Weddings are costly; Understanding the Breakdown?

You’re engaged!  Congratulations!!!  What happens next?  

Your budget is the first thing to consider.  The average wedding is more than a down payment on a beautiful home.  What do you do?  In this article, we will show you the average cost for a wedding these days in comparison to the past years.  

According to the Knot, this is a breakdown for a 2020 wedding:

• Venue - $16,107

• Photographer - $2,783

• Reception band/music - $4,156

• Florist - $2,534

• Videographer - $1,995

• Wedding dress - $1,564

• Groom's attire - $280

• Wedding cake - $582

• Ceremony site - $2,197

• Ceremony musicians - $755

• Invitations - $462

• Transportation - $859

• Favors - $268

• Rehearsal dinner - $1,378

• Engagement ring - $6,163

• Officiant - $278

• Catering (price per person) - $71

• Wedding day hair care - $119

• Wedding day make-up - $100

Wedding costs may vary in different states based on how many guests you are inviting, and how formal you want the occasion to be.  Keep in mind that the cost of a wedding with more than 100 people is significantly more than that of a smaller intimate wedding.  

50% of couples keep their wedding costs below $15,000 by opting for an intimate luxurious wedding.

Wedding traditions have not changed much over the years., figuring out who pays for a wedding can be somewhat complicated, given that so many people are getting married or remarried later in life.  The brides family pay the most for the wedding.   According to the Knot the bride’s family pays about 45% of all wedding costs.  The bride’s parents contribute about 41% of wedding costs and the groom’s family pitches in too, by paying 13% of total wedding costs.  

Knowing what each family will commit to paying for the wedding is an important piece of knowledge, considering that you'll need to set up a wedding budget beforehand, and you'll want to know who's paying for individual wedding costs.  Listed below is the traditional breakdown:

What the Bride's family traditionally pays for:

• The reception, complete with drinks, food, music and a wedding cake

• The wedding ceremony, including flowers and any special decorations

• The bride's wedding gown

• The photographer and videographer

• Limousine or special transportation to the wedding and reception

What the Groom's family traditionally pays for:

• The wedding rehearsal dinner

• Wedding gifts for the bride and groom

What the Bride traditionally pays for:

• The wedding ring for the groom

• Any wedding gift for the groom

• The bride's hairstyling and make-up

• Wedding gifts for her bridesmaids

What the Groom traditionally pays for:

• The bride and groom's marriage license

• The bride's engagement ring

• The honeymoon

• Any wedding gift for his groomsmen

• The officiant's wedding fee

However, today’s weddings and events are done in non-traditional ways.  People are looking for something unique and different that is tailored to their lifestyles.  

Having a wedding planner will help with understanding all of the formalities.  Reach out to us to allow us to carefully articulate your love story, while implementing style, charm and sophistication into every detail of your special day.

Epic Event Strategists is ready to serve you with knowledge, grace, and poise; to make your special day come to life with a grand entrance for you and all your guests.  You may contact us via telephone at 312.428.5103 or email: info@epiceventstrategists.com or text 815-596-9060: We are located 4440 Lincoln Ave, Matteson, IL. Our website is www.epiceventstrategists.com.

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