We hate to be those folks who take something as ~mystical~ as love and reduce it to cold hard figures (especially during this, the month of romance), but it’s kind of our thing.
So why stop now?
On Valentine’s Day, The Knot published its annual wedding spending report, and we’ve got the scoop on how much couples across the U.S. paid for their nuptials in 2017. (The delightful, the dreadful and the wallet-shredding.)
And while overall spending on weddings in 2017 dipped slightly compared with 2016, the totals were still enough to make even the most sentimental among us a bit queasy.
The Average Cost of a Wedding in 2017
Last year, the mean price for a day full of delicate tulle, multi-tiered cakes and overly fragrant roses landed at $33,391.
On the extravagant end of the scale — for the group of ceremonies costing over $60,000 — the average shot up to a staggering $105,130. And while many of us can’t fathom spending that much on a single celebration, there are certainly couples out there whose lavish events skew the numbers.
But we’ll stick to looking at the typical pair.
What were the largest expenses for the average wedding in 2017?
The venue, averaging $15,163; the engagement ring, with an average price of $5,764; and the reception band, coming in at an average of $4,019. (Pro tip: Moissanite engagement rings exist and cost a fraction of traditional options.)
Catering is another major cost item at most weddings, and 2017 was no different. Couples spent an average of $70 per person on reception catering to keep guests fueled for dancing. Even though the average guest count dipped to 136 last year, a $9,520 catering bill is still nothing to sneeze at.
The cheapest things couples paid for included favors ($252), an officiant ($284) and the groom’s outfit ($286).
Meanwhile, the typical wedding gown purchased by brides in 2017 cost just $1,509. (And I feel comfortable saying “just” after accompanying my sister dress shopping and spotting way too many $15,000 creations. Yikes.)
But your overall budget isn’t completely dictated by your planning prowess (even if you’re a budgeting wiz): it appears location plays a big role in your wedding tab.
In New York (Manhattan specifically), you could expect to shell out an average of $76,944 for your big day. If you’re aiming to spend less, relocating to New Mexico might be wise. There, the typical wedding cost was only $17,584.
Follow the Trends
Fortunately, the research also indicates couples are embracing trends that should help push average wedding costs down wherever they are.
Formal affairs are tapering off, and demand for more relaxed, unconventional reception sites is rising. In 2009, 20% of weddings were black-tie, compared to 16% in 2017. It follows that usage of country clubs, banquet facilities and hotels for receptions has declined, too.
Outdoor ceremonies and receptions, however, increased from just 39% in 2009 to 52% last year — and given how much you can save with an outside celebration, that’s a shift we can get behind.
But while couples are skipping ballrooms for simpler gatherings, they’re doubling down on guest experience — which can actually push costs upward. Even though the average guest count fell this year, the average spend per guest has climbed by $74 since 2009.
This is mainly due to reception extras like photo booths, candy bars and special musical acts. (Although per the survey, some couples are even booking cigar rollers and fireworks displays, to which we politely say “each to their own.”)
All told, the wedding landscape seems to be moving away from one-upmanship and toward crafting personalized experiences that honor the couple and their relationship — and that naturally reduces some of the pressure to follow costly, outdated traditions.
After all, it’s a day to celebrate, and nothing kills the mood faster than a blown budget and looming debt.
If you’re planning your wedding this year, concentrate on designing an event that lets you, your partner and your nearest and dearest celebrate — without spending the entire time fretting over the price tag.
Grace Martinez is a junior writer at Savinly.
