The True Cost of a REAL Wedding

So this morning, Guy Kawasaki tweeted a link to this page: The True Cost of a Wedding. Looking at these numbers, it amazes me how much the world has taken something beautiful and made it into something gaudy.

First of all, I find it extremely telling that out of the 50 states, the lowest average wedding cost is Utah. I suspect this is because so many people there get married in the temple, which not only assures that your marriage can last a lot longer, but also includes the side benefit of being absolutely free. But even in Utah, the average cost is $13,214! I know these are 2010 costs vs. our 1997/98 wedding and receptions, but still. Let’s break this down:

Average number of bridesmaids: 4
Bridesmaids at our wedding: 1

Average number of groomsmen: 4
Groomsmen at our wedding: 0

Average number of guests: 141
Guests at our wedding: 4
Guests at our first reception: about 100
Guests at our second reception: about 30

Average length of engagement: 14 months
Our engagement: almost 5 months

Percent who lived together prior to wedding: 74%
(We are not part of that 74%.)

Most popular month: June
Our wedding month: December

Most popular month to propose: December
Month I proposed: August

Now, let’s compare average costs to our costs:


Average amount spent, 2010 Amount we spent, 1997/98
Reception$12,124$0
Catering$8,601$0
Engagement Ring$5,392$741
Reception Band$3,081N/A
Photographer$2,320$0
Florist/Décor$1,988$0
Videographer$1,463$0
Ceremony Site$1,393$0
Rehearsal Dinner$1,127N/A
Wedding Gown$1,099about $60
Reception DJ$900$0
Wedding Day Transportation$667about $5
Wedding Cake$540$0
Ceremony Musicians$503N/A
Invitations$351about $120
Favors$222N/A
Total$41,771$884

Now, don’t get me wrong; I fully understand that prices have gone up, in 13 years. Our wedding day transportation, for example, would probably be a whopping $20 now. On the other hand, it wouldn’t surprise me if the invitations were actually less expensive now, since decent print tech has become so much more ubiquitous. So let’s play devil’s advocate and say the total costs would be—this is laughable, but humor me—fully double the 1997/98 numbers. That still puts us at $1,768 vs. an average of $26,984—or $41,771, if you believe the chart. Is the world really so vain that it has to throw over $25,000-$40,000 down the drain for every single wedding?

Yet another reason the gospel is awesome. ;-)

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