I will delve straight to the point: the wedding cost on average is between $18,000 to $27,000. However, in the United States, the estimated average cost of weeding is $25,800. While in the United Kingdom, the average amount of money you could spend on a Wedding Budget is anywhere around £17,000. That said, it makes sense to say that even in the U.S, the cost of a wedding differs per state.
Sincerely, it’s important to note that the cost of a wedding varies depending on several factors. Some of which are planning, other places, next is the taste of the bride and the groom, and most likely the last, the amount the couples to be are willing to spend.
How Much Does a wedding cost In the U.S?
Because of what amount can fund a wedding, suffice me to say, from a recent study carried by Knot, practically the average cost of a wedding in the U.S is $32,367 as of March 2019. This estimate sums up all the expenses.
However, considering the present economic difficulty caused by the global pandemic; COVID-19, which took many unaware from February 2020. Drawing from a recently conducted wedding, the amount or the average cost of a wedding went a bit down or reduced.
Places to get married & Cut Down Wedding Cost
If you are actually looking for places or states less expensive for a wedding ceremony or party? The best places to look towards are in Hawaii and other Southeast State in the U.S. Places like;
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Georgia
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- North Carolina
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Most Expensive Place
However, the most expensive place to organize a wedding in the U.S is in the Northeast states like;
- Firstly, The New Jersey
- Washington, D.C.
- Connecticut
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- New England
- Also, The New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
- Middle Atlantic
- Delaware
- Maryland
- Lastly, District of Columbia
Wedding Budget Breakdown – What Wedding Features Are Most Expensive?
There are items and things that cost the most when it comes to wedding planning and organizing. Especially when the time for buying and paying for wedding materials, items, or services to be rendered.
The Reception Hall/Garden
Permit me to say that the place where the wedding reception will hold cost more than average. This is so because most times the venue for the reception are mostly event places that have a price tag and reserved for ceremonial activities. To cut down costs from the reception venue, you might decide to go for a lower-priced venue or use a free open place.
Drinks Served
Most times, the couples pay a bar to take care of guest drinks. Other times, they provide guests with drinks factored into the catering expenses. But whichever way the planning goes, to pay for bar services is averaging around $5,000 or less. Although, it depends on the number of guests you have and what you drink you want made available.
That said, you might decide to go for “Full open bar” – A full open bar provides a variety of wines, beer, hard alcohol, and non-alcoholic beverages. The wedding hosts pay for the entire bar, and guests don’t have to shell out any money during the wedding.
“Limited open bar” – If you’re on a tighter budget, a limited bar may be a worthwhile option. This bar provides wine and beer (and perhaps a single type of hard alcohol), as well as non-alcoholic beverages.
Again, the wedding hosts incur the charges for this style of a bar but since there isn’t a ton of hard alcohol (which is more expensive), it will be cheaper than a full open bar. And finally, a “Cash bar” – Guests pay for their own alcohol.
Food Catering
Wedding catering for food averages $4,000. That said, some couples can spend anything between $1,900 to $8,000 depending on the number of guests, the type of food and protein made available, and the service vendor used.
Rentals
In this case, your caterer may also provide rentals, from tables to chairs, dishes to glassware, utensils, and more. Some venues provide these rentals, or you may need to hire a separate rental company. If you want to rent separately, you will be averaging around $800 to $3,700. However, if it’s included in the venue rental or catering, then the cost might be calculated alongside.
Wedding ring
Engagement ring in most cases also contributes to the large chunk of wedding expenses. However, the couple’s taste and choice of jewelry have a big say in the overall amount spent on the wedding ring. In that way, wedding rings come at different sizes, shapes, and prices. That said, prices go from $95.99 to $1million. Although, prices depend highly on quality which is measured also in color, clarity, cut, and carat.
Finally, Other wedding expenses that contribute highly to the average cost of a wedding in the U.S and other developed countries are; Live Band for receptions, which cost between $2,200 to $4,800 or you may choose to alternate live band with DJ which is cheaper at around $600 to $1,000.
I won’t forget to mention Wedding media coverage like Photographer or cinematographer. Let’s face it memories of your wedding can be referenced even years after your wedding so long as the pictures of your wedding can be seen somewhere.
So, the cost of a photographer goes from $800 to $2000. More so, on the media coverage is the Videographer who will cover the video records of your wedding. The average cost goes from $1000 to $2,500.
There are also some wedding features with low expenses. Thus, most times these features aren’t always the worrisome wedding needs in the planning and organizing process.
Be it as it may, it still a necessity that must be taken care of if your wedding most move smoothly. Infant, some fewer expense features if left undone can ruin your wedding. Features such as; Favors, Officiant, Photobooth, Wedding cake, and Invitations. These five features put together can cost anything from $2,000 to $5,000 depending on how well and how tactical the planner or the wedding is in sourcing out or purchasing them.
Average Wedding Cost Over the Years
Over the years, the cost of a wedding dropped. This was as a result of the economic hardship faced by many as the global finances plummeted. For example, the average cost of a wedding in the UK is around £16K currently. This report is according to a study carried out by one of the authority blogs in the UK that publish stats on weddings and has dropped substantially in recent years (in 2008 it was over £20K).
Average Cost of a Wedding By States
Before I tie it off for this post, I won’t hesitate to share a helpful study carried out by ValuePenguin on the average cost of a wedding in the United States. By the end of the study, they published the average wedding cost for each state and the cost per guest. The list is below:
State Average cost per guest Average wedding cost
Firstly, Alabama $127 $17,216
Alaska $252 $34,298
Arizona $159 $21,605
Arkansas $128 $17,433
Also, California $231 $31,437
Also, Colorado $203 $27,646
Connecticut $263 $35,702
Delaware $206 $28,067
Also, District of Columbia $265 $36,082
Also, Florida $154 $20,933
Georgia $159 $21,666
Hawaii $278 $37,827
Also, Idaho $147 $19,925
Illinois $191 $25,918
Indiana $154 $21,004
Next, Iowa $172 $23,426
Kansas $165 $22,407
Kentucky $129 $17,607
Louisiana $145 $19,681
Maine $193 $26,211
Maryland $248 $33,755
Massachusetts $264 $35,966
Michigan $154 $20,942
Minnesota $201 $27,332
Mississippi $201 $27,332
Missouri $147 $20,058
Montana $152 $20,706
Nebraska $173 $23,488
Nevada $161 $21,879
Also, New Hampshire $247 $33,612
The New-Jersey $272 $36,943
New Mexico $136 $18,470
New-York $252 $34,315
North Carolina $150 $20,416
North Dakota $197 $26,774
Ohio $158 $21,478
Also, Oklahoma $155 $21,032
Oregon $155 $21,032
Pennsylvania $212 $28,827
Rhode Island $227 $30,861
South Carolina $147 $20,047
South Dakota $168 $22,896
Tennessee $135 $18,346
Next, Texas $180 $24,520
Utah $199 $27,095
Vermont $222 $30,257
Virginia $215 $29,196
Also, Washington $217 $29,511
West Virginia $134 $18,228
Wisconsin $174 $23,680
Lastly, Wyoming $191 $26,017
Conclusion
With all the cost calculation and speculation, your wedding cost completely depends on what is most important to you. On a second note, the experience you want your guest to leave with. Third, the memories you want to create and your social status. Thus, If you want something big, exotic, and classic, then make sure you have lots of money in your bank account before you plan.
However, if you don’t have lots of money but still won’t stoop low, then you will need to be creative in outsourcing all you will need in your wedding either from friends, family members, and other relatives willing to help.