How Much Does a Wedding Cost?

With romance books ending in a wedding or begin with being left at the altar, sometimes we even have a runaway bride, have you ever wondered how much weddings cost nowadays?

According to The Knot, the leading wedding brand and marketplace, in 2016 the average wedding costs $35,329 (excludes honeymoon). This is up from $32,641 in 2015. And that is a fact, not fiction! Whew!!!

The 2016 figure is actually an all-time high. Surprisingly, the number of guest have dropped with the average number of wedding guests in 2016 is down to 141, compared to 149 in 2009. That correlation means spending per guest have increased, showing that couples are spending with a focus on guests.

Custom guest entertainment has more than tripled, from 11% to 41% since 2009, with photo booths (78%), games (18%), musical performances (12%) and fireworks (8%) at the top of the list. Not only are guests being entertained at weddings, but this year couples reported that nearly 20% of their guests hooked up at or after their wedding.

“Wedding spend continues to rise, but at the same time, guest lists are shrinking as couples spend more per guest to create an unforgettable experience for those closest to them,” said Kellie Gould, editor in chief of The Knot. “Couples are also using their wedding day to make their first big statement as a couple. From invitations to the reception band, couples are spending more to put their personal stamp on every detail.”

Top 2016 Wedding Statistics

• Average Wedding Cost: $35,329 (excludes honeymoon) (up from $32,641 in 2015)
• Most Expensive Place to Get Married: Manhattan, $78,464 average spend
• Least Expensive Place to Get Married: Arkansas, $19,522 average spend
• Average Spent on a Wedding Dress: $1,564
• Average Marrying Age: Bride, 29 ; Groom, 31
• Average Number of Guests: 141
• Average Number of Bridesmaids: 5
• Average Number of Groomsmen: 5
• Most Popular Month to Get Engaged: December (15%)
• Average Length of Engagement: 15 months
• Most Popular Month to Get Married: October (16%) and September (16%)
• Popular Wedding Colors: Dark blue (29%), gold (28%) and light pink (28%)
• Percentage of Destination Weddings: 20