What to budget for your Fiji wedding
It’s all about the money, honey.
Budgeting for a wedding is one of life’s greatest challenges. And if you are reading this article, there is a strong chance you’re sitting there planning your wedding in Fiji but wondering whether you should have the same cost expectation as you would in New Zealand, Australia or America. Your’e probably asking yourself the following questions: How much will I need? What should I expect to pay? What should my budget be?
Here at Bula Bride, we are all about making wedding planning a little easier, so we have put together this handy guide on what you can expect your Fiji wedding to cost you. Remember as you read through this, we are setting what should be an average cost expectation, based on what good quality, reputable & experienced wedding vendors typically charge. In some instances it is possible to spend less and it’s certainly possible to spend more.
Gain some insider’s knowledge on what a wedding in Fiji might cost you, to help get your budget planning started and to ensure you set yourself realistic expectations of what you need to spend.
Firstly, shall we answer a common question? Are weddings in Fiji less expensive than weddings in Australia/New Zealand?
We’ve chatted to a lot of brides on this and the answer is mostly, yes! Of course, back home you can have an inexpensive registry office or simple home garden marriage celebrant style wedding, but the average person’s wedding plans in New Zealand and Australia typically involve many guests and therefore aren’t cheap. According to a recent wedding survey, the average Australian wedding costs $35,000, and the average Kiwi wedding $30,000. Around $10,000 is considered a budget wedding and $40,000 to $50,000+ weddings are common on both sides of the ditch.
- At time of writing, $35,000 AUD is $49,100FJD and $30,000NZD is $43,840FJD. Well worth keeping in mind when comparing the overall cost of a Fiji wedding to what you would spend on average in AUS or NZ!
Many wedding packages in Fiji are well under this. This is because the business model for an destination wedding is different, because the resorts are looking at making a profit on the accommodation and the food and beverage over the entire duration of the stay rather than just the wedding day itself (and to digress, this is also a reason why marrying at a resort you aren’t staying at tends to be more expensive than marrying where you are staying). So in isolation, the cost of the actual wedding itself is much cheaper.
What is the price range likely to be in Fiji?
Basic elopement packages typically start at $2000FJD ($1300AUD) and can easily go to $4000FJD ($2600AUD) or higher depending on the resort & the inclusions.
For a wedding ceremony + reception package for 30 guests (a relatively standard number for a destination wedding) cheaper packages may be around $9000FJD ($6000AUD) and can go up to $22,000FJD ($14,500AUD) or higher.
Packages typically include everything from the pre-wedding arrangements such as a marriage licence and documentation, your celebrant, flowers, an arch or ceremony set-up, plus a reception location with dinner and a drinks package and possibly some extras like serenaders or a choir. It would not commonly include external vendors such as a photographer or hair and make up artist, but again, this will vary depending on the package.
What should I expect to pay for accommodation at the resort?
This one is a bit like answering ‘How long is a piece of string’. Costs will vary immensely based on the quality of the resort, its location and facilities and the level of personal attention during your stay. Resorts in Fiji can be as little as $100FJD a night and they can be upwards of $2500USD per night too. Median priced resorts will be around $300-$500 NZD/AUD per night….and note, this certainly doesn’t mean the resort is average!
Something worthwhile to consider is keeping in mind your guests budget when choosing your resort. You might not be able to please everyone but try and consider what you believe will be in most people’s budget range for the average stay of 5-7 nights. You can always add on a fancy Fiji honeymoon for yourselves after the wedding too!
Is it easier/cheaper if we book the flights and/or accommodation ourselves?
Sometimes yes and sometimes no. While it is easy to book flights online, travel agents can often access less expensive wholesale fares that are not available to the general public. An additional advantage to using an agent (which we have seen become increasingly important due to recent events such as CoVid-19) is that in the event of flight time changes, delays, postponements etc. your travel agent will be a godsend helping you work through any changes and keep everything on track.
Destination wedding planners / travel agents typically negotiate the best possible rate with the resort and will receive a commission from the resort for making the booking, so they aren’t necessarily more expensive at all.
I’ve chosen a package, but what if I have additional guests? How much should I allow per person for the wedding reception?
Additional guests over and above your package minimum are usually charged at a per person rate. It will of course depend on your resort, but around $150FJD per person could be expected. Ask your resort for a price if this isn’t highlighted in their brochure.
Do I need to pay for a wedding coordinator for my Fiji wedding?
Getting everything to run smoothly and stress free on the big day does take both work and experience. Resort wedding coordinators do this sort of thing all the time and it becomes second nature to them. Most resorts offer the services of a wedding co-ordinator for free as part of a wedding package.
