Home › Wedding costs › Chicago, IL › 50 guests
A 50-guest wedding in Chicago, IL runs about $22,300–$42,950. Below is every category you will actually pay for — including the 7 that almost never show up in a vendor quote.
Venue and catering alone come to roughly $12,000 — 38% of everything you will spend. Price those two first; every other number moves around them.
| Category | Typical range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| VenueWith catering this is usually more than half of everything you'll spend. | $3,300 – $6,400 | $4,750 |
| Catering (food + drinks)Priced per guest. Check whether drinks and staff are included or quoted apart. | $5,050 – $9,750 | $7,250 |
| PhotographyBudget the full package — coverage, editing and album — not just the shoot. | $2,150 – $4,150 | $3,100 |
| Video & editingEditing is often quoted separately from filming, and takes months to deliver. | $1,400 – $2,650 | $2,000 |
| Music / DJ or bandAsk what the quoted hours cover — extra hours are billed separately. | $1,550 – $2,950 | $2,200 |
| Decor & flowersFlowers, centerpieces, arch and lighting. Scales with the number of tables. | $950 – $1,850 | $1,350 |
| Dress / suit & alterationsAlterations, shoes and accessories usually aren't in the sticker price. | $1,550 – $2,950 | $2,200 |
| RingsWedding bands, separate from the engagement ring. | $900 – $1,800 | $1,300 |
| Invitations & stationeryPrinting, postage, menus, signage and place cards. | $250 – $450 | $300 |
| Cake & dessertsSome venues charge a cake-cutting fee on top of the cake itself. | $300 – $600 | $450 |
| Hair & makeupTrials and the wedding party are usually priced per person. | $550 – $1,050 | $800 |
| TransportCouple's car plus any shuttle for guests between ceremony and reception. | $500 – $1,000 | $750 |
| Category | Typical range | Midpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Power generatorNeeded if the venue can't power catering, lighting and sound at once. Ask before booking. | $550 – $1,050 | $800 |
| Staff tipsWaiters, bartenders and setup crew. Cash, on the day, and rarely in any quote. | $400 – $750 | $550 |
| Planner / day-of coordinatorEven DIY couples often hire a day-of coordinator. Frequently charged as a % of the total. | $1,400 – $2,650 | $2,000 |
| Extra furniture rentalChairs, tables and linens if the venue doesn't include enough for your guest count. | $350 – $650 | $500 |
| Overtime hoursWeddings run long. Venue, music and catering all bill the extra hours. | $550 – $1,050 | $800 |
| Taxes & service chargesQuotes are often shown before tax and before the service charge. Ask for the final number. | $450 – $900 | $650 |
| Officiant & legal paperworkCivil registry fees, certificates and the officiant's honorarium. | $150 – $300 | $200 |
| Everything, all 19 categories | $22,300 – $42,950 | $31,950 |
Marrymap AI turns this map into your timeline, drafts the vendor emails, and flags any quote priced above the range on this page.
Build your free wedding plan →Budget between $22,300 and $42,950, with most 50-guest weddings in Chicago, IL landing around $31,950 — roughly $640 per guest once every category is counted.
Venue and catering together run about $12,000, or 38% of the total. Price those two before committing money anywhere else, because every other number is sized around them.
power generator, staff tips, planner / day-of coordinator, extra furniture rental, overtime hours, taxes & service charges, officiant & legal paperwork — about $5,500 combined, or 17% of a 50-guest Chicago, IL wedding. These usually surface after you have already signed with the venue.
About $640 per guest at 50 guests. Trimming the guest list is the fastest way to lower the total, because catering, tips, furniture and stationery all scale with headcount.