How Much Does A Wedding Cost On Average
With wedding costs skyrocketing, it’s time to get savvy about building a nuptial’s budget that saves substantial cash – and still gives you a great wedding experience.
Tell an engaged couple that the average wedding cost is more than a down payment on a great home and chances are, they wouldn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Probably, they’d opt for the latter, given that the average cost of a wedding stood at $33,391 in 2017, according to The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study.
That is a big price tag and burgeoning newlyweds have an uphill climb in trying to keep wedding costs down. From paying for the venue to the cost of make-up for the bride on her wedding day, the dollars are flying out of family bank accounts before – and on – the big day.
Splitting Costs: Who’s Paying For What
There is a longstanding tradition in our culture that the brides family pays for the wedding. But, of course, times have changed. Our survey found that couples, on average, plan to pay for 56 percent of their own wedding. And, when family does get involved in paying, 83 percent of people said its their parents who are dishing out the cash, with siblings and grandparents coming in second and third place.
Art by Tiana Crispino
While it can certainly be nice for family to chip in and help pay, experts agree that it can also complicate the matter as the parents or other family members paying might feel entitled to make decisions on behalf of the couple. This can create major drama, hurt feelings, and, as we’ve seen personally, doors slamming when things go off the rails, shares Lilly.
If the family member has a strong opinion on something, the couple will almost always go for it without even questioning, adds Gardenia. Even if it is something they really don’t want, they will still agree with a smile because they feel obligated since that person is the one paying. They are constantly concerned about coming off as ungrateful.
When couples pay for most of the wedding themselves, they may feel more aware of each dollar going out. But, they get to make all of the decisions on their own. There are definitely pros and cons to both scenarios, says Dawn.
Average Wedding Cake Cost
No big day can go through without the sweetest addition the wedding cake. US couples spend $370 on average for a well-designed dessert and a cake service at the reception for up to 150 guests. Clients who seek detailed decoration and unique shapes should raise the overall cost accordingly.
Still, the average cost of a wedding cake significantly depends on several factors such as tiers, ingredients, flavor, frosting, toppers, and customization. The more complex the dessert and the more preparation time it requires, the higher the final price. Making the cake a memorable piece of décor during the reception deserves spending a few more dollars per slice, even if it means a higher average wedding cost per person.
Last, even accompanying services at the reception like cake-cutting, delivery, a cake table, and platters involve extra fees. All costs combined, the average price reaches $528 for up to 150 people. Nowadays, renowned bakeries use the finest organic ingredients and unusual baking utensils to wow your guests. All the finishing touches bakers dedicate infinite time to bring to perfection additionally raise the price.
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Couples Planning Their Wedding Often Struggle To Know: What Is A Reasonable Budget For Our Wedding
As wedding photographers & videographers, weve seen our fair share of weddings all across Ontario. While weve been based out of Hamilton for the past six years, weve shot weddings of all different sizes and budgets in Toronto, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, St Catharines, and all over the Niagara region. What weve learned is: there is no one right answer for everyone. Depending on your stylistic tastes, your number of guests, your location, time of year, day of the week, vendors you hire it can all change pretty quickly.
At the beginning of the month, we polled our Instagram audience about their budgets for their weddings. The results we got back were very telling!
First, its important to note that we limited the responses to weddings that took between 2016 to 2020 and 2021. We didnt want data that was any older than 4 years because so much has changed in the wedding industry since that time .
We had 42 participants respond, and concluded that across the board:
Average Wedding Dress Cost By Designer Brands
Whats in a name? A heck of a lot when it comes to the cost of a wedding dress. Not only are luxury and couture wedding dresses more likely to be made with high-quality materials, but the designer name in and of itself raises the price tag significantly. The average wedding dress cost is usually between $2,000 and $4,000 for luxury brands, although the most extravagant gowns can exceed $10,000 . But some luxury designers have multiple collections at different price points, such as Vera Wang Collection, which starts at $2,900, versus the brands Luxe Collection which begins at $6,900. Similarly, red carpet favorite Monique Lhullier offers wedding gowns ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 as well as her more conservatively-priced ML Monique Lhuillier line with ready-to-wear pieces which retail for $400-$700.
One way brides can save money is by buying a wedding dress from a licensee designer, usually produced somewhere outside of the U.S. For these mid-range brands, the average wedding dress cost is under $2,000, and theyre more likely to be constructed with synthetic materials and machines. Some examples are Stella York, Morilee, Maggie Sottero, Allure Bridals, and Essence of Australia.
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What About Wedding Insurance
Unfortunately, weddings aren’t immune to unforeseen circumstances. Which is where wedding insurance comes in.
Wedding insurance policies cover a wide variety of items, from lost rings to injured guests.
Cancellation insurance covers the deposits you made on the venue, DJ, vendors, photography, and so on. It might also cover loss or damage of attire, rings, cake, gifts, and other items, depending on the provisions in your policy.
Liability insurance covers injuries to the people who attend your wedding.
So how much does all of that cost?
According to The Knot, you’ll pay between $155 and $550 for a basic cancellation policy that covers things like rings, attire, gifts, and deposits. General liability insurance will cost about $185.
In general, $200 to $400 is probably a safe bet for the average wedding insurance. But costs and levels of coverage can vary widely, so be sure to check multiple options.
How Much Does A Wedding Typically Cost
The average wedding cost can be hard to know for sure, as we cant ask every couple. Wedding experts like The Knot have done large surveys and research, however, giving us a ballpark cost for weddings this year.
The Knots 2020 survey found that the average wedding costs $19,000, a drop from previous years. This is very likely due to the coronavirus pandemic, which led to many couples having smaller, more intimate weddings.
