The Average Wedding Cost in Los Angeles, Based on Data From Real Couples

Known for its natural beauty, glamour and nightlife, Los Angeles is a dreamy place to get married. But because there's no other place quite like it in the world, planning a wedding in LA can come with a surprising price tag. The average wedding cost in Los Angeles puts it in the top five most-expensive places to get married in the US, according to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study. Knowing what to expect financially is half the battle, so we consulted with local experts for their professional wedding planning advice and thoughts about wedding costs in LA—plus, their take on which details could potentially impact your total spend.

Holly Gray is a second-generation wedding planner and CEO of Anything But Gray Events, a SoCal-based event planning company that specializes in bold, maximalist weddings throughout California and beyond. Samantha Hall is the owner and lead wedding planner of Samantha Hall Events in Los Angeles, with more than 13 years of experience in the industry. Here's what they have to say about planning a wedding in the City of Angels and allocating your budget accordingly.

In this article:

• Average Wedding Cost in Los Angeles
• Los Angeles Wedding Cost Allocation
• Los Angeles Wedding Cost Spreadsheet
• Average Number of Wedding Guests in Los Angeles
• What Does This Mean for Los Angeles Weddings in 2024?

Average Wedding Cost in Los Angeles

In 2023, the average wedding cost in LA was $48,000, according to The Knot 2023 Real Weddings Study. Based on our data, the price to get married in Los Angeles is about $13,000 more than the national average wedding cost ($35,000) but $15,000 less than the most expensive place to get married in the US (New York City, which averages at $63,000).

Based on LA's higher cost of living compared to other places in the country, it's not a total shock that it's pricier to get married there, but it's important to note that there are many different financial factors that impact the bottom line. Depending on your situation and wedding priorities, you might find that your total spend is more or less than the average wedding cost in Los Angeles.

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Los Angeles Wedding Cost Allocation

Being smart about your wedding budget breakdown is important no matter where you're getting married. This is especially true if your wedding is taking place in a pricier market like LA, where the average cost of a wedding is about 37% higher than the national average. In order to avoid going over budget (our data shows that 57% of couples do when getting married in Los Angeles), you can lean on pros to help you best allocate and spend your money. "Hire your wedding planner first," says expert Holly Gray. "They will help you find a venue, build your vendor team, and ultimately, save you time and money as opposed to doing planning in the wrong order. Too often I see couples that try to go it alone and end up spending money unnecessarily, thinking that if they don't have a planner, they can go it alone with the same results."

If you think it's counterintuitive to spend money on a wedding planner, consider all of the different hats they wear (budget manager, vendor coordinator, vision board maker), not to mention the tips and tricks they've learned through firsthand experience. Los Angeles couples hire an average of 15 vendors according to our data, which adds up to a lot of time spent researching local vendors and crunching the numbers. A wedding planner will connect you with other vetted pros and help you determine the best way to allocate your money depending on your priorities and total budget. Wondering what else could make up a significant portion of the cost? Here are a few more categories that affect the average wedding cost in Los Angeles.

LA Wedding Venue Cost

"In Los Angeles, wedding venues will be a large chunk of your budget," says Gray. "On average, we see between $18,000 to $30,000 for venues." Compared to the nationwide average wedding venue cost ($12,800), Los Angelenos may need to spend more on their venue, depending on what's included. Gray explains that some venues include event rentals (like tables and chairs) in their fees, while other rental fees are only for the space itself.

LA Wedding Transportation Cost

Unlike other areas of the country that aren't as densely populated, transportation and parking are two major details you'll want to factor into your Los Angeles wedding cost.

"While it might not sound luxurious, in LA, parking is like gold," says Gray. "Finding wedding venues that have a parking lot, whether the fee is included in the rental or as an additional cost, is a luxury." As Gray explains, if your venue doesn't have a parking lot big enough to accommodate everyone, most Los Angeles wedding venues will require valet parking or pre-arranged shuttle services for guests instead, which will be an added cost. And finally, Gray discourages relying on rideshare services for wedding day transportation in most situations. "Depending on the area or the popularity of your date, rates could be through the roof or services unavailable," she says.

