How Much Does a 100-Person Wedding Cost in Los Angeles in 2026?

Los Angeles weddings are expensive. Most couples already know that. What they do not always know is that the first number they see is almost never the number they end up dealing with.

You have probably seen numbers all over the place. $25,000 on that site, $65,000 on another. The Knot says $44,740 for the LA average. So which number is real?

Honestly, all of them can be. The problem is that those numbers do not always show what is included, what is missing, and what gets added later. Venue minimums, catering, bar, service charges, tax, vendor meals, rentals, setup fees. That is where the budget starts moving.

The honest answer for 2026: a 100-person wedding in Los Angeles will realistically cost between $38,000 and $55,000 for most couples. Some come in below that. Many go above it. The real question is why the same 100 guests can cost one couple $12,000 and another couple $45,000 in the same city.

What LA Couples Actually Spend on a 100-Person Wedding

This is the part the average wedding number does not show. The same 100 guests can look simple on paper, then turn into completely different budgets once the venue, food, bar, and rentals get involved.

Sometimes, after helping with the rentals and decoration, I ask the couple what did it cost. The useful part is not just the total. It is how different the totals can be for weddings that sounded similar at first.

A couple in Azusa had roughly 100 guests and spent $12,000. They used a package deal venue, which took most of the guesswork out.

A couple in Los Angeles had about 100 guests at Smogshoppe and spent $45,000. The venue was the biggest line item. Their quote says a lot: "When we discovered the price, we were a bit nervous. But when we envisioned how we wanted the day to feel, there was really no other option."

A couple in Long Beach also had roughly 100 guests and spent $45,000. Their biggest expense was the live band. As they put it, "Having been to many weddings, the band makes or breaks the party."

A couple in Atwater Village had 70 guests at a brewery venue and spent $14,083. The venue had a $5,000 food and beverage minimum. They thought $6,000 would cover the whole wedding. It did not.

What moved those numbers was not some wild luxury spending. It was the venue type, the catering style, and whether the couple had to bring in rentals or not. Those three decisions can change the budget more than almost anything else.

Zola's 2025 research says 74 percent of couples go over their original budget. In Los Angeles, that is not hard to believe. An LA wedding planner who handles weddings of 100 guests or fewer told the LA Times the least expensive wedding she planned that year started at $25,000 and ended at $38,000.

That is not always a planning failure. That is how LA works.

Your Venue Picks Most of Your Budget for You

This is why we keep coming back to the venue. In Los Angeles, the venue is not just the place where the wedding happens. It can decide what you must spend before you have even picked flowers, music, or rentals.

A lot of LA venues do not work from one simple rental fee. They give you a food and beverage minimum. That means you must spend a certain amount on catering and bar just to book the date. Then the venue rental fee may still sit on top of that.

So when a venue says the rental starts at $10,000, that does not always mean $10,000 is the real number.

Here is what that looks like at real LA venues in 2026:

• The Ebell, Los Angeles: Rental starts at $10,000 to $12,000. Food and beverage minimum is $20,000 to $30,000 for peak Saturdays. Catering runs $126 to $150 per person plus a 21 percent service charge.

• Cielo Farms, Malibu Hills: Site fee is $18,500 to $22,500. Catering through their exclusive partners starts at $100 per guest and goes up to $500 depending on the package. Rentals for the space run an additional $10,000 to $21,000.

• The Majestic Downtown, DTLA: Saturday rental is $20,000. Catering is completely separate. Bringing in an outside caterer adds $15 per person as a buyout fee.

That is how a venue that looks affordable online can become $40,000 to $45,000 before you have spoken to a single photographer or florist.

Thinking a backyard or raw space will solve it? Sometimes it helps. But if you book a private backyard in Woodland Hills, a raw warehouse in the Arts District, or a venue that only gives you the space, now you are the one bringing in every table, every chair, every linen, and sometimes even portable restrooms. That bill moves fast.

So before you fall in love with the room, ask this: "What is the full itemized total for my date and my guest count?"

What LA Vendor Quotes Are Missing From the Total

This is where a $10,000 quote stops being $10,000. Not because one huge surprise shows up, but because the first number usually leaves out the charges that come later.

Take a catering quote of $100 per person for 100 guests. On paper, that looks like $10,000. In Los Angeles, that number can move fast.

• Service charge at 20 to 25 percent: This goes to the venue or caterer, not your servers. On $10,000, that adds $2,000 to $2,500 right away.

• LA County sales tax at 10.25 percent: Add another $1,025 on the same base number.

• Gratuity: Usually separate from the service charge. Still expected at most venues, and often 15 to 20 percent of the food bill.

• Vendor meals: Your photographer, videographer, DJ, coordinator, and second shooter all need to eat. Plan for 5 to 8 vendor meals at $50 to $75 each, depending on what your caterer charges per plate.

• Overtime: If the event runs past the contracted end time, venues charge for it. Starting at $250 per hour is common.

