Wedding Money: What Does the Average Wedding Cost?

Q.

What is the cost of an average wedding today? I've heard it's around $20,000. Is this off base?

A.

Though it depends on where you live, that figure's really not that far off -- it's actually a little low. In a recent survey conducted by The Knot, it was revealed that the average wedding is now about $27,800. However, bear in mind that weddings cost more in large urban areas. This figure also includes those lucky brides and grooms who get $40,000-and-up weddings thrown for them, so that does slightly bring up the average.

See More: Wedding Planning Basics , Money

share your advice on this topic
Write your own tips and ideas to share with other Knotties.

jabp1
we are having a buffet with 100 people for less than 5000 in a historic home on main street in cartersville ga. I couldn't bring myself to spend more than that. Not with two kids and a mortgage. $5000 is including EVERYTHING. Photos,DJ, and soloist are all friends of ours so we saved quite a bit just with that.

kylie_koyote
Be sure to check into food and beverage minimums at your reception venue! Our venue has a $12,000 food/beverage minimum that does not include tax and gratuity and that was the cheapest one that we found. Another way to save money is to ask your vendors if they have any partners. We found a photographer whose husband is a limo driver and they gave us a discount on both services.

ElowynW
definently NOT spending that much money. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but unless you are filthy rich enough to spend $27,000, doing so is wasteful and completely retarded. You could put a down payment on a house for that amount! geez! Anyways, I will be spending no more than $10,000 possibly less and I'm cutting back on things that aren't the most important to us. Bringing in friends to play music, having guests bring food as a gift, buying small things here and there at your arts and crafts store. Don't feed into your bridezilla. Keep it simple, keep it smart

r_e_courtney
My fiance and I live in NJ and are getting married in Las Vegas. We have paid for our hotel and airfare, wedding, limo, photographer, internet broadcast, and a 20 person reception on a budget of $5,000. Dress and tux are also included in that budget. It can be done. Just remember the day is for you and those closest to you. Without all the drama we are actually enjoying planning our wedding!

aschabes
The cost of a wedding goes up expoentially if you don't think about having a budget wedding. The price goes up considerably with the following few considerations: guest list and location. Consider having it in your backyard, a public park, or at a restaurant. Consider inviting just those who are close to you. If not, you are at the whim of the wedding machine and EVERYTHING costs more when it has "wedding" attached to it. I started with a budget of $15000 and blew it all on location, catering, rentals, and booze because of my choices in venue and guest list. Now I'm a bit closer to the average.