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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.

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:

1. New Jersey $53,400

2. Rhode Island $49,800

3. New York $48,600

4. Massachusetts $43,600

5. Connecticut $41,000

Here are the top 5 least expensive cities to get married in:

1. Utah $19,700

2. Idaho $19,800

3. Wyoming $19,800

4. Oklahoma $21,200

5. 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.