“A wedding does not have to be expensive to be memorable.” This is a perfect saying to start our discussion about planning a wedding. Whether you want a big event or a small yet intimate celebration, the wedding budget is one of the most essential factors to consider. The question is, do you know the average wedding cost to begin with?
For the last two to three years, many couples have considered the impact of the economy – especially inflation – on their plan for getting married. After COVID-19, the wedding cost in 2022 experienced a rise compared to the previous years. Inflation and interest rate are two major reasons for this.
If you have a plan for getting hitched this year, consider first the average wedding expense in the US and each state. You may also peek at some tips for planning your wedding budget that won’t sacrifice your ideal once-in-a-lifetime moment.
Average Wedding Expense Costs
Citing the 2022 Weddings Study by The Knot, the average expense for a wedding in the USA was $30,000. This cost included the ceremony and reception with an average guest number of 117 people (or $256 per guest). Also, the budget got even higher for several bigger cities, namely $35,000 or more.
What about the wedding cost in 2023? It seems that the couple will need to prepare a light amount higher than the last year’s average number. A big wedding planner, Zola, even expects that number of guests will have a 39% trimming. The price will balloon when the wedding invites more guests.
We can ascribe the rising prices to the soaring payment for services and goods, such as food, labor, flowers, etc. In 2022, the most costly expenses involved the engagement ring, the wedding venue, and the live band.
Average Wedding Costs by State in US
Do you live in New Jersey? If you want to have a wedding in this state, you must pay more. Why? Part of the reason is its appeal as the Garden State – many beautiful open spaces like gardens, grounds, or lands.
According to the Knot, the average wedding cost in New Jersey in 2022 was $51,000, the highest price tag in the whole country. As for 2023, the price keeps on the number or even slightly above.
We will look at the average wedding budget in all states in the US; Hawaii and Alaska will be two exceptions. We will list the state or the price from the most expensive to the least.
The top 5 states for the highest wedding expenses 2023 are as follows.
State | Wedding Expenses 2023 |
---|---|
New Jersey | $51,000 |
Massachusetts | $46,000 |
New York | $46,000 |
Rhode Island | $43,000 |
Vermont | $43,000 |
Meanwhile, the following states have wedding costs ranging from $30,000 to $40,000.
State | Wedding Expenses 2023 |
---|---|
Washington D.C. | $40,000 |
Connecticut | $39,000 |
Delaware | $39,000 |
Maryland | $39,000 |
California | $37,000 |
Illinois | $37,000 |
Pennsylvania | $33,000 |
South Carolina | $32,000 |
Louisiana | $31,000 |
Maine | $31,000 |
Virginia | $31,000 |
West Virginia | $31,000 |
Colorado | $30,000 |
Florida | $30,000 |
New Hampshire | $30,000 |
As for the average wedding budget under $30,000, the states are quite a lot. You can find it below with a range of up to $20,000.
State | Wedding Expenses 2023 |
---|---|
North Carolina | $29,000 |
Mississippi | $28,000 |
Michigan | $27,000 |
Texas | $27,000 |
Georgia | $26,000 |
Ohio | $26,000 |
Wisconsin | $26,000 |
Minnesota | $25,000 |
Arizona | $23,000 |
Indiana | $23,000 |
Missouri | $23,000 |
Washington | $23,000 |
Alabama | $22,000 |
Tennessee | $22,000 |
Arkansas | $21,000 |
Nebraska | $21,000 |
Nevada | $21,000 |
Kentucky | $20,000 |
North Dakota | $20,000 |
South Dakota | $20,000 |
Meanwhile, the least expensive state to have a wedding includes Kansas, Utah, and Oklahoma since these states only ask the couples to spend about $16,000. Here are the states that have the average wedding budget under $20,000.
State | Wedding Expenses 2023 |
---|---|
Idaho | $19,000 |
Iowa | $19,000 |
Oregon | $19,000 |
Montana | $18,000 |
New Mexico | $18,000 |
Wyoming | $18,000 |
Kansas | $16,000 |
Oklahoma | $16,000 |
Utah | $16,000 |
Knowing the Reasonable Wedding Cost
Everyone will have different opinions about a reasonable wedding budget. Still, the average $30,000 can be somewhat steep for most couples. Therefore, it is better to consider the number as a benchmark – or not put high expectations on it.
Okay, what about we look at what will be included in your wedding budget?
The Wedding Budget Breakdown
The following is the wedding expenses breakdown for 2022 based on several categories.
Category | Price |
Place and Transportation
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Vendors
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Outfit
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Food
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Entertainment |
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Others
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Of course, to make it reasonable, you don’t need to put all of the above things on your wedding expense list. You can adjust some that suit your budget. For example, you may have a keyboardist with a singer as entertainment instead of a big entire live band.
What is more? Let’s see some tips on planning your wedding cost so you can have your dream moment reasonably and happily with your beloved ones.
7+ Tips Planning for a Wedding Budget
There are three things you need to consider before planning your big day. First, you must build a wedding budget according to your plan or affordability. You can make it like a household budget, putting all the expenses on paper or listing them in a spreadsheet.
The second thing is setting priorities – the must-have in your wedding. You need to set the non-negotiable things important to you and your partner. After that, you can consider other things on the list that your budget can afford.
And last but not least thing is where to keep your wedding fund. The ideal way is by separating them from your overall saving. You may stash it in a different saving account, money market account, or a certificate of deposit (CD).
Planning your wedding can be much stress-free if you stick to the budget you’ve built. Even though the recent inflation may impact it, it cannot prevent you from having a memorable moment.
Here are some tips to be more flexible or lower your wedding expense.
1. Look for a less-pricey venue
The place where you hold your wedding is important. You may consider venues in the suburbs if you don’t want to compete in venue hunting (mostly higher prices) in the big metropolitan areas.
2. Pick a venue that comes with other reception fundamentals
You can save more by choosing a venue that provides other services like various reception party essentials. As a result, you don’t need to rent and pay them separately. They can be a sound system, tables, chairs, lighting, or catering. For your information, they can surprisingly add hard costs.
3. Choose off-peak months or season
You should avoid summer since weddings in this season are popular as sunny price parties. Alternatively, you may seek off-season months like January or February. You may find that these months offer lower rates for reception halls, ceremony spots, and photography services.
4. Avoid Saturday
High demand means a higher price tag. Yes, Saturday is the most popular day for people to get married or have wedding parties. Also, avoiding having your special day on popular holidays is better. Rather, you may move to Sundays or weekdays to save more.
5. Cut down the number of guests
Most venues set their different minimum or maximum wedding guest numbers. Also, wedding vendors will mostly charge the catering (food and drink) per person. This count per head affects the whole wedding budget. Therefore, you must select your guests thoroughly or trim the list if necessary.
6. Replace professional services
Instead of spending on pros or premium packages, you can turn to your talented friends and ask them to do your makeup or hair. Or, you may go for some do-it-yourself decorations.
7. Be ready for additional costs
Surprises will pop up while preparing for weddings, even with careful planning. The tip here is always to anticipate extra expenses.
Moreover, you may also compare wedding vendors about their prices and services. You can also negotiate respectfully if you are allowed to. Also, do not let inflation prevent you from having an incredibly special day.
Once again, planning a wedding is a personal decision. Therefore, you must consider what is important to you, your partner, and your life. Do not let pressures from your families, relatives, or friends make you bow. You should align your average wedding cost with your income or regular expenses and other future financial goals.