TL;DR: A 100-guest wedding in San Antonio typically runs $28,000 – $52,000 all-in, with most couples landing near $38,000 ($380 per guest). Catering and venue together eat about 50% of that — everything else (photo, flowers, attire, music, stationery) splits the remaining half.
Useful summary
San Antonio is one of the more affordable major Texas wedding markets — meaningfully cheaper than Austin or Dallas, and slightly under Houston for comparable venues. For 100 guests, your spend is driven by three things:
- Where you host it — a downtown Riverwalk venue vs. a Hill Country ranch can swing your budget by $10,000+.
- What season you book — March–May and October–November are peak; January, July, and August are 15–25% cheaper.
- Bar program — full open bar adds roughly $40–$70 per guest over beer-and-wine only.
Plan for a 15% contingency on top of your working budget. Tax (8.25% in San Antonio) and 18–22% gratuity on catering are the line items that catch couples off guard.
Variable data table
Realistic allocation for a 100-guest San Antonio wedding at three budget tiers:
| Category | Lean ($28K) | Average ($38K) | Elevated ($52K) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Venue (site fee) | $3,500 | $6,000 | $10,000 |
| Catering + bar | $9,000 | $13,500 | $19,000 |
| Photography | $2,800 | $4,000 | $6,000 |
| Videography | $1,500 | $2,500 | $4,000 |
| Florals + decor | $2,200 | $3,500 | $5,500 |
| Attire (both partners) | $1,800 | $2,800 | $4,500 |
| Music (DJ or band) | $1,200 | $1,800 | $3,500 |
| Cake + desserts | $500 | $800 | $1,200 |
| Stationery + signage | $400 | $700 | $1,200 |
| Officiant + ceremony | $400 | $600 | $900 |
| Hair + makeup | $600 | $900 | $1,400 |
| Transportation | $400 | $700 | $1,300 |
| Rentals + lighting | $1,200 | $2,000 | $3,500 |
| Per-guest cost | $280 | $380 | $520 |
These numbers assume a Saturday evening reception with seated dinner. Brunch, lunch, or Sunday weddings typically come in 15–20% lower.
Local context
Venue types and price drivers. San Antonio splits roughly into four venue zones:
- Downtown / Riverwalk (The St. Anthony, Hotel Emma, Pearl District spaces) — premium pricing, $8,000–$15,000 site fees, but most vendors and hotel blocks are walkable.
- Hill Country / Boerne / Fair Oaks Ranch — barns, ranches, and vineyards at $4,000–$9,000, but factor in guest transportation (~$500–$1,200 for a shuttle).
- Stone Oak / North Side — country clubs and event centers at $3,500–$7,000, often with in-house catering that simplifies vendor coordination.
- Mission Reach / Southtown — historic and creative spaces with character at $2,500–$6,000.
Climate. May through September brings serious heat (90s–100s°F) and humidity. Outdoor ceremonies in this window need shade, fans, or a cocktail-hour timing shift to dusk — budget $300–$800 for fans, parasols, or tent sidewalls.
Catering. San Antonio caterers commonly quote $75–$130 per person for plated dinners and $55–$95 for buffet or family-style. Tex-Mex and BBQ caterers (Rosario's, The Granary, Bill Miller) tend to land 20–30% under traditional plated service.
Tax and service. Sales tax is 8.25%. Most full-service caterers add 20% service plus 8.25% tax, which adds ~28% to the food and beverage subtotal — make sure your quotes are clear about this.
Internal links
- Build your full numbers in the Wedding Budget Calculator.
- Read the full Wedding Budget Guide for category-by-category negotiation tips.
- Compare to nearby Texas markets: Houston, 25 guests, Houston, 50 guests, Houston, 75 guests.
- Sequence your spending against the Wedding Checklist Guide.
Tool CTA
The numbers above are a starting point. To get a budget tuned to your venue zone, season, and bar plan, run your details through the calculator — it'll flag where you're over the San Antonio median and where you have room.
FAQ
How much should I budget per guest for a San Antonio wedding?
Plan on $280–$520 per guest all-in, with $380 as a realistic median. Per-guest cost actually drops as guest count rises because fixed costs (photographer, DJ, venue minimum) get spread thinner — a 50-guest wedding often runs $450+ per head.
Is San Antonio cheaper than Austin for weddings?
Yes, meaningfully. Comparable venues and vendors in San Antonio run 20–30% less than Austin, and Hill Country venues on the San Antonio side (Boerne, Bulverde) are typically $2,000–$5,000 cheaper than equivalent properties around Dripping Springs or Driftwood.
What's the cheapest month to get married in San Antonio?
January, July, and August are the value months. January is cold-snap risk but quiet; July and August are hot but venues often discount Saturdays by 15–25%. February (around Valentine's) and December (around the holidays) can also offer midweek deals.
How much should I set aside for the bar?
For 100 guests over a 4–5 hour reception, expect $3,500–$7,000. Beer and wine only runs $25–$40 per guest; full open bar is $55–$95 per guest. Bringing your own alcohol (where allowed) with a licensed bartending service can cut this 30–40%.
Do I need a wedding planner for a 100-guest San Antonio wedding?
A month-of coordinator ($1,200–$2,200 in San Antonio) is worth it for nearly every 100-guest wedding — they manage the timeline, vendor arrivals, and family logistics on the day. Full-service planning ($5,000–$12,000) makes sense if you're planning from out of town or hosting at a raw-space venue.
What hidden costs should I plan for?
The big ones: service charges (18–22% on catering), sales tax (8.25%), vendor meals ($25–$45 each for 8–15 people), gratuities ($500–$1,500 in cash on the day), alterations ($300–$800), and marriage license ($81 in Bexar County). Together these typically add 12–18% to your "headline" budget.
How far in advance should I book vendors in San Antonio?
Lock your venue 9–14 months out for peak season (March–May, October–November). Photographers and popular caterers go 8–12 months out. DJs, florists, and HMU artists are usually fine at 4–6 months, though the best ones book earlier.
Sources
- The Knot 2024 Real Weddings Study
- WeddingWire Cost Guide — San Antonio metro
- Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts (sales tax rates)
- Bexar County Clerk (marriage license fees)
Related
- Wedding Budget Calculator
- Wedding Budget Guide
- Houston Wedding Budget for 25 Guests
- Houston Wedding Budget for 50 Guests
- Houston Wedding Budget for 75 Guests
- Wedding Checklist Guide
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