How to Plan and Stick to a Wedding Budget
Recently engaged? Congratulations! Now comes the fun part of planning your wedding and getting ready to begin your new life together with your partner. There are many logistical and creative aspects to planning a wedding. Perhaps the most critical one is developing – and sticking to – a budget.
Factors Influencing Your Wedding Expenses
How much you end up spending on your wedding depends on an assortment of factors, from the size of your guest list to the style of the wedding. When your wedding takes place and how far in advance you get everything organized can also influence the overall cost. Of course, wedding prices vary greatly depending on a number of things, including location, venue, number of guests and your budget.
Analyzing Average Wedding Expenditures
While wedding prices may feel overwhelming to couples, planning a budget can be extremely helpful to save some money. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the average cost of a U.S. wedding in 2020 was $19,000 — much less than the national average of $28,000 in 2019. Despite the effect COVID-19 had on the price of a wedding ceremony and reception, wedding costs moving forward will likely be closer to the average costs in 2019. For instance, couples in Pennsylvania spent an average of $35,900 on their weddings in 2019.
| Region/Year | Average Cost |
|---|---|
| U.S. National Average (2019) | $28,000 |
| U.S. National Average (2020) | $19,000 |
| Pennsylvania Average (2019) | $35,900 |