How Much Are Weddings On Average

Should Your Cash Gift Amount Be Based On Your Financial Situation

Those thinking about how much money to give at a wedding will likely take their own financial situation into account. An easy rule of thumb is to stay within the average range of $75 to $200, but you can adjust the exact amount based on your personal finances, as well as your relationship with the couple.

In Modern Western Culture The Cake Is Usually On Display And Served To Guests At The Reception

How much is a wedding cake. When it comes to wedding cake, we are definitely in the camp that it’s a wedding tradition to firmly uphold. According to this range, a wedding cake meant to feed 100 people would be between $500 and $700. Those in other states will come in below average with couples in the northern territory spending the least amount on their wedding cake.

And if the price per slice of wedding cake is giving you budget anxiety, don’t feel like you need to nix the idea altogether. Choosing a wedding cake is often no cake walk . Below is a look at a sample wedding cake cost.

To do that, you have to know just how wedding cakes are priced. For wedding cakes, most bakeries and pastry chefs charge by the slice. How much wedding cake is actually needed for guests?

Lets go back to one of those first questions: The cost of a wedding cake varies by type of cake, the kind of baker and geographic region. How much does the average wedding cake cost?

Its always a great idea to deliver something unexpected, but if youre looking at this option to reduce the cost of wedding cake youll have to turn somewhere else. While this may sound like a lot for a dessert, youd be surprised as to how much work goes into creating a gorgeous wedding cake. Is around $500 with most couples spending between $300 to $700.

How much do wedding cakes cost? In some parts of england, the wedding cake is served at a wedding breakfast How much will that be?

Use Average Wedding Costs To Create Your Wedding Budget

We keep mentioning the b word: budget. Why? Well, for one, stats say nearly 60% of couples have to increase their initial budget.13 That means they spent more than they were planning to. Or maybe they didnt know how much a wedding actually costs.

Your wedding budget shouldnt be a random prediction. If you plan more ahead of time, you can make a budget youll be able to stick to. How?

• Use these average wedding costs as a starting point for your budget.
• Talk about your top three nonnegotiablesthe things that are the most important for you to have in your wedding.
• Have an honest conversation with each other, your parents and your bank account to see what you can actually afford!
• Then make a wedding budget that marries your dreams and your reality. Now thats a perfect union.

Listen, more important than a maid of honor, color scheme, or an officiant who can properly pronounce your last nameis your budget. And its not just important for the day you get married, but for every day of your life together! Start planning how youll budget as a couple by downloading our free budgeting app, EveryDollar.

And if you want to learn even more, weve got a 15-tiered, wedding-cake-sized load of info about how to budget for your wedding, complete with a wedding budget printout and even more tips on saving on your big day.

About the author

Ramsey Solutions

Don’t Miss: Can You Plan A Wedding In 6 Months

How Much Should You Save For Your Wedding Average Costs For Wedding Cake Bridal Packages And More

While that $30,000 $40,000 average cost of a wedding might sound sky-high to some, others may wish to push the boat out even further with designer brand wedding dresses, glamorous wedding locations and a wedding banquet fit for a king . The good news is that whatever your budget, there will always be low, mid and high range options available for every conceivable wedding item on your list because wedding expenses are ultimately all about personal taste. The table below runs through some typical costs for all kinds of important must-haves:

How Much To Give For A Wedding If Theres An Engagement Party Too

How much to give for a wedding is synonymous with your availability for the wedding. It is well-advised that you split your budget for the wedding gift into 25% / 75%. 25% on engagement gifts and the remaining 75% on gifts for the main wedding. Something like wine, a box of chocolates or a box of cupcakes will do.

If you will not be available for the main wedding and the couple means a lot to you, follow Diane Gottsmans principle. Browse through their engagement gift ideas and pick something thats equivalent to the amount you would spend on a wedding gift.