Other estimates also land around the $20,000 mark as the average cost of a wedding. That being said, you can throw a gorgeous wedding for as little as $5000, or even less depending on your vision!
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What Is The Average Cost Of A Small Wedding
A small wedding is defined by 50 guests or less. The average price of a wedding of this size ranges between $10,860 and $15,500. The first step in determining where to start when planning a wedding is the guest list. This is THE determining factor of your wedding budget.
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The first step in determining the cost of average American weddings is to decide on your guest list and personal style and to solidify a comfortable wedding budget. It should come as no surprise that the more luxurious your taste is and the more guests you invite, the more expensive your wedding will be.The easiest way to understand the average American wedding cost, and to stay organized, is to break the event down into manageable categories. Below, you will find major wedding event features, what costs to expect, and how to save in each case.
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Honeymoons: How To Spend Less Than Average
Here are some eye-opening facts and figures from the folks at tripsavvy.com:
- The average cost of a honeymoon for U.S. couples is $4,466.
- The average length of a honeymoon is around eight days.
- About three-quarters of American honeymooners travel within the U.S. or Canada.
- The top U.S. honeymoon destinations are Hawaii, Florida, California, and Nevada.
- The top international honeymoon destinations include Mexico, Jamaica, the Bahamas, Italy, St. Lucia, France, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Many cruises will cost between about $3,000 and $7,000 per person, depending on where you go, how long you’re at sea, and how fancy the vessel is.
If you’re already planning, say, a $20,000 wedding, the thought of paying another $4,000-plus on top of that for a honeymoon can be a little alarming. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend that much on your honeymoon. Here are some ways to spend less.
Travel during your honeymoon destination’s off season: Hotels will be charging less, and the crowds will be smaller, too. Note that even if you get married in June, you can always delay your honeymoon for a few months if it means avoiding peak tourist season. Also bear in mind that traveling during the off season does not mean resigning yourself to bad weather. Some areas, particularly near the equator, have nice weather year-round but are simply more crowded at certain times — like winter.
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Average Cost Of A Wedding In 2022
Were here to help! First and foremost, SoFi Learn strives to be a beneficial resource to you as you navigate your financial journey.Read moreWe develop content that covers a variety of financial topics. Sometimes, that content may include information about products, features, or services that SoFi does not provide.We aim to break down complicated concepts, loop you in on the latest trends, and keep you up-to-date on the stuff you can use to help get your money right.Read less
Dress? Check! Rings? Check! Masks? Its no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has totally upended the wedding industry. Both state- and federal-level mandates have imposed restrictions that would rightfully make any wedding planner throw in the towel. But with 93% of couples originally set to wed in 2020 still intent on holding their nuptials, most couples are taking on this extra stressor in stride.
But what does that mean for cost? The 2020 wedding season introduced a slew of new wedding trends such as sanitizing stations, virtual streaming, and secondary celebrations. The question is, how does that impact your already complex planning, and what does that mean for your bottom line in 2022?
Wedding planning is a tall order, especially with the aftermath of a pandemic, but its not impossible. Heres a look at what you can expect from venues, vendors, and other costs as you plan this happy day.
Average Wedding Dress Costs
Most brides dream of finding the perfect gown, but the price of perfection isn’t cheap. When looking at the average cost of a wedding dress in every state, Insider DATA found that most states came in around $1,500.
In addition to the dress itself, brides may need to pay for extras including:
- Accessories such as shoes, veils or tiaras, jewelry, and a clutch purse. Wedding Forward reports these accessories typically cost between $350 and $500.
- Undergarments, which average around $200 in cost.
- Alterations, which can cost between $500 and $600 if they’re not included by your bridal shop.
- Cleaning and preservation, which could come at a combined cost of around $500.
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The Average Cost Of A Wedding In 2020
By: Christy Bieber | Published Sept. 2, 2020
Many or all of the products here are from our partners that pay us a commission. Its how we make money. But our editorial integrity ensures our experts opinions arent influenced by compensation. Terms may apply to offers listed on this page.
Weddings have become more than just a chance for a couple to express their commitment to each other — they’ve become big business.
Couples budget, on average, around $23,000 for their wedding but end up spending around $30,000, with more than half of all couples increasing their projected spending during the planning process according to Wedding Wire’s 2020 Newlywed Report.
With couples spending enough money to buy a car or put a down payment on a home on a one-day event, let’s take a look at where this money goes, where it comes from, and who covers the costs.
Here’s Where The Money Goesand How You Can Save
Nicole Enman and Santiago Gonzalez are getting married on July 16, 2022. This is the plan: 20 ceremony guests for at-home I dos and 150 reception guests for a party at Torontos Hotel Ocho that will feature an endless parade of food and drinks. Our vision is focused on amazing food without the pressure of committing to a five-course meal, says Nicole, who is the general manager of General Assembly Pizza. We want our guests to feel as though they can eat, dance and enjoy our party at their own pace. Well have oysters and champagne, canapés, a personal General Assembly pizza for each guest for dinner, a donut bar and late-night burgers.
Working in the restaurant industry, Nicole had an idea of what the food and drinks for their menu would cost. With those numbers in mind, she and Santiago set their original wedding budget at $15,000, but she says they quickly recognized their party may cost double that. Luckily we have a long engagement and have had time to save.
Nicole says the biggest surprise shes had to date is the cost of flowers. I thought they were a small part of the budget, but after some research, I realized it was going take a pretty significant investment to make my floral dreams come trueI had only put $2,000 in my budget, Nicole says with a laugh. After speaking to several florists, I learned about the costs and all that goes into their services.
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