How much does the average wedding cost?
This is the big question. Our figures are in US Dollars and curent for
2009
Most surveys find the average wedding costs around $27,000, with a range of $25,000 to $30,000 generally accepted
as accurate. The total cost depends on the size of the guest list, how much each vendor charges and the location.
How much you actually pay out of your own pocket depends on who is helping to fund the nuptials.
Costs play a significant part in the size and scope of a wedding. The average cost includes ceremony fees, location
fees, food and drink, wedding cake, flowers, DJ or live band, photography and videography, wedding attire, favors
and transportation. While not every wedding is the same, the total amount spent makes the difference between a
grandiose affair and a low-key event.
The cost of a civil marriage will depend in your choice
of venue and date, and whether you are having guests attend the ceremony. You will need to contact your local
registration office for current costs and further advice.
The ceremony usually lasts 15-20 minutes with the exchange of vows and you may wish to exchange rings. If you
wanted to introduce other aspects to the ceremony, such as, a non-religious poetry reading or a special piece of
music you would have to discuss this with the registrar.
TIP! Skip the DJ if you want to cut wedding costs. In this day
and age most people have mp3 players.
In our case we budgeted our wedding cost at just over $20k, although we were including in that budget for some
contingencies just in case we run over budget on the day on food and drink.
Within this cost wes included limos, church hire, choir, reception, sit down meal, evening buffet, disco,
decorations, invites, cake, rings, honeymoon, outfits, flowers, hair and makeup. That is just about everything.
TIP! Do not worry if you and your beloved can not take a
honeymoon directly after the wedding! Perhaps you just can not afford it yourself; no one gave you one; or
some other obligation prevents you from a honeymoon. Do not let is get you down! While a honeymoon is
traditional - it is not required - to start a foundation for a healthy marriage.
So how much will it cost you? You should do your own calculation. There are hundreds of exact-dollar answers to
the question of wedding costs available from popular wedding resource web sites. Most answers, however, range from
$5,000 to $25,000... A wide range though and a rather significant difference!
The decisions you make will determine the actual cost of your wedding and you will do well to decide how much
you can afford and then play around with different options to see where you want to spend your money. There are
many areas in which you can trim your budget, and you'll hear a lot of cost-saving ideas if you talk to friends and
professional wedding planners in particular
How much you will economise depends on what you want to
spend from a low budget $2,000.00 and upward, and it naturally costs will rise
higher as you add more things like dj caterers and deco stuff.
Do keep that in mind if you want get things cheap like you could do a potluck reception.
Here's what I would be tempted do if I had to get married again. Buy bridesmaid's ivory dresses off the clearance
rack. The groom will wear his best suit. You then would invite just immediate family and Aunts and Uncles (no
cousins) and your best friends with their significant others (maybe no more than four people)! Then get married at
the local court house/registry with a registrar as the officiant. The reception could even be at a local pizza
restuarant. Total: $500 and most of that was the restuarant reception!
TIP! A beach wedding can be awesome, but ensure you have the
proper footwear to make it through uninjured. You can find beautiful bedazzled bridal flip flops which will
be far more comfortable for you on the sand while being inexpensive and attractive, too.
Alternatively, you could elope at a cost of about $1,500! Included are announcements that you create and send
out, plus a fresh floral bouquet & boutonniere for the bride, dinner, a mini wedding cake, a dressy outfit (I
like silk), and 3 days in somewhere like Santa Barbara for a honeymoon there is no stress in this. How wonderfully
spontaneous can this be! It can be lovely! The most important thing is that you establish how much you are able to
spend and then plan a wedding around that budget. You can the plan a wedding for every budget imagineable. Success
comes from the enjoyment of the joyous event, being with family and friends. That is the essential part need not
cost much at all.
by Steve Evans - February 2009
Back to
Top
Others visiting this page also visted:
Marriage Proposal Ideas
Traditional Wedding Vows
The History of Marriage
|