It’s safe to say there’s a lot that goes into a wedding. Even the simplest of ceremonies typically consist of a bride in a dress and a groom in a tux, flowers, a post-celebration, and so on. But where does the majority of a couple’s money go? The Knot broke down average expenses in their 2018 Real Weddings Study.
For starters, last year, the national average cost of a wedding was $33,931. That price ultimately depends where a couple lives (New York City’s average was a whopping $96,910 while Idaho’s was $16,366), but for the 14,000+ couples surveyed, the 30K-ish figure rings true.
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The majority of this figure goes to — you guessed it — the reception venue. Couples spent around $15,000, which makes this expense the biggest of them all.
What follows actually comes way before the wedding: the engagement ring at an average cost of $5,680.
Other top expenses go back to the reception, like a band or DJ, florist, photographer, and catering. But another significant portion of a couple’s budget is dedicated entirely to the bride. The average one spent $1,631 on their dress last year, along with $123 for hair and $102 for makeup. The groom’s wedding day look is definitely more affordable, with the average cost of attire coming in at $283.
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Here’s the total breakdown per The Knot:
- Reception Venue: $15,439
- Photographer: $2,679
- Wedding/Event Planner: $2,002
- Reception Band: $4,247
- Reception DJ: $1,292
- Florist/Décor: $2,411
- Videographer: $2,021
- Wedding Dress: $1,631
- Groom Attire: $283
- Wedding Cake: $528
- Ceremony Venue: $2,382
- Ceremony Musicians: $797
- Officiant: $286
- Catering (price per person): $70
- Transportation: $856
- Favors: $245
- Rehearsal Dinner: $1,297
- Engagement Ring: $5,680
- Invitations: $386
- Hairstylist: $123
- Makeup Artist: $102
What are you spending the most on at your wedding? And what’s your budget? Let us know in the comments section, below!
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