You May Like: When Do You Break The Glass At A Jewish Wedding

Consider A Wedding Day Other Than Saturday

Most weddings fall on Saturday evenings. To reduce your expenses, switch it up a bit and pick another day. Accordingly to Emoré Campbell, a Day of Wedding Coordinator, choosing a weekday not only cuts your price from the get-go, but also leaves more room for negotiation with vendors. If youre feeling really adventurous, how about a brunch wedding who doesnt want a waffle cake, after all?

Weddings can add up to be hugely expensive, no matter where or when you have them. Regardless of your budget, be sure to spend those dollars on memorable items and services After all, newlyweds tend to remember the celebration with their loved ones more than any of the details.

Average Cost Of A Wedding By Year

The average cost of a wedding has changed a lot in recent years. While couples spent an average of $28,000 in 2019, the average spending plummeted in 2020.

The pandemic decreased the average cost of weddings in 2020 to $19,000, with a limited number of guests, and an overall change in how weddings took place, though wedding costs have been dropping in recent years.

Popular Articles

While some of these costs are essential, others aren’t. You’ll need an officiant to get married, but you may not need to hire a wedding planner for $1,500, nor spend a full $2,000 on flowers.

While these things compose the average cost, not every couple needs every item on the list. If you’re looking to save some on your wedding costs, opting for more affordable wedding venues and doing some of the planning yourself could be a good way to cut costs.

You May Like: How To Be An Officiant For A Wedding

Median And Average Wedding Costs Differ

While average wedding costs can provide insight into what couples are spending, they don’t always tell the whole story and can establish unreasonable expectations.

Median cost can shed more insight into what typical couples are spending, as it is the middle number in the list. Unfortunately, median cost isn’t as widely available. However, a quick look at the most recent year in which median wedding cost data was published shows a substantial discrepancy between the median and average cost.

With the median coming in more than $10,000 below the average, it’s likely that the average is skewed by some couples throwing over-the-top affairs while most spend a more reasonable sum.

Who Pays The Costs Of The Average Wedding

With such a high price tag, it can be hard for many couples to cover the costs of the typical wedding. Many get help from their parents while others use savings or even charge wedding-related purchases on their credit cards.

The charts below show how costs are split among the couple, their parents, and other generous contributors, along with how couples come up with the funds to pay for their special event.

Percent of wedding paid for:

Here’s where couples draw money from to pay for their part of the wedding:

You May Like: How Much Do Wedding Videographers Make

How Much Should One Person Spend On A Wedding Gift

When youre giving money for a wedding gift and attending solo, etiquette says you should spend about $50 to $75. But you may want to also consider the couple youre celebrating. If its a coworker, or someone you just catch up with from time to time, the lower end of the spectrum is appropriate. For a close friend or family member, consider going higher, to the $75 range, or even to $100.

Wedding Cost: Food & Drink

The type of meal you want to serve, as well as beverage offerings will of course impact the overall price of your catering, says Natalie Ho, national director of event sales at Oliver & Bonacini Hospitality. If youre trying to balance a delicate budget, you need to ask yourself questions like, will your guests enjoy a premium brand of vodka? Or a beef tenderloin versus a short rib?

Ho says shes seeing an increase in the price of certain food items, which will raise catering costs in the coming months. If youre looking for a creative way to save, she has insider intel: Switch from late night food stations to canapésthe cost per person is significantly less. Also, if your venue does have an open bar package and you must pay per drink, make sure you set a bar cap, so the venue doesnt automatically top up glasses. This is a great way to keep the bar tab in check.

Before you sign off on your catering, Ho says its essential to carefully review and understand your contract. Be sure everything you want is included and also ask about upgrades and any associated charges, she says. A cost estimate should always be secured before signing an agreement so there are no surprises. Also, in these COVID times, you need to know policies surrounding cancellations, forced closures and refunds.

