While weddings can be magical and exciting for everyone involved, they can also be incredibly expensive. Even if you've spent years saving up for your special day, you might be tempted to take out a loan to finance your nuptials. Planning to say "I do" in the near future? Let's look at a breakdown of wedding costs before you reach out to a lender (or your parents) for extra cash.
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The Average Wedding Cost by State
According to an annual survey published by The Knot, brides and grooms in New York had the biggest financial burdens. On average, couples in Manhattan paid $76,328 for their ceremonies. Considering the high cost of living in NYC, that's not too shocking. It's more than five times what their counterparts paid in Utah.
Overall, weddings in the West and the Southwest (with the exception of those in California and Texas) cost less than those in other regions. After Utah, Arkansas is the cheapest state for weddings. Following New York, northern and central New Jersey and Chicago, Illinois are the most expensive places to wed.
The Average Wedding Dress Cost
Despite what you might have witnessed on TV, though, brides tend to purchase dresses at more modest price points. In 2014, brides nationwide spent an average of $1,357 for their gowns, up from $1,281 in 2013. Compare that to the $254 average that grooms spent on their suits and accessories.
The Average Wedding Venue Cost
It's the reception hall that takes the biggest chunk out of couples' wedding budgets. The Knot surveyed almost 16,000 newlyweds. On average, they paid $14,006 for their reception venues. That's higher than what their predecessors paid the year before ($13,385). Wedding ceremony sites, on the other hand, cost $1,901, on average, in 2014.
That means that rather than hosting your wedding party at the most luxurious place in town, it might be worth it to consider cutting your cake somewhere more low key. To take it a step further, you can lower the cost of your ceremony by saying your vows in a nice park or at an unconventional location like a museum.
Related Article: The Only Excuse You Need for a Frugal Wedding
The Average Cost of a Wedding Planner
From a single wedding, however, planners typically aren't paid all that much for their services. Wedding planners, on average, cost couples $1,973 in 2014.
The Average Cost of Wedding Invitations
The Average Wedding Ring Cost
The Average Wedding Cake Cost
The Average Cost of Wedding Food
The Average Wedding DJ Cost
Not everyone likes dancing. If you can't imagine getting married without busting out the electric slide or the Macarena, however, you'll probably need to make room in your budget for a DJ. That'll cost you around $1,124.
But what if you want a full band at your reception? You can expect to pay about $3,587, the average price for a live musical group in 2014. Expect to pay around $637 if you want musicians to play during your ceremony.
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The Average Cost of Wedding Flowers
The Average Wedding Photography Cost
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A Final Word
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/Heidi van der Westhuizen, ©iStock.com/claudiodoenitzperez, ©iStock.com/edwardolive
