How much does the average wedding cost?
This is the big question. Our figures are in US Dollars and curent for 2009

Most surveys find the average wedding costs around $27,000, with a range of $25,000 to $30,000 generally accepted as accurate. The total cost depends on the size of the guest list, how much each vendor charges and the location. How much you actually pay out of your own pocket depends on who is helping to fund the nuptials.

Costs play a significant part in the size and scope of a wedding. The average cost includes ceremony fees, location fees, food and drink, wedding cake, flowers, DJ or live band, photography and videography, wedding attire, favors and transportation. While not every wedding is the same, the total amount spent makes the difference between a grandiose affair and a low-key event.

The cost of a civil marriage will depend in your choice of venue and date, and whether you are having guests attend the ceremony. You will need to contact your local registration office for current costs and further advice.

The ceremony usually lasts 15-20 minutes with the exchange of vows and you may wish to exchange rings. If you wanted to introduce other aspects to the ceremony, such as, a non-religious poetry reading or a special piece of music you would have to discuss this with the registrar.

In our case we budgeted our wedding cost at just over $20k, although we were including in that budget for some contingencies just in case we run over budget on the day on food and drink.

Within this cost wes included limos, church hire, choir, reception, sit down meal, evening buffet, disco, decorations, invites, cake, rings, honeymoon, outfits, flowers, hair and makeup. That is just about everything.

So how much will it cost you? You should do your own calculation. There are hundreds of exact-dollar answers to the question of wedding costs available from popular wedding resource web sites. Most answers, however, range from $5,000 to $25,000... A wide range though and a rather significant difference!

The decisions you make will determine the actual cost of your wedding and you will do well to decide how much you can afford and then play around with different options to see where you want to spend your money. There are many areas in which you can trim your budget, and you'll hear a lot of cost-saving ideas if you talk to friends and professional wedding planners in particular.

How much you will economise depends on what you want to spend from a low budget $2,000.00 and upward, and it naturally costs will rise  higher as you add more things like dj caterers and deco stuff.

Do keep that in mind if you want get things cheap like you could do a potluck reception.

Here’s what I would be tempted do if I had to get married again. Buy bridesmaid’s ivory dresses off the clearance rack. The groom will wear his best suit. You then would invite just immediate family and Aunts and Uncles (no cousins) and your best friends with their significant others (maybe no more than four people)! Then get married at the local court house/registry with a registrar as the officiant. The reception could even be at a local pizza restuarant. Total: $500 and most of that was the restuarant reception!

Alternatively, you could elope at a cost of about $1,500! Included are announcements that you create and send out, plus a fresh floral bouquet & boutonniere for the bride, dinner, a mini wedding cake, a dressy outfit (I like silk), and 3 days in somewhere like Santa Barbara for a honeymoon there is no stress in this. How wonderfully spontaneous can this be! It can be lovely!

The most important thing is that you establish how much you are able to spend and then plan a wedding around that budget. You can the plan a wedding for every budget imagineable. Success comes from the enjoyment of the joyous event, being with family and friends. That is the essential part need not cost much at all.

by Steve Evans - February 2009

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