· Affordable Weddings · 3 min read
How Much Does It Cost to Get Married on the Gold Coast?
The legal minimum, a real elopement, and a small wedding, costed line by line for the Gold Coast, from $820 for the cheapest legal marriage.
The honest answer is that getting married on the Gold Coast can cost as little as $820, or as much as you like. The difference is almost never the legal marriage. It is everything people build around it.
This guide costs out three realistic ways to get married on the Gold Coast, line by line, so you can see where the money actually goes.
The legal minimum: from $820
To be legally married in Australia you need an authorised celebrant, a Notice of Intended Marriage lodged at least a month before, two adult witnesses, and both of you there in person. That is it. No venue, no guests, no dress code.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Paperwork-only marriage with us | $820 |
| Witnesses | $0 if you bring two adults, or $130 for our witness service |
| Location | $0 in a park, at home, or at a quiet lookout |
| Official Queensland certificate | Current Queensland BDM fee, or $70 for us to order it |
| Typical total | About $820 to $1,100 |
This is the Gold Coast equivalent of a registry or courthouse wedding, without the drive to the Brisbane Registry.
A proper elopement: about $3,000 to $5,500
An elopement is still just the two of you, or a handful of people, but it feels like a wedding moment rather than an appointment.
| Item | Typical Gold Coast cost |
|---|---|
| Elopement ceremony with us | $1,800 |
| Photographer, one to three hours | $800 to $2,500 |
| Bouquet and buttonhole | $150 to $400 |
| Outfit | Whatever you already love, or budget your own |
| Dinner for two to six people | $150 to $800 |
| Typical total | About $2,900 to $5,500 |
Popular spots are Burleigh Heads, Currumbin Rock, Snapper Rocks, the Broadwater, and the hinterland around Springbrook. See our local spots guide.
A small wedding with guests: about $9,000 to $22,000
Once guests arrive, costs scale with headcount. The celebrant is one of the few fixed costs.
| Item | Typical Gold Coast cost |
|---|---|
| Wedding ceremony with us | $2,200 |
| Venue and catering, 30 to 50 guests | $4,000 to $12,000 |
| Photographer, four to six hours | $2,000 to $4,000 |
| Flowers and simple styling | $500 to $2,000 |
| Music | $0 to $1,500 |
| Typical total | About $8,700 to $21,700 |
Ranges are indicative only. Supplier prices vary with season, day of the week, and how many hours you book, so always get written quotes.
Where Gold Coast couples overspend
- Paying for a ceremony venue they only use for 20 minutes. A beach or park often does the job for free.
- Booking all-day photography for a two-hour event. Short coverage is fine for small weddings.
- Trying to shrink a big wedding instead of designing a small one. Read our budget moves.
- Leaving the NOIM too late, then paying for rushed changes. Start the paperwork early.
How to keep it cheap without it feeling cheap
- Decide first whether the legal marriage and the celebration have to happen on the same day
- Choose the amount of ceremony you want: paperwork-only, elopement, or wedding
- Spend on one or two things you will remember, such as photos or a great dinner
- Use a free or cheap ceremony location
- Lodge your NOIM as soon as you have booked
For more, read the full affordable Gold Coast weddings guide, compare all three packages on the pricing page, or browse the Gold Coast wedding directory for photographers, florists, and venues.