Real Destination Wedding Cost Hotel Wedding in Positano
Budget Breakdown 30 Guests – €11,000
Boutique Hotel Wedding in Positano, Italy
For Australian/British couple C & J, the dream wedding location was always going to be Positano, their favourite city in the world. While Positano is one of the more expensive destinations on the Amalfi Coast, they were determined to stay within budget by making a few compromises: skipping a honeymoon suite and opting for a standard hotel room, and forgoing a DJ in favour of a reserved bar area after dinner.
Below C & J outline the cost of their hotel wedding in Positano and where their budget was spent.
Wedding Day Overview
C & J held their ceremony at 3:00pm, slightly earlier than the venue’s usual recommendation of 5:00pm, as the ceremony was held on a sun deck. However, since the wedding took place late in the season, they were able to negotiate the earlier time. After the ceremony, guests enjoyed canapés, champagne, and group photos, while the couple took private photos on the beach and through the town. The reception began at 5:00pm on the terrace and wound down around midnight.
Couples Tips & Advice
The first thing we did was submit a request to find a planner through Weddings Abroad Guide. We had quite a few responses and then found the perfect wedding planner, who held our hands for the next 2 years while we planned everything.
I joined a wedding group for Sorrento and Amalfi Coast weddings where I could also talk to future and past brides about their experiences with particular suppliers and compare experiences. It felt like a proper community and helped so much with planning.
The one thing I hadn’t thought of was how many people were staying the night after the wedding and the fact they all wanted to have dinner with us. Luckily we managed to find a restaurant that could seat 20 as it was end of season but definitely something to consider!
Total Cost: *€11,000 (Euro)
* (The cost of this wedding was heavily discounted, see average COST for 2025/2026 wedding in Positano, below.)
Wedding Details
Location: Positano, Italy
Date: October 2019
Number of Guests: 30
Ceremony Venue: Hotel Marincanto, Positano (Symbolic Ceremony)
Ceremony Start Time: 3:00pm
Reception Venue: Hotel Marincanto, Positano: Boutique Hotel
Reception Start Time: 5:00pm
Number of Days at Wedding Location Prior to Wedding: 3 days
Total Number of Days at Wedding Location: 6 days
Pre Wedding Activities: Cocktails and Canapes at La Zagara
Post Wedding Activities: Boat hire to Capri
Planning Method: Wedding Planner (Part Planning) & DIY planning
How Long to Plan Wedding: 20 Months
Wedding Budget Breakdown
Ceremony Venue: €1,000
Wedding Paperwork & Legal Fees: $230(AUD) Registry Office, Australia
Catering: €3,300
Beverages: €600
Wedding Cake: Paid for by mother in-law
Photography: €1,700
Wedding Flowers Bridal Party: €250
Wedding Flowers Ceremony & Reception Venue: €500
Ceremony Musicians: €500
Hair Stylist: €225
Make-Up Artist: €225
Wedding Stationery: €250
Pre Wedding Activity: €550
Post Wedding Activity: €250
Other: €550 (presents for bridal party)
Transport & Accommodation
Flights: €600
Accommodation: €1,500
Wedding Planning & Budget Advice
Did you manage to stick to your wedding budget? Yes
Did you spend more or less than your initial wedding budget? More
Would you recommend your method of planning? Yes
When planning your wedding abroad what were you not willing to compromise on? Location – even though Positano was more expensive we managed to keep in budget by compromising on other things.
Honeymoon & Home Party
Honeymoon Location: 2 month Europe travel (Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Germany & Austria)
Did you have a Home Party: Yes
Note From the Wedding Planner
From the Wedding Planner:
This hotel wedding in Positano was heavily discounted due to being scheduled at the end of the Italian wedding season. Suppliers were more flexible with pricing. It’s important to understand that post-COVID prices have increased significantly, and discounts like these may no longer be available.
Always compare like for like when reviewing wedding cost information: time of year, planning level (bespoke vs package), meal style, and cake type can all make a big difference.
Below is an updated range of prices that you should expect for a destination wedding in Positano.
Updated Hotel Wedding in Positano Cost (2025 / 2026)
Ceremony Venue: €2,000 – €7,000 Venues in Positano are typically on the higher end, especially for exclusive use locations or those with panoramic views.
Catering: €150 – €200 per person
Beverages: €50 – €100 per person
Wedding Cake: €500 – €1,500 Custom-designed cakes with intricate details can be on the higher end.
Photography: €3,000 – €12,000
Videography: €3,000 – €10,000 Opting for a combined photo and video package can be more cost-effective.
Flowers (Bridal Party): €800
Lighting & Décor: €3,500 – €9,000 Utilising seasonal and local flowers can help manage costs.
Live Musicians: €500 – €2,500
Wedding Band: €5,000 – €15,000 The choice between a string quartet for the ceremony and a full band for the reception will influence the budget.
Hair & Makeup:€300 – €1,000 Including trials and services for the bridal party can increase this cost.
Wedding Stationery: €500 – €2,000
Pre Wedding Activity: €1,000 – €3,000
Post Wedding Activity: €1,000 – €5,000 These activities can include welcome dinners, boat trips, or farewell brunches.
Wedding Planning Fee: Full Service Planning €4,000 – €12,000 Engaging a planner familiar with the region can streamline the planning process.
Transportation: €800 – €1,000 Guests Shuttle Bus. Costs vary based on the number of trips and distances involved.
Total Budget Estimate for Positano Wedding
Low-End: €25,000 – €35,000
High-End: €50,000 – €70,000+
The final cost will depend on choices regarding guest count, venue exclusivity, and selected services.
Wedding Photography: The Bros
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