LA Wedding Upgrades and Extras

Los Angeles is home to an interesting range of people, from artists to celebrities, designers and tastemakers, so it's no surprise that the city is at the forefront of creative wedding ideas and trends. If you're getting married in LA, you might want to impress your guests with things they haven't seen anywhere else. In that case, be prepared to allocate part of your budget to wedding upgrades and extras, like unique entertainment (Hall mentions live painters, cannoli makers and cappuccino carts) or celeb-worthy catering. Anything that's priced per person will always drive up the cost, explains Hall, so take your guest count into consideration first.

Another upgrade that's not as glamorous but just as important: wedding bathroom rentals. Gray says that portable or additional restrooms are an especially common upgrade in the Los Angeles area, particularly for weddings at private homes or in remote locations. "While every venue will have some kind of restroom, the question will be if they are elegant enough for your wedding and/or are enough for your headcount," she says.

Los Angeles Wedding Cost Spreadsheet

Make budgeting and planning a wedding easier with these Los Angeles wedding spreadsheets (available in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel). The free download contains an LA wedding budget breakdown, LA wedding checklist, guest list manager, LA vendor contact list, wedding day schedule, photography shot list, alcohol calculator and registry worksheet.

Average Number of Wedding Guests in Los Angeles

Guest count is one wedding detail where Los Angeles matches the national average—according to our data, LA couples invited an average of 115 people to their weddings in 2023. Historical buildings, such as estates, museums and country clubs, are the most popular reception venue type for LA weddings, chosen by 17% of our respondents. And with Los Angeles' proximity to both beaches and mountains, it's no surprise that 68% of ceremonies took place outdoors.

So how does all of this play into the average number of wedding guests in LA? Your guest count will directly impact your budget allocation and the type of venue where you can get married. "In Los Angeles, guest count is a big factor because so many venues can not accommodate guest counts larger than 200, comfortably," says Gray. She shares that her clients are usually spending between $1,500 to $2,500 per guest and invite an average of 100 people—but it's not uncommon for couples to reduce their total number of guests in order to slightly increase their spend per person. Similarly, Hall explains that her clients spend anywhere from $65,000 to $250,000 for weddings between 75 and 250 people.

When you're making your guest list (or trying to whittle it down), you might choose to keep your guests' wallets in mind, too. In 2023, the average wedding guest cost for people who traveled to an out-of-town wedding by plane was $1,600, according to our data. If a majority of people live outside of LA, you could consider paring down the invite list to only your nearest and dearest.

What Does This Mean for Los Angeles Weddings in 2024?

It's true that the average wedding cost in Los Angeles is higher than many other parts of the country, but with fantastic weather, iconic landmarks and a huge pool of talented wedding vendors at your fingertips, it's well worth the investment. As micro-weddings, small weddings and elopements continue to grow in popularity, downsizing your total guest count is one easy (and expert-approved) way to save money on your wedding. "Inviting fewer guests with a more intentional mindset will mean a smaller overall guest count but allow you to use your wedding budget in a more thoughtful and meaningful way," says Gray. "Stop inviting people to your wedding that you REALLY don't want at your wedding." A smaller group is the perfect opportunity to lean into a fun wedding vibe, like a dinner party at your favorite restaurant or a sunset ceremony at an exclusive beachfront home.

Beyond LA, you can potentially find lower wedding costs if you're open to getting married in other parts of California. Head north to Sacramento, where couples spent an average of $30,000 in 2023, according to our data. Farther south, the average wedding cost in San Diego was $38,000. Whatever you choose, Hall says that working backwards based on your priorities is one trick to help you make the best decisions. "Some couples may say food, some say photos, some say flowers," she says. "Figure out what is most important to you and that's where the largest amount of the budget should go."