So, how a lot does a marriage value? The brief reply is $38,900.1
What does that embrace? Truthfully, the record of attainable wedding ceremony prices is so long as the practice on Princess Diana’s wedding ceremony gown. However let’s begin by saying your wedding ceremony doesn’t should value that a lot. At the present time is about you and about love—not a few price ticket.
Now, let’s go over 9 of the commonest prices that make your wedding ceremony day essentially the most magical day of your total life.
9 Common Wedding ceremony Prices Overview2
Venue: $10,500
Reception: $10,870–$15,670
Rings: $8,100
Honeymoon: $5,000
Ceremony: $4,200
Pictures and Videography: $4,200
Apparel: $2,110
Rehearsal Dinner: $1,900
Stationery: $560
9 Common Wedding ceremony Prices Breakdown
1. Venue
The venue is mostly one of many largest wedding ceremony prices at a whopping $10,500 for the typical American wedding ceremony price range.3
If you wish to get monetary savings in your wedding ceremony venue, choose a much less well-liked day of the week or month of the 12 months (hey, December or January weddings).
Prepared to begin saving? Get began with a free trial of Ramsey+ as we speak.
Or you’ll be able to go for an outside wedding ceremony. Simply at all times have a backup plan (perhaps a tent rental?), as a result of Mom Nature would possibly suppose a rainstorm is an applicable wedding ceremony day current. (It’s not, Mom Nature. Google it.)
2. Reception
After the ceremony, most {couples} have fun with their family and friends at a reception, and the typical value is $10,870–$15,670.4 Hey, we’re massive followers of celebrating, however we are able to most likely agree that’s some huge cash for one celebration.
What does that embrace? Catering (which is about $70 a visitor), the cake ($500), a reside band ($3,700) or DJ ($1,200), and perhaps alcohol ($2,300).
You’ll be able to at all times in the reduction of on how fancy the meals will get. You don’t owe your friends filet mignon! Additionally, 78% of {couples} might need an open bar, however being a part of the 22% who supply fewer drink choices is an effective way to save lots of on this wedding ceremony value.5
3. Rings
Oh, the rings: the trade that symbolizes the everlasting bond between husband and spouse—and prices round $8,100. Whoa. Sound like so much? That’s together with the typical engagement ring value of $5,900.6
However this doesn’t imply it’s a must to spend $5,900 on a hoop. Perhaps you don’t even get a hoop.
Okay, most ladies need a ring. However you’ll find extra inexpensive and equally stunning choices by going with a classically styled vintage ring, shopping for nontraditional stones, discovering silicone types, or asking Grandma if there’s a household heirloom you should utilize or have repurposed if you pop the query.
4. Honeymoon
After surviving months of planning after which the precise day of the marriage itself, you’ll want a trip. That is the honeymoon: your first getaway within the first days of your fortunately ever after.
Honeymoons value round $5,000.7 That features every part: journey, meals, lodging and all of the actions—from driving jet skis to touring a stamp museum. (Hey, we don’t choose the honeymoon enjoyable you’re planning, so long as you’ll be able to afford it.)
If you happen to get married throughout a busy journey season, you would put the honeymoon off till these costs drop. And keep in mind, the vacation spot isn’t crucial half—it’s the time you spend collectively as a newly married couple!
5. Ceremony
Ah! The second you’ve dreamed of your complete life—the vow trade, ring swap and each of you asserting, “I do.” That each one occurs on the precise ceremony, which prices round $4,200 and contains the officiant, any music you’ll want as folks stroll up and down the aisle, plus all of the flowers, lighting and décor for the ceremony area.
{Couples} spend a mean of $250 on their officiant.8 It can save you on this wedding ceremony value by asking a member of the family or essential mentor to carry out the ceremony. Simply verify the authorized fantastic print in your state—and keep in mind a thank-you (like a present card to their favourite restaurant) continues to be a form gesture to acknowledge the time they took to make your marriage (actually) attainable.
