15,000 euros remains a comfortable budget for a mid-sized wedding in France, provided your guest count and venue type stay consistent with it. Here is an illustrative breakdown, not a universal rule, for 60 to 70 guests.
Sample breakdown
| Category | Amount | Share of budget |
| Venue | 3,000 € | 20% |
| Catering (food + drinks) | 5,500 € | 37% |
| Photographer | 1,800 € | 12% |
| Couple's attire | 1,500 € | 10% |
| Flowers and decor | 1,000 € | 7% |
| DJ or music | 1,000 € | 7% |
| Invitations and stationery | 300 € | 2% |
| Misc and contingency | 900 € | 5% |
What this budget means in practice
At this level, catering remains the heaviest line, which often pushes toward a per-guest package rather than a fully custom menu. A venue like a renovated barn or a municipal hall, rather than a château, keeps this proportion without sacrificing the rest.
A photographer at 1,800 euros usually covers a half-day or full-day service without a second shooter, which is more than enough for a wedding this size.
The most common trade-offs at this budget
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Seasonal, local flowers rather than costly imported varieties
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A DJ rather than a live band, cheaper for an often equivalent evening result
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Digital invitations for part of the list, paper reserved for close family
•
Partly DIY decor or reusing ceremony flowers for dinner
How this budget scales with more guests
The catering line grows almost linearly with guest count: each extra guest typically costs 60 to 90 euros all in (food, drinks, service). Going from 65 to 100 guests on the same overall budget almost always forces a downgrade to the menu or the venue.