Civil Wedding Budgets and Costs in the Philippines

Couple planning a civil wedding budget with laptop calculator and receipts

Guide
5 mins read

Use this budget playbook to plan a simple city hall ceremony or a micro wedding with photos and styling. Prices vary by LGU and by supplier so treat the numbers as planning ranges and confirm locally.

What drives the total cost

LGU fees marriage license seminar posting and certified copies
Officiant fee higher for non residents and offsite setups
Suppliers photographer HMUA bouquet styling and small venue
Timing weekday vs weekend peak dates and lead time
Travel parking and quick reception after the ceremony

Realistic price ranges

Item	Typical range
Marriage license and LCR fees	₱300 to ₱2,000
Pre marriage seminar if charged	₱0 to ₱800
Document procurement two persons	₱1,000 to ₱3,500
Officiant city hall weekday	₱0 to ₱4,000
Officiant offsite within LGU	₱2,000 to ₱8,000
Small venue or room rental optional	₱2,000 to ₱12,000
Photographer 1 to 2 hours	₱3,500 to ₱12,000
HMUA one person	₱2,000 to ₱6,000
Bouquet and boutonniere	₱800 to ₱3,000
Simple styling or arch rental	₱2,500 to ₱10,000
Transport parking tips	₱300 to ₱1,500
Quick lunch for 6 to 12 guests	₱2,500 to ₱8,000

Couple comparing three sample wedding budgets on printed cards

Sample budgets to copy

Ultra simple 5k to 10k

LGU fees and basic documents
City hall ceremony weekday
Two witnesses and a friend taking photos
No venue rental lunch at a nearby cafe

Estimated total ₱5,000 to ₱10,000

Practical add ons 10k to 30k

One to two hour photo package
HMUA for one person
Bouquet and boutonniere
Lunch with family

Estimated total ₱12,000 to ₱30,000

Micro wedding feel 30k plus

Offsite permit or small venue
Two to four hour photo coverage
HMUA for two persons
Compact arch or backdrop with florals
Intimate catered meal

Estimated total ₱30,000 to ₱80,000

Couple reviewing a checklist of hidden wedding costs with sticky notes

Hidden costs to watch

Rush or weekend surcharge for officiant or suppliers
Early morning HMUA start fee
Travel or parking fees for suppliers
Extra headcount at venue beyond package
Reprint of documents due to name mismatches
Overtime for photos beyond contracted hours

Ways to save without losing quality

Book a weekday and a morning slot
Choose a civil mini photo package 60 to 90 minutes
Do light DIY styling ribbon bouquet or dried florals
Use a cafe or condo function room for a short lunch
Share a simple shot list to keep coverage tight
Pick a location with easy parking to reduce delays

Couple selecting worthwhile wedding upgrades photo time HMUA and small backdrop

Upgrade ideas worth paying for

Extra 30 minutes of portrait time after the ceremony
Professional HMUA for lasting makeup in humid weather
A small backdrop that fits city hall rooms for clean photos
Second bouquet for toss so main bouquet stays fresh

Payment timeline guide

Milestone	Typical terms
Booking fee or retainer	20 to 50 percent to reserve the date
Balance for suppliers	Due on event day or 1 to 3 days before
Officiant fee or honorarium	Paid on site after ceremony unless prepaid
Venue security deposit	Refundable after inspection if applicable

Rescheduling and refunds

Check if retainers are non refundable
Ask about one free move within a set window
Keep proof of payments and written approvals
Confirm new dates with all suppliers before announcing to guests

Vendor comparison checklist

Package inclusions length of coverage edited photos file delivery
Travel fees call times and waiting limits
Overtime rates and upgrade options
Payment schedule and acceptable methods
Reschedule policy and contact person on the day

Plug and play budget worksheet

Copy this and fill in your numbers

LGU fees
Document costs for two persons
Officiant city hall or offsite
Venue or room rental optional
Photographer package
HMUA package and travel
Bouquet boutonniere and optional styling
Transport parking and tips
Lunch or mini reception
Contingency 10 to 15 percent

Projected total add all lines then add contingency

Two sample quote messages you can send

For a photographer
Hello. We need a civil wedding mini in Quezon City on Friday 18 October. One and a half hours coverage from 9 30 am to 11 00 am. Please share rate inclusions meet point and delivery timeline.

For an officiant
Good day Judge or Mayor. We plan a civil ceremony on Friday 18 October at the city hall session room. We are residents and have our license. Kindly confirm availability official fee or honorarium and any requirements.