About 40% of couples exceeded wedding budget, top reason being "upgraded food and drinks"

About 40% of weddings exceeded the planned budget; top reason for overspending was "upgraded food and drinks"

A wedding is a significant milestone in life. While many couples wish to realize their ideal wedding, costs are naturally a major concern.

When preparing for a wedding, it's common for actual expenses to differ from the original budget.

So, how closely do wedding costs typically align with initial budgets?

To explore this, NEXER Inc. and AILES FORTUNA (Eile Forutuna) jointly conducted a survey on "wedding costs and budgets" targeting 200 men and women across Japan who responded in a preliminary survey that they had previously held a wedding ceremony.

※ When referencing the content of this press release, please comply with the following:

・ Indicate the source as "a survey by NEXER Inc. and AILES FORTUNA (Eile Forutuna)"

・ Include a link to AILES FORTUNA (Eile Forutuna) (https://ailes-fortuna.jp/)

Survey Overview: "Wedding Costs and Budgets"

Method: Online questionnaire

Survey period: June 16, 2026 – June 23, 2026

Respondents: Men and women across Japan who answered "have held a wedding" in a preliminary survey

Valid responses: 200 samples

Survey questions:

Question 1: What was the total budget you and your partner set for your wedding?

Question 2: What was the most influential factor when setting your wedding budget?

Question 3: How did your actual wedding costs compare to your original budget?

Question 4: What were the main reasons for exceeding your budget? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 5: Which wedding cost categories did you particularly prioritize or feel you could not cut? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 6: Please explain why you prioritized or did not want to cut these items.

Question 7: Overall, do you feel your wedding expenses provided "value beyond the price"?

Question 8: Please explain why you feel this way.

※ Percentages are rounded to the nearest whole number, so totals may not sum to exactly 100%.

34.0% set their total wedding budget between "1 million and under 2 million yen"

First, we asked respondents who had held a wedding about the total budget they set with their partner.

The most common response was "1 million yen or more but under 2 million yen" at 34.0%.

This was followed by "2 million yen or more but under 3 million yen" at 32.0%, "under 1 million yen" at 18.0%, and "3 million yen or more but under 4 million yen" at 11.0%.

Wedding budgets are concentrated between 1 million and 3 million yen, indicating that most couples plan within a realistic financial range.

While budgets vary depending on scale and personal preferences, it's clear that couples are planning according to their own financial comfort.

54.0% said the most influential factor in setting their budget was "quotations and proposals from the wedding venue"

Next, we asked respondents about the most influential factor when setting their wedding budget.

The top response was "quotations and proposals from the wedding venue" at 54.0%.

This was followed by "mutual discussion and independent decision" at 21.0%, and "advice or financial support from parents or relatives" at 12.5%.

More than half of respondents based their budget on quotations and proposals from wedding venues.

Wedding costs involve many items, making it difficult to gauge market rates independently.

Therefore, it appears most couples rely on venue proposals to structure their overall budget.

39.5% said their actual costs "exceeded the budget"

Next, we asked respondents how their actual wedding costs compared to their original budget.

The largest group, 60.5%, said costs "stayed within budget."

Meanwhile, 35.5% said costs "slightly exceeded" the budget and 4.0% said costs "greatly exceeded" it, totaling 39.5% who overspent.

While most couples managed to stay within budget, a significant number experienced cost overruns due to added elements or personal preferences.

It appears that during the process of realizing their ideal wedding, discrepancies between estimates and actual costs are common.

45.6% cited "upgraded food and drinks" as the top reason for exceeding the budget

Next, we asked those who exceeded their budget about the main reasons for overspending.

The top reason was "upgraded food and drinks" at 45.6%.

This was followed by "being particular about wedding favors and gifts" at 20.3%, and "increase in number of guests" at 17.7%.

Top reasons for overspending—"upgraded food and drinks," "attention to wedding favors and gifts," and "increased number of guests"—all relate to hospitality toward guests.

This suggests that spending increased due to a desire to provide guests with a better experience.

Wedding budgets may tend to expand alongside feelings of gratitude and hospitality.

51.5% said they particularly prioritized or did not want to cut "food and drinks"

Next, we asked respondents about which cost categories they particularly prioritized or felt they could not cut.

The top response was "food and drinks" at 51.5%, exceeding half of respondents.

This was followed by "attire (wedding dress, tuxedo, etc.)" at 18.0% and "wedding favors and gifts" at 9.0%.