There are other options too, such as working with a destination wedding specialist who is independent to the resort, or a wedding planner. Destination wedding specialists don’t charge for their service (they get paid via commission when they book vendors for you) and are perfect for those couples that really do not know where to start looking for a wedding package, want unbiased advice as to where to go, and would prefer to have their travel and accommodation arranged and wedding vendors organised with a coordinated approach.
Independent professional wedding planners do charge for their services, as their role is to save you the endless hours involved in a planning a wedding overseas. They typically do all the legwork, sourcing your perfect location, group accommodation rates and the best local suppliers whilst also working out all the logistics for you and your guests. They provide expert advice and creative inspiration. They are exceptionally good for those who are time-poor but would like a premium wedding experience.
Expect to pay approximately the following for their services:
Elopements – $950AUD
Full wedding – $2000AUD upwards
Other than the wedding and reception at my resort, what else will I need to pay for?
Typically, specialist services aren’t included in the resort package and you will book and pay for specialist vendors (‘contractors’) yourself. You may or may not consider the following: lighting, marquees, an MC, DJ, a florist, photographer/videographer and hair and make up. Pricing can vary, and be sure to check the quality of the work first and foremost, which should be immediately obvious on their website. Always book an experienced wedding professional, who holds insurance (this is required by contractors going to the resorts) and who clearly outlines their terms in a contract that you have viewed and agreed to before making any payment.
As a guideline, the following prices are likely when booking an experienced and professional team:
Cake: $500FJD ($325AUD) at the lower end, $800-900FJD ($500-600AUD) on average and $1200FJD+ ($800AUD) for fancy 3-tier custom-made designs
Dance floor hire:$1500-$2000FJD ($980-$1300AUD)
DJ: $1200-$1600FJD ($780-$1000AUD)
Flowers: $850 for an arch with florals and drapings, floral aisle arrangements $450, bridal bouquet $250, bridesmaid flowers $150, flower crown $130FJD
Hair and Make Up: $350FJD ($230AUD) for the bride, around $200-$250FJD ($160AUD) for guests for both hair and make up services.
Photographer (may include videography too): $3000FJD to $10,000FJD ($2000-$6500AUD). This is perhaps the most varied – there are great photographers at both the budget-end and the high-end of the scale, just do your research carefully.
MC: $250FJD ($160AUD)
Fairy lights: $1000-$1800FJD ($650-$980AUD), dependent on area, location and design or style
Note that travel costs are charge in addition to service costs, so you’ll need to state your resort or intended resort to get an accurate cost from an external vendor.
What does the bride and groom pay for vs their guests?
Typically with an overseas wedding, the couple will pay for their own travel arrangements, the wedding ceremony and the reception. They often do a welcome evening hosting some drinks, or a post-wedding day out as a thank you. Guests attending will pay for their own flights and accommodation with the idea being that they see the experience as a holiday with the bonus of a wedding celebration. When it comes time to paying for your wedding parties items like suits/dresses, hair & make up etc, this is over to you. After chatting to a number of brides who have married in Fiji, most choose to cover all wedding day expenses for their wedding parties due to the bridesmaids and groomsmen already having covered their travel & accommodation expenses.
Tips to make sure you spend your money wisely:
1. If you want to have an unforgettable experience, prioritise the things that are important to you both and allocate a good portion of your budget to that
2. Remember with weddings, what you get on the day is a cumulation of many years worth of experience (or not) from your vendors, including your resort. One of our favourite quotes that circulates the wedding industry is “If I do a job in 30 minutes, it’s because I spent 10 years learning how to do it. You pay me for the years, not the minutes”. This is a sound piece of advice saying YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR and this is very relevant on one of the most important days of your life!
3. Rates are usually considered non-negotiable. Sometimes resorts or vendors have special on, so make the most of this! But don’t try to bargain vendors down on price. It’s over to you to see if you can work the vendor into your budget, not for them to reduce prices to fit yours.
4. Watch out for the school holidays: while convenient, they are most expensive for both flights and accommodation. Check out the shoulder seasons instead.
5. Support local vendors – flying in oversees vendors is expensive and unnecessary and will blow your budget in no time at all. Also consider using local suppliers for things like wedding gifts and party favours, you’ll save on extra luggage and it’s nice to show your support for the local economy.
Financing your wedding – to loan or not to loan?
Even with a strict budget and modest plans for the big day, some expenses are worth the splurge for memories you’ll have forever. A personal loan for your wedding can help you spend money on the things that really matter to you. Keeping your wedding spending separate from your everyday expenses can help to keep you on track with your budget and other financial goals. There are companies such as Nectar Money (NZ) that specialise in these types of loans and can provide financing for your destination wedding. If you are exploring a wedding loan, make sure you discuss upfront interest rates, maximum borrowing amount and repayment options.
Need some help planning your Fiji wedding or want suggestions that fit into your budget?
Get in touch – we are happy to help!
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Fiji Wedding Photographers
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