At 30,000 euros, the budget does not just double every line item: it mostly lets you upgrade the venue tier and add vendors a tighter budget often leaves out. Here is an illustrative breakdown for 100 to 120 guests.
Sample breakdown
| Category | Amount | Share of budget |
| Venue | 7,000 € | 23% |
| Catering (food + drinks) | 11,000 € | 37% |
| Photographer | 2,800 € | 9% |
| Videographer | 1,800 € | 6% |
| Couple's attire | 2,500 € | 8% |
| Flowers and decor | 2,000 € | 7% |
| DJ or live band | 1,500 € | 5% |
| Invitations and stationery | 500 € | 2% |
| Misc and contingency | 900 € | 3% |
What the extra budget actually buys
The most visible difference is not catering, which stays proportionally similar, but the venue: a 7,000 euro budget opens the door to estates and châteaux that stay out of reach at 3,000 euros. A videographer, often missing from tighter budgets, becomes affordable without throwing off the balance.
A live band rather than a DJ also becomes realistic at this level, a line item that usually costs double a DJ alone but noticeably changes the evening's mood for some couples.
What stays a choice, not a given
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A second photographer to cover several angles at once
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A caterer offering a fully custom menu rather than a fixed package
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Denser floral decor (ceremony arch, hanging installations) rather than simple centerpieces
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A full open bar rather than a wine-and-soft-drinks-only package
Guest count remains the heaviest factor
At 100 to 120 guests, catering stays the heaviest line in absolute terms, even though it represents a comparable share of the total budget to a 15,000 euro wedding. Cutting guest count while keeping the overall budget fixed usually frees up more room than any negotiation on other categories.