their cakes in 2023, so you can expect to pay the same for a Las Vegas cake. If you choose a reputable bakery, expect to pay closer to the higher end of that range.

Catering: $50-$150 Per Guest

You’re picturing a wedding big enough for 50 guests who will need at least one full plate of food and a beverage at your reception. Catering companies will likely charge $50-$150 per wedding guest, depending on your menu selections. Fifty guests, each costing $100, will result in a $5,000 catering bill, which is surprisingly more affordable than many other big-city ceremonies.

DJ: ~$1,000

People most often budget around $1,000 or more for a DJ. Every penny is worth it because DJs bring so much more than a mix board. They’ll supply speakers for your ceremony and reception area, plus microphones for your officiant and anyone giving a dinner speech. Compare packages to get the right amount of audio equipment given any provided by your venue or officiant.

Hotel Rooms: $139 Per Room

Estimating the cost of hotel rooms will help you decide if your guests can afford to attend your big day. The average Las Vegas hotel room costs $139 per night and may not include Wi-Fi or parking fees. Contact a few places to get room block quotes, which don’t cost anything up front. You may even secure a discount for your guests if you’re inviting enough people.

Remember to add the cost of one room to your budget, since you’ll have to pay for a place to stay unless a free room comes with your venue. Some hotels arrange it to make their quotes more competitive.

Average Total: $17,879

If you’re estimating the cost of a Vegas wedding based on the higher end of each estimated range, you’ll pay around $17,879 for location-specific vendors. You’ll also need to afford your dress, anything you bring from home and plane tickets to the city. You can start saving right away by dividing the estimated total by how many months you have until your selected date.

What Are Las Vegas Wedding Packages?

You can always consider Las Vegas wedding packages to reduce your budget, too. They’re available at many hotels, casinos and resorts. Talk with the venue management team to see if they have business partnerships with local vendors. They often arrange discounted services for venue-specific packages that simplify wedding planning and make all-inclusive packages more affordable.

Drive-through chapels also have their own packages. The amenities will include fewer things because they aren’t hotels, but you’ll still get an officiant, service and DJ for the price. If you like the idea of a non-traditional ceremony, see what local chapels offer compared to bigger venues.

Tips to Reduce Your Budget

Sometimes, couples deal with sticker shock when they plan a Las Vegas wedding. You’re in control of your budget no matter your bridal dreams. Consider using strategies that bring down the cost, like:

• Find the cheapest place to get married in Vegas by exploring creative arrangements like Airbnbs, public parks and drive-through chapels.
• Travel during the off-season so hotel rooms, plane tickets and entertainment are more affordable.
• Rent a big house for yourself and your guests if you’re having an intimate ceremony. You can cook for yourselves and split the bill, which could help you stay in a gorgeous mansion rather than a budget hotel room.

Your wedding trip doesn’t have to resemble any other bride’s. Make your Vegas experience exactly what you need to have fun and stay within your budget with outside-the-box ideas.

Estimate Your Budget for a Las Vegas Wedding

Hosting a wedding in Las Vegas doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg. Plan your budget by comparing the average vendor fees. Once you know what to expect, you can estimate your overall budget and set money aside every month until you reach your goal. You’ll have a dreamy ceremony in one of the most popular places on earth, no matter how much you want to save.