6. Pictures and Videography
Picture and video distributors are an essential a part of your wedding ceremony day too. Why? As a result of they seize all these pre-, throughout, and post-matrimony reminiscences you’ll be sharing together with your nice grandkids sooner or later.
You don’t need to miss the chance for future generations to make enjoyable of your gown and tux types. (What is going to they be carrying at weddings 50 years from now? We hope poofy sleeves and powder-blue fits make a comeback—only for laughs.)
Pictures and videography collectively typically common out to $4,200 of your general wedding ceremony price range.9 One in every of our greatest suggestions for financial savings right here is to discover a photographer/videographer who’s newer to the enterprise (however nonetheless dependable, in fact!). You’ll be able to assist them construct their portfolio and get monetary savings by leaping of their enterprise earlier than their charges go up.
7. Apparel
Each little woman has dreamed of her wedding ceremony gown since her youth. And each little boy his tux. Okay—perhaps not. However in any case, wedding ceremony apparel is a should, and this wedding ceremony value (together with magnificence providers for the day) is available in round $2,110, with the gown taking on $1,600 of that.10
Whereas your wedding ceremony day wardrobe shall be immortalized in Instagram posts and household albums, that doesn’t imply you need to spend an absurd quantity on it. Store gross sales and take a look at shops that don’t promote simply wedding ceremony clothes. Or, dare we recommend it, search for a used gown!
Hey, the photographs received’t inform that price-tag story, and your general price range is the one one which’ll discover what a terrific cut price you bought. And it’ll thanks for it, to be trustworthy.
8. Rehearsal Dinner
The rehearsal dinner is a conventional expense averaging $1,900.11 After the marriage celebration and household rehearse the ceremony, they sometimes collect to take pleasure in a meal collectively. Generally they are saying blessings over the couple or share hilarious (hopefully not too embarrassing) tales.
Whereas this can be a good time to fellowship, you shouldn’t really feel pressured to spend an excessive amount of right here. BBQ buffets fill stomachs simply in addition to a five-course meal with full-time waitstaff.
9. Stationery
This wedding ceremony value runs about $560.12 What does it embrace? Good query. You’ve received your save the dates, invites, reply playing cards, stamps for all the above, and perhaps even a program. Yeah. That’s so much.
It can save you right here in some ways, like skipping the bodily save-the-date bulletins. Additionally, if you ship out the marriage invitation, ask folks to RSVP by way of cellphone, electronic mail or web site as a substitute of mailing a reply card again to you. The timber will thanks for all that saved paper. And your price range will thanks for the saved money.
Use Common Wedding ceremony Prices to Create Your Wedding ceremony Funds
We hold mentioning the “b” phrase: price range. Why? Effectively, for one, stats say almost 60% of {couples} have to extend their preliminary price range.13 Meaning they spent greater than they have been planning to. Or perhaps they didn’t know the way a lot a marriage truly prices.
Your wedding ceremony price range shouldn’t be a random prediction. If you happen to plan extra forward of time, you can also make a price range you’ll be capable to persist with. How?
Use these common wedding ceremony prices as a place to begin in your price range.
Speak about your prime three nonnegotiables—the issues which are crucial so that you can have in your wedding ceremony.
Have an trustworthy dialog with one another, your mother and father and your checking account to see what you’ll be able to truly afford!
Then make a marriage price range that marries your goals and your actuality. Now that’s an ideal union.
Pay attention, extra essential than a maid of honor, colour scheme, or an officiant who can correctly pronounce your final identify—is your price range. And it’s not simply essential for the day you get married, however for daily of your life collectively! Begin planning the way you’ll price range as a pair by downloading our free budgeting app, EveryDollar.
And if you wish to be taught much more, we’ve received a 15-tiered, wedding-cake-sized load of information about find out how to price range in your wedding ceremony, full with a marriage price range printout and much more recommendations on saving in your massive day.