what is the average cost of a wedding?

Question

how much did yours cost overall? was it extravagent or simple? break down of costs would be appreciated.

dappersmom, it's just a normal question, don't be so cynical, I want a wedding to spoil my great fiancee on one of the best days of our lives, then we will go on to have a great marriage, do you think a cheap weddig means you love eachother more? shove it ok? thanks

Answer 1

Your liberty

Answer 2

Depends on where you live and what you want to do. At the end of the day, it's your wedding so you do it your way.

We think our wedding is going to cost about £8000, although I've heard that in the UK the average is about £17000 - not sure how you get it to that much! We don't feel like we're stinting on anything - we're doing what we want when we want.

I would definitely recommend making some of your own things if you have the skills to do it - it's great fun apart from anything else. We've made our own invitations and they're completely unique to us. I'm also a jewellery maker, so that has cost next to nothing and I'll probably sell it on afterwards.

Here's a breakdown of the major costs so you have some idea, although obviously if you're not in the UK it won't help!

Dress £650
Shoes £65
Fiancé getting married in uniform, no cost
Dads' outfits £130
Mums' outfits - let's not talk about it, they were feeling rich that day!
Bridesmaids outfits - about £150 - Debenhams sale is a wonderful thing!
Church inc heating (Jan wedding), organist and bell ringers £372
Photographer - how long is a piece of string - probably over £1000
Flowers probably about £150
Cake £250
Buffet reception for 90 in the day and another 50 in the evening £3000
Welcome drink and toast at reception £540
Table decorations £170
Invitations about £30 as we've made our own

Answer 3

There is no such thing as an average wedding. Figure on the cost of the gown, the shoes, the rehearsal dinner the night before, how many guests you've invited, the fee for the priest or minister, where the reception is going to be, what the meal is, open bar?, the cake, the favors, the flowers, the band, the limos, the pictures/video too?, gifts for the bridesmaids and groomsmen, the honeymoon, etc...

About $15000.

Unless you go to a Vegas Chapel. Better yet, how about a Vegas Drive Thru Wedding?

Good luck...

Answer 4

That depends on you really. They can be held for a very small amount of money and still get the job down, after all the point is to get married not to have a wedding. If you are getting married just to throw a wedding just skip straight to divorce court and save everyone the trouble. I heard the average cost is something like $22,000 dollars, thats just ridiculous, $22,000 could go a long way to making life after the wedding better. I would never spend anything near that on it, I'd rather have a house and furniture and a car.

Answer 5

The cost can be almost as much or as little as you want.
My husband and I got married in Las Vegas, but had the full works. (I live in the UK) My dress was £150, His suit £ 125. The holiday (2 weeks) and the wedding complete with Limo, hair, makeup, flowers and buttonhole, photographs, video cost us about £1600 (but obviously we were immediately on our honeymoon - convenient hey!!), and then when we got home we had the wedding reception which cost about £500.00. This meant that the special day was actually 2 days and I got to wear my wedding dress again! Work out how much money you can AFFORD to spend and work around that figure. Afterall you may want to give you fiancee the best day of her life, but you don't want to start off you marriage with a whole load of debt around your necks. Whatever you decide have a wonderful time - BOTH of you.

Answer 6

It depends on the type of wedding you want. It can be as inexpensive or expensive as you make it. You have to have some sort of idea in what you want. You can go to a court house or a justice of the peace to get married or you can have the full Cinderella fantasy. The average will run between $9000-$15,000.
In my personal opinion, if a couple is financing a wedding themselves, they are better off keeping it simple. The last thing a newlywed couple needs to have is a large amount of wedding debt. They will be lucky to break even.

Answer 7

I was on a Kool Aid budget but pulled it off for about $3,000.
I wore an elegant suite instead of a gown - $175. I made my favors, centerpieces, bouquet, flower arrangements and invitations with items from the craft store and dollar store $750. My friend is an amatuer videographer - her gift to me. My photographer was a guy from church starting his own business - $50. I knew a DJ $150. I found a hall in an obscure place $480 including security guards. (A great find) My friend made my bridesmaid dresses - I bought the material - $250. Her gift to me.

The trick was I paced myself and took advantage of Valentine's day, Xmas and New Year's sales.

no one would have known that I spent so little. It's not the amount that's spent but the love that goes into to it.

Answer 8

i had quite an extravagant wedding last month, it cost around 17,000 pounds but it was paid for by our parents. a cheaper day doesnt mean anything, its what you can afford, i would NEVER go into debt for a wedding!! the day is over in a flash, so just enjoy whatever you do!!
cake 500, cars 500, church 500, reception 10,000, hotel 1000, dress 2000, outfits 2000, flowers 500, invitations, cards etc 500, and about 500 more for bits and pieces. oh, i got the photographer for free cuz he was a friend!!

Answer 9

The average wedding has many variables to pinpoint. Your taste, the region where you live, the location of the reception, etc- all can play a big role into how much your wedding will cost.

Answer 10

Average with EVERYTHING is $20,000
There are so many hidden costs that you don't realize .. Invites, Thank you Cards, favors, cake, photos and video, flowers, serving set for cake, renting tables, music, pay the church, the officiant, the food, the location, the dress, tux, shoes, jewelry, transportation, makeup, hair, etc. etc. !!!!!

Mine will be around $15,000 + $2,000 honeymoon + $7,000 to move out of his mom's house and new furniture, etc.

I have a breakdown of costs but prefer not to post it on here.. Please email me at [e-mail] and I can send it for you.

Answer 11

I think the average is 20k but since everything has gone up b/c of gas prices, the average cost might be a whole lot more than that now and days.