Filipino Wedding Budget Breakdown (2026): What Things Actually Cost
A realistic Filipino wedding budget breakdown for 2026, with typical percentages for venue, catering, and suppliers, plus how to track every peso without a spreadsheet.
By The STEVEN team ·
A typical Filipino wedding in 2026 costs roughly PHP 350,000 to PHP 1,200,000 for 100 to 150 guests, depending on the city and venue. Catering and venue together usually eat 50 to 60 percent of the budget, so locking those two down first is the single biggest lever you have for keeping the total under control.
How a Filipino wedding budget usually splits
These percentages are a planning starting point, not a rule. Reception-heavy celebrations skew higher on catering; church weddings with a separate reception venue skew higher on venue and logistics.
| Category | Typical share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Catering (food + drinks) | 30-40% | Usually priced per head |
| Venue + reception | 15-25% | Church donation is separate |
| Photo + video | 8-12% | Books up 9-12 months out |
| Attire + glam | 6-10% | Gown, barong, HMUA |
| Coordination | 5-8% | On-the-day vs full planning |
| Flowers + styling | 5-8% | Scales with venue size |
| Entertainment + AV | 3-6% | Band, mobile bar, lights |
| Invitations + stationery | 2-4% | Print + digital RSVP |
| Cake + favors | 2-4% | Per-guest cost |
| Contingency | 5-10% | Always keep this |
Start with the two numbers that drive everything
Two inputs decide your whole budget: your total ceiling and your final headcount. Catering is priced per head, so every guest you add multiplies across food, seats, favors, and invitations. Trimming a guest list by 20 people often saves more than negotiating any single supplier.
- Set a realistic ceiling you can fund without debt.
- Estimate headcount, then subtract 10-15% for typical RSVP decline.
- Divide the catering portion by headcount to sanity-check your per-head spend.
Track every peso as you go
Quotes drift, suppliers ask for staggered deposits, and the "small" extras (corkage, overtime, extra pax) are where budgets quietly blow up. Track committed vs. paid vs. remaining per category, not just one running total. STEVEN's budget tracker keeps planned, actual, and balance side by side, and ties expenses to suppliers so nothing slips through.
If you are currently planning in Excel, you can import what you already have. Here is an honest look at STEVEN vs spreadsheets for budget tracking.
Common budget mistakes to avoid
- Forgetting corkage, service charge, and supplier meals.
- No contingency line (aim for 5-10%).
- Paying deposits with no tracking of what is still owed.
- Counting invited guests instead of expected attendees.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget per guest?
Divide your catering and reception allocation by your expected headcount. For most 2026 Metro Manila weddings that lands around PHP 1,800 to PHP 3,500 per head once you include food, drinks, and the seat.
When do most suppliers need deposits?
Photographers, venues, and caterers typically take a reservation deposit at booking (often 9-12 months out), then a second payment 30-60 days before the date, with the balance on or just before the day.
Should I get a coordinator if money is tight?
At minimum, book on-the-day coordination. It is one of the cheapest ways to protect the much larger amounts you have already spent on venue, catering, and suppliers.
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