We also collected reasons why these items were prioritized or considered non-negotiable. A selection:

Respondents who chose "food and drinks":

・ "I believe the highlight of a wedding is the food." (Female, 30s)

・ "I feel guest satisfaction is directly linked to the food." (Male, 30s)

・ "We had to accommodate a guest's allergies." (Male, 50s)

Respondents who chose "wedding favors and gifts":

・ "My mother-in-law strongly insisted on certain wedding favors." (Female, 40s)

・ "I wanted guests to be satisfied." (Female, 50s)

・ "It's a way to express gratitude to those who attended." (Male, 70s)

Respondents who chose "attire (wedding dress, tuxedo, etc.)":

・ "You only wear it once." (Male, 30s)

・ "It's my wife's once-in-a-lifetime special moment, so I wanted her to have what she liked." (Male, 40s)

・ "I absolutely wanted to insist on the dress design." (Female, 50s)

"Food and drinks" was the most frequently cited category that couples did not want to cut, aligning with the top reason for budget overruns, indicating it's a particularly important area.

Responses about "food and drinks" often mentioned "directly linked to guest satisfaction" and "accommodating allergies," highlighting a focus on hospitality. Food and drinks appear to be the most visible expression of the hosts' hospitality at a wedding.

Meanwhile, responses about "attire" emphasized "worn only once" and "the bride's special moment," reflecting a desire to cherish personal memories.

Responses about "wedding favors and gifts" revealed that family opinions, such as "mother-in-law's insistence," can also influence decisions.

It's clear that wedding budget allocations reflect a blend of guest considerations, personal memories, and family sentiments.

72.0% felt their wedding expenses provided "value beyond the price"

Finally, we asked respondents whether they felt their wedding expenses provided "value beyond the price."

Results showed 14.5% "strongly agree" and 57.5% "somewhat agree," totaling 72.0% who felt they received value beyond the price.

Meanwhile, 24.5% said they "don't really agree" and 3.5% said they "completely disagree."

We also collected reasons for these feelings. A selection:

Reasons for feeling "value beyond the price":

・ "It was such a wonderful experience that I feel it was worth it." (Male, 30s)

・ "Because the food was delicious." (Female, 40s)

・ "Although it was expensive, I'm satisfied because it wasn't just about us, but also about those who celebrated with us." (Male, 50s)

・ "Everyone, including us, had a great time." (Male, 30s)

・ "It remains as a lifelong memory." (Female, 40s)

Reasons for not feeling "value beyond the price":

・ "The cost breakdown was unclear." (Male, 30s)

・ "Looking back, I realized there were ways to reduce costs." (Female, 40s)

・ "For a single day, the amount seems extremely high." (Female, 50s)

Over 70% felt their wedding provided value equal to or exceeding the cost.

Those who felt they received "value beyond the price" mentioned "lifelong memories," "a wonderful experience," and "satisfaction considering those who celebrated," indicating deep emotional satisfaction beyond monetary value.

It appears weddings are perceived as meaningful experiences beyond their cost.

However, some who "don't really agree" mentioned "unclear cost breakdown," "could have been cheaper," and "too expensive for one day," suggesting some struggled with cost transparency and perceived value.

These results suggest that to increase satisfaction, it's important not only to enhance the wedding experience but also to ensure clear understanding of cost breakdowns and justifications.

A wedding planned with full understanding of costs may lead to a more satisfying and memorable experience.

Summary

This survey found that 39.5% of respondents exceeded their wedding budget.

The most common reason for overspending was "upgraded food and drinks," and "food and drinks" was also the most prioritized category, chosen by over half of respondents.

The findings suggest that the desire to provide excellent hospitality to guests often leads to increased costs.

Nevertheless, 72.0% felt they received "value beyond the price," suggesting that lifelong memories and guests' smiles contribute to satisfaction beyond monetary cost.

Weddings appear to be events where, despite budget constraints and ideal aspirations, most people find a satisfying balance.

Clarifying priorities early and discussing plans with trusted partners may lead to a more satisfying wedding day.

<When using in articles or other media>

・ Indicate the source as "a survey by NEXER Inc. and AILES FORTUNA (Eile Forutuna)"

・ Include a link to AILES FORTUNA (Eile Forutuna) (https://ailes-fortuna.jp/)

【About AILES FORTUNA (Eile Forutuna)】

Address: 14-1 Hashira 4-chome, Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture 441-8051

TEL: 0532-47-1122

Business activities: Operation of wedding venues, marriage and funeral services, marriage and funeral mutual aid association

Has supported weddings in Toyohashi for over 40 years.

【About NEXER Inc.】

Headquarters: 11F, Rize Arena Building, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013

Representative Director: Yuya Miyata

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

Business activities: SEO, web branding, web advertising, website production, media