How Much Does a Malayalee Christian Wedding Cost in America?
Weddings in the Malayalee/Keralite Christian community can be expensive. But that’s expected when the average guest list is 400 people.
How much should you expect to spend for your big day?
We got real wedding costs from 35 brides and grooms from the Orthodox, Catholic, CSI, Pentecostal, Mar Thoma, Syro-Malabar, Knanaya, and Brethren churches in the U.S.
In this report, we’ve broken down the ranges and averages for various costs of the ceremony and reception of Malayalee Christian weddings.
Interested in finding vendors who specialize in American Malayalee/Keralite Christian Weddings? Check out our Vendor Marketplace.
đź’Ś The Guest List
Guests
The average number of guests for Malayalee Christian weddings in America is 400, ranging from 100-750 guests.
Bridal Party
The average bridal party was 14 people (including groomsmen and bridesmaids), ranging from 4-22 combined people.
Invitations/Save-The-Dates
The combined costs for invitations and save-the-dates ranged from $1,600-2,100.
đź’„ Getting Ready
Hair and Makeup
The average cost of hair and makeup was $1,395, ranging from $125-4,000.
Wedding Dress
The average wedding dress was $1,910 and dresses ranged between $400-5,000.
Manthrakodi
The average manthrakodi was $833, ranging between $250-2,390.
Jewelry
The average cost of jewelry ranged between $100-23,300.
Groom’s Tux
The average suit/tuxedo for the groom was $554, ranging between $150-2,500.
Bridesmaid Sarees
The average saree per bridesmaid was $126.
Groomsman Suits
The average suit per groosman was $184.
Draping
The average cost for saree draping services ranged between $100-1,000.
Stiching
The average cost for stitching services ranged between $25-800.
⛪️ Ceremony Costs
Church
The cost of the church venue was $1,200 on average, ranging from $300-3,000.
Chief Celebrant
The chief celebrant was paid $595 on average, ranging from $200-1,000.
The total cost of other clergy varied between $150-2,000.
Choir
The choir cost $820 on average, ranging from $200-2,000.
Service Books
Service books were sometimes provided by the Church. Those who provided their own books paid between $50-1,000.
🎉 Reception Costs
Reception Venue
The average cost of a reception venue, including food/drinks/alcohol, was $38,900.
When dividing the average venue cost by the number of guests, the cost per plate came out to $115 on average.
On average, for weddings that included it, alcohol was 17% of the total cost for venue, food, and drinks.
Receptions that occurred during the day (with a starting time between 11AM-4PM) were $11,000 less on average than evening weddings (with a starting time between 5PM-9PM).
DJ/Entertainment
The average combined cost for DJs, MCs, and Entertainment was $3,007, ranging from $600-6,000.
Adding a chanda or dhol to the celebration can add up to $3,000.
Cake
While some reception venues include a complimentary cake, the average price for a wedding cake is $667, ranging from $100-2,400.
Limo/Bus
Limos and busses were $1,535 on average, ranging from $200-3,000.
đź“· Miscellaneous Costs
Photographer
The average cost of a photographer was $4,302. For some couples this included the cost of the album and shooting the engagement.
Videographer
The average cost of a videographer was $3,072.
Florist + Decorator
The combined cost for a florist and decorator was $6,382 on average, ranging from $2,000-16,000.
Wedding Coordinator
One couple shared that they paid $1,500 for a wedding coordinator.
Mylanchi/Henna Party
One couple shared that their mylanchi cost $1,000.
Rehearsal Dinner
Two couples shared their rehearsal dinners cost $3,000-5,000.
Other Costs to Be Conscious Of
We’ve covered many common costs but there are many that we haven’t included like wedding favors, the minnu, a wedding lunch, place cards, tips, and more. Hopefully, these numbers can provide a good mental baseline for how much you can expect to pay for your wedding.
Summary
Interested in getting cost estimates from vendors who specialize in Malayalee Christian Weddings? Check out our Vendor Marketplace.
