How Guest Count Affects Your Wedding Budget
Photography by Emily Turner
Wondering how guest count affects your wedding budget—especially for a destination wedding in Hawaii? You’re not alone. From catering and rentals to bar service, florals, and even transportation, your guest count quietly impacts nearly every line item. Whether you're planning for 75 guests or 150, this guide offers realistic wedding budget breakdowns for $60K, $100K, and $150K—designed to help you plan a celebration that feels like you and stays grounded in what things actually cost.
Our goal? To stay creative and grounded. We know every couple’s priorities are unique, and we’re here to honor those. But we also bring years of experience that help make sure your budget reflects what it truly takes to host a celebration—one that feels like you, delights your guests, and runs beautifully behind the scenes.
$60K Hawaii Wedding Budget for 75 Guests
Photography by Emily Turner
This is where our Maid of Honor for Hire Package (Essential Planning) is the perfect fit at $7,500. With this guest count and budget, you can prioritize quality food, drinks, and get a little creative with the decor while being strategic about where to scale back.
Suggested Allocation:
Planning: $7,500
Venue: $6,500
Photography: $5,000
Catering: $7,500 ($100 pp)
Bar: $3,500
Rentals: $15,500 (including some specialty upgrades)
Flowers: $6,500
Attire: $2,500
Paper Goods: $800
Hair & Makeup: $1,200
DJ: $3,500
To stay on budget: Use simple invitations, skip videography, have a friend officiate, and forgo transportation, favors, and a cake.
$60K Hawaii Wedding Budget for 150 Guests
This isn’t possible for everyone, but with the right connections and a thoughtful approach, you can plan a really special celebration that wines and dines your guests and still makes space for personal touches.
Suggested Allocation:
Planning (with added staffing): $8,000
Venue: $0 (family home or backyard—just be mindful of restrooms and parking)
Photography: $4,000
Catering: $14,000
Bar: $3,500
Rentals: $17,000
Music: $3,400
Flowers: $7,000
Centerpieces & Decor: $1,000
Officiant: $0
Transportation: $0
Dessert: $500
Hair & Makeup: $1,100
Paper Goods: $500
To stay on budget: Embrace what’s personal and practical—skip the tent, keep the bar simple, lean on a trusted friend to officiate, and focus on flowers where they matter most. Prioritize guest comfort and let go of anything that doesn’t feel essential to your celebration.
$100K Hawaii Wedding Budget for 75 Guests
With this budget, you can opt for Full Service Planning at $15,000—giving you comprehensive support from start to finish, including design, vendor management, and day-of execution.
Photography by Emily Turner
Suggested Allocation:
Planning: $15,000
Venue: $8,500
Photography: $7,500
Catering: $9,000 ($120 pp)
Bar: $4,000
Rentals: $20,000
Music: $5,500 (DJ + live ceremony musicians)
Flowers: $9,000
Officiant: $600
Transportation: $3,900
Attire: $4,500
Hair & Makeup: $2,000
Paper Goods: $3,000
Videography: $5,000
Cake: $500
Misc. Vendors: $1,500
Favors: $500
To stay on budget: Focus on details that have both visual and emotional impact—like upgraded linens, lush florals, and custom signage. Keep things like favors and extra vendors modest, and choose quality over quantity in the design elements.
$100K Hawaii Wedding Budget for 150 Guests
This is where our Maid of Honor for Hire Package, combined with a design service upgrade, becomes the perfect hybrid. It balances function and beauty for couples who want an elevated experience without losing sight of logistics.
Suggested Allocation:
Planning + Design Upgrade: $11,000
Venue: $8,500
Photography: $6,500
Catering: $15,000 ($100 pp)
Bar: $4,500
Rentals: $27,750
Music: $5,000
Flowers: $13,500
Attire: $3,000
Hair & Makeup: $1,145
Paper Goods: $2,000
Videography: $3,500
Cake: $600
To stay on budget: Skip live music and guest shuttles—those savings open up room for more meaningful upgrades in areas like design, rentals, or photography that guests will actually remember.
$150K Hawaii Wedding Budget for 75 Guests
This is where your budget really stretches. Our Full Shebang Planning Package is a perfect fit, coming in at $15,000. You’ll have ample room for layered design, customized details, and high-end touches.
Photography by June Photography
Suggested Allocation:
Planning: $15,000
Venue: $10,000
Photography: $12,000
Catering: $11,250 ($150 pp)
Bar: $4,700
Rentals: $35,000
Music: $8,200
Flowers: $18,000
Officiant: $800
Transportation: $3,500
Attire: $10,000
Hair & Makeup: $3,500
Paper Goods: $5,000
Videography: $7,500 (including content creator)
Cake: $800
Misc. Vendors: $3,500
Favors: $1,000
To stay on budget: Prioritize high-impact upgrades—like lush florals, luxury rentals, and personalized paper goods—and streamline in areas where less is truly more. With 75 guests, your dollars go further, so every detail can feel thoughtful and elevated.
$150K Hawaii Wedding Budget for 150 Guests
This also works beautifully for Full Service Planning, though a few smart adjustments help keep everything balanced.
Suggested Allocation:
Planning (with added labor for 150 guests): $15,500
Venue: $10,000
Photography: $12,000
Catering: $18,000 ($120 pp)
Bar: $6,000
Rentals: $32,500
Music: $10,150
Flowers: $20,000
Officiant: $800
Transportation: $4,500
Attire: $5,000
Hair & Makeup: $3,500
Paper Goods: $2,200
Videography: $7,500 (including content creator)
Cake: $800
Misc. Vendors: $3,000
To stay on budget: Be intentional with your upgrades—invest in areas that elevate guest comfort and the overall flow, like high-touch rentals, efficient transportation, and a strong bar team. Keep floral design strategic and scaled to your layout. Your planner will help you make smart trade-offs so the celebration feels full without feeling stretched.
Where Does Guest Count Impact Budget Most?
Catering: Per-person food costs stack up fast.
Rentals: More guests = more tables, chairs, linens, flatware, and lighting.
Bar: Drinks and bartenders multiply quickly with higher guest counts.
Flowers: More tables and more personal florals for wedding parties.
Paper Goods: Invitations, menus, escort cards, place cards—it all adds up.
Labor: Higher guest counts mean more staff for setup, service, and breakdown.
Transportation: Shuttles and group transport become more complex with bigger groups.
Tips to Manage Guest Count & Budget
Feeling stuck on your guest list? Try using the A/B/C list method:
A-list: Must-haves
B-list: Love-to-have
C-list: Nice-to-have
Send invites in waves so you can fill in B- and C-list guests as RSVPs come in.
Still feeling unsure? We offer budget consultation sessions to help you clarify your priorities, explore smart trade-offs, and figure out what guest count makes the most sense for the celebration you’re dreaming of.
Let’s chat about your dream Hawaii wedding.
