Wedding cost · New Orleans
Average wedding cost in New Orleans, LA
A real 2026 cost breakdown for getting married in New Orleans. Total for 100–150 guests: ~$42,857. Venue ~$15,000. Per guest: ~$343.
Average total
$42,857
Per guest
$343
Venue alone
$15,000
Model your own New Orleans budget
Use our free wedding budget calculator to plug in your guest count, style, and priority categories. It uses the same percentages below — calibrated to New Orleans pricing.
Full New Orleans wedding cost breakdown
| Category | % of budget | Estimated cost |
|---|---|---|
| Venue & rentals | 35% | $15,000 |
| Catering & bar | 25% | $10,714 |
| Photography & video | 12% | $5,143 |
| Flowers & decor | 8% | $3,429 |
| Attire (dress, suit, alterations) | 6% | $2,571 |
| Music / DJ / band | 5% | $2,143 |
| Stationery & favors | 3% | $1,286 |
| Hair, makeup & beauty | 2% | $857 |
| Officiant & ceremony | 2% | $857 |
| Rings | 2% | $857 |
| Total | 100% | $42,857 |
The 5 biggest cost drivers in New Orleans
- Guest count. Every guest is ~$150–$250 in catering, bar, rentals, and stationery. Trimming the list 20 guests saves $3–$5K instantly.
- Day of week. A Friday or Sunday wedding in New Orleans can be 20–30% cheaper than a Saturday.
- Season. Peak (Oct–Apr) is the most expensive. Off-season (Jun–Aug) is the cheapest. Summer is the inside of a mouth. October through April is your real window.
- Bar style. Full open bar vs. beer + wine + signature is a $5–$10K swing for 150 guests.
- Florals. Heavy installations (arches, ceiling, aisle) easily double a flower budget.
How to save 20%+ on a New Orleans wedding
- Marry in the Jun–Aug off-season.
- Pick a Friday or Sunday in any month.
- Use the venue's preferred vendor list — most negotiate discounts.
- Beer + wine + one signature cocktail instead of full bar.
- One real bouquet for photos, dried/silk for everything else.
- Skip the favors (~95% are left on tables).
New Orleans wedding venues that fit this budget
Browse wedding venues in New Orleans, or use the venue finder to filter by capacity, budget tier, and style.
Compare New Orleans to other markets
- Wedding cost in Austin, TX — $32,857
- Wedding cost in Nashville, TN — $34,286
- Wedding cost in Charleston, SC — $51,429
- Wedding cost in Brooklyn, NY — $62,857
- Wedding cost in Los Angeles, CA — $68,571
- Wedding cost in New York, NY — $108,571
- Wedding cost in Chicago, IL — $45,714
- Wedding cost in San Francisco, CA — $80,000
Track every dollar in one place
Wedding Planner Central turns your budget into a live, vendor-by-vendor tracker — free to start.