National Average Wedding Cost

One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to planning any wedding is the cost. We all want to be economical, of course, but a wedding is one occassion we all seem to stretch our pockets for. Location plays a big role in the overall cost though so it’s important to take that into consideration. What other costs are involved? Well, let’s see...venue, catering, florals, alcohol, cake, decor, music, attire, invitations, rehearsal dinner, gifts, transportation, photographer, the list goes on! Let’s take a look at the average cost of throwing a wedding in today’s expensive and modern times.

According to a 2016 Knot study that polled 16,000 different brides, the average cost of a wedding came in at a whopping $35,329. It seems that the majority of brides are all for splurging on the ultimate wedding experience both for themselves and for their guests.

According to the study, wedding costs have jumped a total of $2,688 since last year and have continued to be on the rise since 2006. Don’t get too alarmed, though! Remember these costs have a lot to do with you and where you choose to host your big day. Costs actually vary greatly by state and venue, etc. So just give it a little extra thought. You can cut corners.

So what’s causing the big price jump? Is it just that weddings are getting larger by headcount? No, not at all! In fact, the average number of wedding guests has actually been decreasing since 2009. So what is it, then? Well, these days brides will do almost anything to create the most memorable guest experience. This means spending mega dollars on anything from exotic dishes, photo booths, lawn games, and even food trucks! There has also been a significant increase in the overall costs spent on flowers, cakes, photographers, and entertainment overall.

The picture is a standard example of just some of the costs and how couples are distributing their budgets.