Cost of Average Weddings
The average cost of weddings today is putting brides and grooms in the poor house.
Is it necessary?
Do you want to go down that road?
More couples in the U.S. pay for their wedding expenses (or portions) long after the wedding is over. According to Costofwedding.com, the average wedding cost is between $15,000 and $25,000. For some this may sound high. For others too low. It depends on what part of the country you live.
What is the average cost in your area?
Just enter your zip code in the box below.
I hope you are all still with me. I don’t know about you, but, when I entered my zip code there was a little sticker shock. If you scrolled down to the bottom of the page there were other expenses that were not included in that price.
No surprise to anyone, this figure is expected to rise in years to come.
Got your calculator?
OK, lets do a little figuring. Say your wedding was around $20,000. Now, suppose you want to save up for the big event so you don’t go into debt. If you can stash away $300.00 a month, it will take you a little over seven or eight years (figure inflation) to have the money to pay for the wedding. What engaged couple, already in the planning stages, is going to want to wait that long?
The discipline to save is not easy or fun. Most couples tend to pull out the charge card and pay as they go. This is not really the answer either. Interest rates can sore to unmanageable heights. Credit card companies may have you right where they want you when it is all done and said.
Who wants to spend the first years of marriage struggling with debt?
Is this an exaggeration?
Statistics say no. Financial stress is the number one killer of marriages. Couples planning their weddings think they are immune to spending that much for a single day only to discover the averages were dead on.
What should you do?
Sit down and set a realistic spending allowance. One that the two of you can live with.
Take off the blinders and stop being average. Don’t plan your wedding like all others couples do. If you want to stay on budget you need to be amazing – not average.
I came across ”wedding planning on a budget“. It is an instant down load you can print out and read at your leisure. It is a planning guide to help you save thousands of dollars on your wedding. If you don’t have extra money because:
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you have college loans
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health issues
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low paying or no job
or are taking the penny pinching route, this may be the most practical resource. It will keep the average cost of most weddings on budget. Some couples refuse to pay top notch professionals. If you fall into this category, check it out for money saving strategies that can save you a bundle.
wedding planning | Vicki Hasemann | October 12, 2009
cost of average weddings, wedding expenses, wedding planning on a budget
The post is really very useful, as it gives you an outlook of wedding cost.
But It also depends on your social background and the area you are living in.
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Scott Payne
http://www.scottpayne.me
In my zip the costs ranged between $15,000 and $25,000 plus the items you mentioned.
Use the money to buy a home or spend it on a bunch of people most of whom would not lend you $100.00 if you asked? This is not a trick question.
Martin O’Connor
http://www.smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
This is horrifying! Maybe my daughter will want to elope when she grows up! Cool software that lets you put in your zip and it gives you an estimate of the cost. My has the cost of weddings gone up.
Lisa McLellan, Child Care Expert
Babysitting Services, Babysitting Tips, Babysitters, Nannies
I just want to know if anyone’s zipcode actually calculated an average cost of $20,000. My zip gives an average cost of more than $100,000…. No wonder the idea of grabbing my priest for an afternoon nuptial sounds so good to me.
Mastery and Team Building, Kate McKeon
I think a small wedding is the wiser route to go. Then, if the parents want to throw in a gift to get the kids started off on solid financial footing, that would be a nice bonus. It’s better than putting all available funds into a one-day event (wedding).
Health, Fitness for Working People — Darryl Pace
I used to bar tend, and I worked a bunch of 100K + weddings… Mindi and I did ours total for less then $5000… 238 guests..
Scott Payne
http://www.scottpayne.me
Very sound advice. It’s never a smart move to spend more than you can afford.
Bert (alter ego- Mister P)
MisterP.org/blog
The download is a great tool. Thanks for the reference.
Martin O’Connor
http://www.smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
Most people spend way too much on their weddings. Especially in light of the fact most marriages simply don’t work out long term. People should have a simple Justice of the Peace Ceremony first and then, if they can stay married two years, plan on a bigger wedding. This is just plain financial sense.
Steve Chambers
Sales Training Speaker
Why not start out and buy a house instead?
Robert Martin
http://www.carbuyinghq.com
The people I know averaged about $10,000 on their wedding. One of my best friends wedding budget fell in this (including the dress)and it was a beautiful occassion.
Also one of my ex’x parents had a woodstock like wedding. A keg out in the field with friends and family, and apparently, it is still talked about by those who attended it.I guess it all comes down to your means and your wants.
MissMentor
$69,149 and $115,249 for their wedding. This does not include cost for a honeymoon or engagement ring!!! Hellooooo! That’s the town i grew up in.
The one I moved to is anywhere from about 40k to 60k…
That’s what you get for living in a New York suburb. My kids will be eloping or going with the small but classy destination wedding…like they have a choice!
Jen B
The Harwood Center – Tinnitus, Chronic Illness, Fears, and Anxiety
It often seems that the pressure to have a large and expensive wedding comes more from the parents than from the couple. We struck a balance and went for a small (60 people) quality wedding split 3 ways between us, my parents and my in-laws.
http://www.martin-wright.com
How about using the median cost instead of average cost?
John Ho
Numerology Expert Helps Understanding Personality for Better Influence & Persuasion
This is a very interesting post.
Two or three weeks ago I put out the ideas that a couple have a modest wedding. Then with the money they would have sent on a typical wedding the happy couple buy their home. The next summer they can invite over anyone they want for a backyard or patio party and have everyone enjoy their home, not their receptions hall.
I know I sound like a curmudgeon but I look at the money spent on weddings and see a form of social madness.
Look, I’m not a tightwad and I will spend money (this class as an example)but the statistics cited in the post make my point.
I enjoy looking at a beautiful and happy bride on her special day. Better she be beautiful,happy and smart. I wish I could quote here the line from scripture often read at a wedding about
how happy a man is with a smart and resourceful wife.
Martin O’Connor
http://www.smallbusinessdesigncenter.com
Broke is no way to start a marriage. Better to go small and affordable. But no one listens to that advice.
Simple Survival Tips For Disasters and Emergencies
“$58,134 and $96,891″ that’s actually a lot closer than your estimate of $15,000 to $25,000 in my mind. I know plenty of folks who spend $250k . . . yes, that’s a quarter of a million dollars. And these aren’t the little princesses or young socialites.
That being said, I do enjoy their parties.
Katie
Planning your budget is important. If financial stress is the number 1 killer of marriage then this can’t be over looked
Jose Escalante
http://www.joseescalante.com
Tough way to start out married life by spending so much on one day. I think I’d prefer to include some longer term memories in for the same price.
Keri Eagan
Anything Alternative
Hi Vicki,
a lot of it is almost like peer pressure to go do. Couples can decide to take a more frugal approach and still have a simply wonderful wedding day.
Happy Dating and Relationships,
April Braswell
Single Baby Boomer Dating Success Expert