That $100-per-person quote can turn into $135 to $145 per person before you have tipped anyone who actually served your guests.

And if you see $100+++ on a catering menu, do not guess what the plus signs mean. Ask what each one adds, in writing, before you agree to anything.

100-Person Wedding Cost Breakdown for Los Angeles

For a 100-person wedding in Los Angeles in 2026, this is what the full budget can look like:

Can you land below that? Yes. Kathleen and Ryan pulled off a 70-person wedding in Atwater Village for $14,083 by choosing a brewery venue, hiring a friend as their photographer for $500, and leaning heavily on family help for decor, flowers, and emceeing.

That kind of creativity is real, but it is not what most couples can or want to do.

For a 100-person LA wedding, the $43,000 to $55,000 range is where many couples start to land when they choose a real venue, keep the vendors they care about, and do not cut food and bar to the bone.

What Actually Decides the Final Cost of an LA Wedding

As we said earlier, the number usually moves because of three decisions. This is the part to keep in mind when you start comparing quotes.

• The venue you choose. A hotel may bundle catering and coordination, but the food and beverage minimum can push the bill above $15,000 before you add a single upgrade. A restaurant or brewery usually gives you a lower minimum and a more relaxed setup. A private estate or event space may give you the look, but now you may be bringing in tables, chairs, linens, generators, and portable restrooms yourself. That one choice can move the budget by $15,000 to $20,000 before anything else changes.

• What you serve and how. Plated dinner can cost $15 to $20 more per person than buffet service. An open bar costs more than beer and wine. For 100 guests, choosing buffet over plated can save $1,500 to $2,000 before service charges are added. Most guests do not care whether dinner was plated or buffet. They care whether the food was good and the bar line moved.

• Whether the venue includes rentals. If the venue does not include tables, chairs, linens, and a dance floor, those come from a rental company at a separate cost. For 100 guests, that can run $1,500 to $5,000 depending on chair style, floor size, and what else the space needs. This is one of those costs couples sometimes notice after the venue contract is already signed.

That is why two weddings with the same guest count can land in completely different places.

Where Rentals Fit and What They Cost

If your venue already includes tables, chairs, linens, and a dance floor, good. If it does not, do not leave that line until the end. This is where Del Rey comes in.

We have been supplying weddings and events across Los Angeles County since 2009. For a 100-person wedding and more. A rental order usually looks something like this:

• Chairs: Chiavari chairs for 100 guests, plus a 10 percent buffer, start at $8.50 per chair for Gold, $9.45 for Natural, Fruitwood, Mahogany, and Silver, and $10.75 for White and Black. For 110 chairs, that runs roughly $935 to $1,180 depending on the style.

• Dining tables: 13 sixty-inch round tables for 100 guests, at 8 guests per table, usually runs about $200 to $300.

• Cocktail tables: 8 to 10 high-top cocktail tables for cocktail hour usually runs about $100 to $150.

• Linens: Tablecloths for dining tables and cocktail tables usually run about $150 to $300.

• Dance floor: Size depends on guest flow. A 15x15 or 16x20 floor is standard for 100 guests. Pricing depends on the size and panel type.

• Lounge furniture: This depends on the setup. Two sofas, a low table, and a few ottomans for cocktail hour groupings is a common starting point.

Most 100-person rental orders for a seated dinner with dancing run between $1,500 and $4,000. Delivery and setup are separate services. Our minimum delivery order is $250. We require a 25 percent deposit to confirm the date, and full payment is due four days before delivery.

Get Your Rental Quote from Del Rey Party Rentals

We cover all of Los Angeles County and Southern California, from small private gatherings to large-scale productions. Browse the full inventory at delreypartyrentals.com, email events@delreypartyrentals.com, or call 310.676.6363. We are open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, and Saturday, 9 AM to 2 PM.

Bring your guest count, your venue, and your date. We will put together the right rental order for what you actually need.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the cheapest day to get married in Los Angeles? Friday and Sunday are usually cheaper than Saturday, often by 10 to 20 percent at many LA venues. January through March can also be easier on the budget because it is off-peak for a lot of properties.

Do most Los Angeles wedding venues include tables and chairs? Some do. All-inclusive venues usually include the basics. Mid-range venues may include tables and standard chairs, but not linens, a dance floor, or specialty seating. Blank-canvas spaces and private properties usually give you the space only. Everything else comes from a rental company.

How far in advance should I book vendors for an LA wedding? For a Saturday wedding between April and October, book the venue 12 to 18 months out. Photographers and planners often book 9 to 12 months ahead. For off-peak dates or weekdays, 6 to 9 months may be enough.

What is the biggest budgeting mistake couples make when planning an LA wedding? Setting a fixed budget before getting real quotes. Most couples adjust their number after seeing actual LA venue pricing. Get three or four venue quotes first, then build the rest of the budget around what the venue really costs.