Even with the struggling economy, the trend for wedding costs in 2008 rose 5.2% says an annual survey of 18,000 newlyweds from The Knot.
The survey says the average wedding, not including the honeymoon, costs $29,334. Does that sound like your wedding? I'm trying to throw a wedding for around $10,000, and that still makes me sweat. $29, 334 makes me want to gag.
WeddingStand wants to know, how does your big day stack up to the average wedding?
Who's Paying for What?
The bride's parents are paying 44% of the total wedding cost, where as the bride and groom pick up 43% of the bill, and the groom's parents add the last 12%.
The wedding reception venue is the most expensive budget item at $13,667. Trends show that newlyweds are looking for more unique locations every year, as restaurants, hotels and reception halls felt a 10% drop off compared to 2007 trends.
While only 20% of couples plan an "out-of-town" wedding, many brides and grooms seek the help of full-service or "day-of" wedding planers (41%) to help with a unique wedding at historical buildings, beaches or wine vineyards.
Another large cost is the not-so-necessary reception band at $3,633. The most common music styling at a wedding is rock 'n roll/Motown (40%), with the second most popular music selection of a big band/jazz group at 18%.
You may think this movement to bands at wedding may push the wedding trend to a more formal affair, but only 20% of wedding were "black tie" events. The trends show that brides are four times as likely to forgo the "big band" and opt for a DJ instead.
The rehearsal dinner, most commonly purchased by the groom's parents, averaged $1,640. The morning-after brunch also costs a bundle at $827, which is unless you pull out the wedding leftovers and throw another grand party the next day.
The final grand wedding expense is photography at $2,655. The trend in photography is a photo-journalistic style where 93% of brides prefer their photographers to hide in the bushes to capture the perfect candid shot. 0% of photographers shot with Polaroid film. They don't make that kind of camera anymore, and no matter what my newly married cousin says, it's just impractical. Instead, 90% of photographers shoot weddings in digital.
Most of these statistics come from TheKnot.com poll of 18,000 couples who married between January 2008 and December 2008.
*Statistics regarding bridesmaid gifts and groomsmen gifts are from ShoppingStand Inc.
