One thing to consider when taking a look at the average wedding budget is the size of the guest list. Based on statistics gathered for 2008, the following could be said to be true:
2008 Average Wedding Budget by Number of Guests:| # of Guests Invited | Average Budget |
|---|
| Less than 50 | $10,630 | | Between 50 & 100 | $17, 467 | | Between 100 & 200 | $27,069 | | Greater than 200 | $56,904 |
I'm going to break this down further and then offer you a neat little tool at the end, so be sure to stick around. So here is the breakdown of the average wedding budget: 2008 Average Spending for Attire & Accessories:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Bride Accessories | $319 | $324 | $329 | | Groom Accessories | $197 | $200 | $203 | | Groom Suit/Tux | $252 | $256 | $260 | | Headpiece/veil | $318 | $323 | $328 | | Wedding Dress | $1,266 | $1,287 | $1,308 |
2008 Average Wedding Budget Spending for Hair and Makeup:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Hair/Makeup Service | $166 | $171 | $176 |
2008 Average Wedding Budget Spending for the Ceremony:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Ceremony Accessories | $200 | $206 | $212 | | Ceremony Decorations | $576 | $673 | $786 | | Ceremony Locations | $776 | $798 | $821 | | Officiate/Pastor/Priest | $226 | $233 | $240 | | Rehearsal Dinner | $1,300 | $1,344 | $1,389 |
We can break this down further based on number of guests invited. 2008 Spending by Number of Guests for the Ceremony:| Item | Less Than 50 | Between 50 & 100 | Between 100 & 200 | Greater Than 200 |
|---|
| Ceremony Accessories | $74 | $122 | $189 | $396 | | Ceremony Decorations | $213 | $351 | $543 | $1,142 | | Ceremony Locations | $287 | $472 | $732 | $1,538 | | Rehearsal Dinner | $481 | $791 | $1,226 | $2,577 |
2008 Average Wedding Budget Spending for Entertainment:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Ceremony/Reception Band | $1,786 | $1,842 | $1,900 | | Ceremony/Reception DJ | $702 | $724 | $747 | | Ceremony/Reception Musicians | $493 | $508 | $524 | |
2008 Average Spending for Flowers:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Boutonnieres/Corsages | $178 | $169 | $174 | | Bride Bouquet | $146 | $150 | $154 | | Bridesmaid Bouquets | $232 | $239 | $246 | | Ceremony Flowers | $428 | $440 | $453 | | Flower Girl Flowers | $48 | $49 | $50 | | Reception Flowers | $1,010 | $1,039 | $1,069 |
2008 Average Spending for Gifts:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Gifts For Attendant | $429 | $441 | $453 | | Gifts For Each Other | $470 | $483 | $496 | | Gifts For Parents | $186 | $191 | $196 |
2008 Average Spending for Honeymoon:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Honeymoon | $3,805 | $3,921 | $4,041 |
2008 Average Spending for Invitations:(with forecasted figures for 2009 and 2010)| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Bridal Shower Invitations | $87 | $89 | $92 | | Guestbook | $50 | $51 | $52 | | Invitations & Reply Cards | $431 | $443 | $456 | | Personal Stationery | $115 | $118 | $121 | | Save The Date Cards | $156 | $160 | $165 | | Thank You Cards | $72 | $74 | $76 |
As this category is also very dependent on the number of guests invited, we can further break this down:
2008 Spending by Number of Guest for Invitations:| Item | Less Than 50 | Between 50 & 100 | Between 100 & 200 | Greater Than 200 |
|---|
| Invitations & Reply Cards | $160 | $262 | $406 | $854 | | Thank You Cards | $27 | $44 | $68 | $143 |
2008 Average Spending for Jewelry & Rings:| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Engagement Ring | $4,332 | $4,459 | $4,589 | | Her Wedding Ring | $902 | $928 | $955 | | His Wedding Ring | $569 | $586 | $603 |
2008 Average Spending for Photography & Video:| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Photographer | $1,956 | $2,017 | $2,080 | | Videographer | $1,546 | $1,594 | $1,643 |
2008 Average Spending for Planner:| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Bridal Consultant/Planner | $1,483 | $1,532 | $1,582 |
2008 Average Spending for Reception:| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Reception Beverages/Bartender | $1,963 | $2,023 | $2,085 | | Bride/Groom Hotel | $351 | $362 | $373 | | Cake | $544 | $562 | $580 | | Cake Knife Set | $44 | $45 | $46 | | Cake Topper | $42 | $43 | $44 | | Reception Decorations/Centerpieces | $993 | $1,021 | $1,050 | | Favors | $342 | $352 | $362 | | Reception Food Service | $7,968 | $8,243 | $8,528 | | Reception Location | $2,559 | $2,641 | $2,726 | | Reception Rentals | $1,052 | $1,086 | $1,121 |
As this category is also very dependent on the number of guests invited, we can further break this down:
2008 Spending by Number of Guest for Reception:| Item | Less Than 50 | Between 50 & 100 | Between 100 & 200 | Greater Than 200 |
|---|
| Reception Beverages/Bartender | $727 | $1,195 | $1,851 | $3,892 | | Cake | $201 | $331 | $513 | $1,078 | | Reception Decorations/Centerpieces | $368 | $604 | $936 | $1,969 | | Favors | $127 | $208 | $323 | $678 | | Reception Food Service | $2,951 | $4,849 | $7,514 | $15,796 | | Reception Location | $948 | $1,557 | $2,413 | $5,073 | | Reception Rentals | $390 | $640 | $992 | $2,086 |
2008 Average Spending for Transportation:| Item | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|
| Car Rental | $257 | $265 | $273 | | Limo Rental | $690 | $711 | $732 |
I hope these figures can give you some idea of how much your own wedding is going to cost, but I have something even better for you to try.
It is based on United States zip codes, so if you are located in the U.S. you can input your zip code and get averages based on where you live. Remember, the costs in a smaller town area are going to be less than a major city, so you can use the reports to compare and maybe plan in a nearby less costly area.
If you would like to be in more control of what will be included in your wedding budget, then use this next tool. You can check off only those items you will be including in your wedding planning budget.
Don't forget to visit our Wedding Surveys and Polls page.
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