How Much Will Your Wedding Cost?
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“The COVID-19 pandemic has had an significant impact on weddings with many rescheduling.”
You’re engaged! Now it’s time to plan the wedding of your dreams — within your means.
The number one advice to couples before you pull out your credit cards is to figure out your budget. Costs can quickly add up, and unforeseen circumstances can happen. Calculate what you can afford, but always leave room for some cushion.
When all is said and done, the average cost of a wedding in 2021 stands at $22,500, according to The Wedding Report, Inc.
If you’re getting married next year, the average price for nuptials increases to $24,300 and in 2023, a wedding is forecasted to cost an average of $24,900.
The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on weddings and prices. Many were forced to reschedule. According to the Wedding Report, the majority of weddings have been moved to 2022; mainly the second half of the year.
Average Number of Weddings 2021-2023
PRO TIP: If you’re one of those couples saying “I do” next year, book your venue and vendors now or you could be out of luck for your first choices.
The Wedding Report also says that couples remain nervous about the pandemic, and are cutting back on guest counts and budgets.
The price of your wedding, of course, depends on what city you’re getting married in, what month and even day of the week.
Here are the top 5 most expensive cities to get married in and the average price of a wedding in that city, according to the 2020 The Knot Real Weddings Study:
New Jersey $53,400
Rhode Island $49,800
New York $48,600
Massachusetts $43,600
Connecticut $41,000
Here are the top 5 least expensive cities to get married in:
Utah $19,700
Idaho $19,800
Wyoming $19,800
Oklahoma $21,200
Arkansas $21,800
The good news? The United States will return to pre-pandemic number of weddings after 2023, which means spending will also normalize, reports The Wedding Report.
A bride’s wedding dress and the venue are typically at the top of the priority list when you begin planning. Our advice is to get the big bookings out of the way: venue, food, florist, wedding planner, DJ photographer and videographer.
Pro tip: When budgeting your wedding, take into account all the small items that can add up, including but not limited to the save-the-dates, invitations, officiant, wedding vows, decor and attire for the wedding party.
If you’re curious, here’s the The Knot’s list of the average cost of wedding purchases in 2020:
Average cost of reception venue: $10,500
Average cost of photographer: $2,400
Average cost of wedding/event planner: $1,500
Average cost of reception band: $3,700
Average cost of reception DJ: $1,200
Average cost of florist: $2,000
Average cost of videographer $1,800
Average cost of wedding dress: $1,600
Average cost of wedding cake: $500
Average cost of catering (per person): $70
Average cost of transportation: $800
Average cost of favors: $400
Average cost of rehearsal dinner: $1,900
Average cost of engagement ring: $5,900
Average cost of invitations $590
Average cost of hairstylist $110
Average cost of makeup artist $100
Source: https://www.theknot.com/content/average-wedding-cost
Source: https://wedding.report/index.cfm/action/blog/view/post/pid/1606/title/2021_Covid_19_Wedding_Market_Update
Written By Vows & Forever Founder and Veteran Journalist Maria Cid. V&F is a wedding vows & speech writing service that also specializes in speech coaching and wedding timeline coordination.
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