What a Portland wedding really costs.

Venue

Starting at $4,500–$7,000 for Portland Metro; $7,000+ for Hood River/Gorge venues. Popular or in-demand venues can run $10,000–$15,000 or more.

Catering

$75 per guest is the minimum for a licensed, insured, and properly staffed caterer. For a seated dinner with full service, budget $100–$150 per guest. For 75 guests, that’s $7,500–$11,250 for food alone before bar.

Bar service

Because of state and local liquor licensing laws, hiring a mobile bartender looks a little different than hiring a traditional caterer. In Oregon, anyone mixing, pouring, or serving alcohol must hold a valid OLCC service permit, and many venues require an insured bartending company regardless of what state law strictly mandates. Ask your venue for their bar requirements in writing before you book anyone. Here is how bartending services and costs are usually structured.

The “dry hire” model, and why you buy the alcohol

Most mobile bartending companies operate as a “dry hire.” They provide the professional staff, bartending tools, custom menu planning, and calculations, but they can’t legally sell you the alcohol itself.

If your venue has an in-house bar, expect a bar minimum instead: a set dollar amount you pay regardless of how much your guests actually drink.

Typical pricing structures

When you review quotes, you’ll usually see bartenders price their work in one of three ways:

Photography

Starting at $2,500 for 6–8 hours from a licensed, insured Portland-area photographer with documented experience and full gallery delivery. Mid-range photographers run $3,500–$5,000. In-demand and editorial photographers start at $6,000–$6,500+ for 8 hours.

Most packages do not include retouching; budget an additional $100/hour if requested. The photographer you fall in love with on Instagram will almost certainly be at the higher end of this range.

Videography

$2,500–$6,000+ for a professional wedding videographer with full-day coverage and edited highlight film delivery. Videography is one of the most commonly regretted skips. Photos capture the look of your wedding, but video captures the sound, the movement, and the feeling. In-demand videographers in Portland book just as far in advance as photographers.

DJ & MC

$1,500 minimum for ceremony, MC, and reception coverage, though some companies start at $1,250 for a 4-hour package. Additional hours are typically billed at $200–$250/hour. A full evening reception of 5–6 hours runs $1,500–$2,000 for a mid-range DJ. Experienced, in-demand DJs run $2,500–$3,500.

Party lighting is almost always a separate add-on: uplights, moving heads, lasers, and dance floor lighting packages typically run $350–$900+ depending on the setup. If you want your venue to feel like a real dance party, budget for lighting separately.

Hair & makeup

$200–$400 per person is the starting range for a licensed, experienced artist, but in-demand and highly sought-after hair and makeup artists in the Portland market run $500–$700+ per person. Trials (a separate appointment at full price), travel fees, and early morning fees add to the total.

A real-world example: a party of five at a recent Higher Love wedding came to $2,925, before the trial. For a couple plus a wedding party of four, budget $2,500–$5,000+ depending on the artist. If you have your heart set on a specific aesthetic or a particular artist whose work you’ve seen on Instagram, book early and budget accordingly. The best ones fill up a year or more in advance.

Florals

Starting at $2,500 for a simple, minimal look. A full floral installation with ceremony arch, centerpieces, and personal flowers runs $5,000–$10,000+.

Officiant

$300–$600 for a licensed, experienced officiant who will meet with you in advance, help craft your ceremony, and file your marriage license. Many couples choose to have a friend or family member officiate instead. Oregon makes this easy, as anyone can become ordained online through organizations like Universal Life Church at no cost.

Either way works beautifully. What matters is that whoever is standing up there knows you, means it, and has a valid Oregon officiant registration on file before the ceremony.

Transportation

$500–$2,500+ depending on distance, vehicle type, and number of runs. If your ceremony and reception are at different locations, or if you’re hosting out-of-town guests, budget for shuttle service. Guest transportation is both a hospitality gesture and a safety measure when alcohol is being served.

Cake & desserts

$500–$1,500+ for a custom wedding cake from a Portland bakery. Price varies by tier count, design complexity, and flavor. If you’re doing a dessert table or alternative to cake, budget similarly.

Stationery

Printed save the dates, invitations, envelopes, and day-of signage can run $300–$1,500+ depending on paper stock, printing method, and design complexity. But digital is worth considering seriously. E-save the dates and e-invitations are more sustainable than paper goods, reduce paper waste, and eliminate the carbon footprint of mailing hundreds of envelopes across the country. They also cost significantly less.

Your Higher Love planning package includes digital save the date and invitation templates designed to match your decor, plus matching day-of signage templates. I create your signage files in Canva, and you order prints directly through Canva, with no third-party print shop required. If you love the look of paper goods, budget $500–$1,500 for a print run. If you go digital, your stationery cost drops to near zero.

Attire & alterations

Easy to underestimate. Dress alterations alone run $300–$800. Budget separately for attire, accessories, and alterations for both partners.

Gratuity & incidentals

Budget at least $1,200 for tips, unexpected costs, and day-of incidentals. Tipping vendors is standard practice and is not included in most vendor contracts.