Don’t Miss: What The Average Wedding Photographer Cost

How Much Does A Wedding Reception Venue Cost

One of the first decisions youll make when planning your wedding is choosing your wedding venueand there are lots of types of wedding venues to choose from, from barns to ballrooms! Youll likely spend a large portion of your budget on your wedding venue cost , so its important to do your research before selecting your wedding site. The average wedding venue cost in the U.S. is $6,000, with most couples spending between $3,000 to $11,000. Note that these are only averages and pricing varies widely depending on a variety of factors, like whether in-house catering is included.

The Average Cost Of A Wedding By State

Depending on where you get married, the cost of your wedding can vary significantly. Across the country, the average cost of a wedding was $20,300, but the cost can vary by as much as $18,063 depending on the state in which the ceremony and reception take place.

Graphic shows only the 10 most and least expensive states for weddings, on average, separated by the “Average” bar.

The most expensive state to get married in is Massachusetts, where the average cost of a wedding is $30,489. Along with New Jersey, these two states are the only places where the average cost of a wedding is more than $30,000. Conversely, the cheapest state to get married in is Arkansas, closely followed by West Virginia.

Many of the most expensive states to host a wedding are on the East Coast. Four of the five most expensive states aside from the District of Columbia are in the Northeast. California and Hawaii, the eighth and ninth most expensive states for a wedding, are the only states in the top 10 that are west of the Mississippi River.

Seven of the 10 cheapest places to get married are in the South, while the other three states among the most affordable places to get married are in the West New Mexico, Montana and Nevada.

Ordered by population size

Also Check: What To Write On Wedding Rsvp Card

Additional Wedding Venue Costs

Although weve mentioned pretty much everything thats included with the average cost of a wedding venue, there are some peripherals that need to be accounted for.

i

Make sure to inquire parking, tips, taxes, and third-party vendor fees.In downtown areas parking is often off-site and very expensive. Before placing your deposit, compare the cost and convenience of parking vs the cost of transportation.

When researching your venue make sure to specifically ask who is providing services. Its not uncommon for a banquet hall to hire outside contractors or formal business partners to fulfill some of the obligations. There may be a fee hidden in the fine print, and theyll require an individual tip.

If youre wondering who else has a tip coming to them, many venues provide bathroom attendants, bartenders, and coat checks. They are all in the customer service industry and should be assessed and compensated just the same as a waiter at a nice restaurant.

One last thing you should consider is cleanup. There will be leftover food, dirty linens, and decor to dispose of. Whos going to handle that? If its not expressly written in your venue contract you may be on the hook for additional fees.

Location Plays A Major Role In The Cost Of A Wedding

Perhaps the biggest factor in determining how much youll spend on your wedding is where the event will take place. A wedding in a major city, like New York or San Francisco, will cost more than one taking place in a small town . And staying close to home can also help you save. According to the 2019 Newlywed Report , the average hometown wedding costs $27,000, while the average destination wedding costs $32,000. Good to know if youre deciding where to host your big day!

You May Like: How Much Is A Disney Wedding

How Much Does Wedding Makeup Cost

The cost of wedding makeup ranges between $250 and $600on average.

Although you can opt not to have a trial which will be cheaper, its highly recommended to ensure youll be happy with the makeup. Plus it gives the makeup artist a chance to plan out their look so that they come prepared on the day.

Some makeup artists will also insist on a trial, which may be priced separately.

Average cost of Wedding Makeup

Newly graduated makeup artists may charge as little as $70 for wedding makeup, though wont have as much experience in product application or the running order of the day.

Its important that if you do opt for a lesser experienced makeup artist, that they can deliver exactly what you had in mind. Meeting them in person and checking out their portfolio is always a good idea.

On the other end of the scale, expert wedding makeup artists can charge anywhere up to $600 and above. Such professionals will have an extremely impressive portfolio, with potentially hundreds of weddings under their belt.

Beyond this, makeup artists with celebrity or red carpet experience may charge thousands of dollars to apply your wedding makeup. So there is flexibility across the board depending on your budget.