Spending is on the rise across reception categories, and couples are spending more on their catering, musicians and cake in 2014. Spending for cocktail hours also rose to 76% from 69% in 2010. Couples are spending less on the ceremony. In 2014, 33% of couples hired pianists and organists for their ceremony, down from 49% in 2009, and 28% of couples held their ceremony in a religious institution, down from 41% in 2009.
On average, the bride's parents contribute 43%, the bride and groom contribute 43%, and the groom's parents contribute 12% of the total wedding budget (others account for the remaining 2%). Only 12% of couples pay for the wedding entirely themselves.
In 2014, 45% of couples went over budget, about 1 in 4 (26%) of couples stayed within their budget, and only 6% of couples came out under budget. 23% didn't even have a wedding budget, up from 17% in 2009.
Based on average cost of a wedding in 2014, couples spend the most on their weddings in the following areas in the US. Five of the six most expensive areas to get married are in the New York/Tri-State area.
1. New York - Manhattan $76,328
2. New York - Long Island $55,327
3. New Jersey - North/Central $53,986
4. New York - Westchester/Hudson Valley $52,954
5. Illinois - Chicago $50,934
6. New York - Outer Boroughs $49,781
7. Pennsylvania - Philadelphia $44,090
8. Rhode Island $41,914
9. California - San Francisco/Greater Bay Area $39,690
10. New Jersey - South $39,191
11. California - Santa Barbara/Ventura $39,187
12. Washington DC/Northern Virginia/Suburban Maryland $39,025
13. Connecticut $38,925
14. Massachusetts - Boston $38,665
15. Florida - Southern $38,155
16. California - Los Angeles $37,317
17. Louisiana $35,532
18. Hawaii $34,958
19. Maryland - Baltimore $34,409
20. Texas - Houston $33,809
21. Illinois - Chicago Suburbs $33,391
22. California - Orange County/Inland Empire $33,118
23. California - San Diego $32,941
24. Pennsylvania - Pittsburgh $32,359
25. Texas - Austin/San Antonio $31,886
2014 Average Wedding Budget Breakdown
Category | 2014 National Average Spend | 2013 National Average Spend |
Overall Wedding (excluding honeymoon) | $31,213 ↑ | $29,858 |
Venue (reception hall) | $14,006 ↑ | $13,385 |
Photographer | $2,556 ↑ | $2,440 |
Wedding/Event Planner | $1,973 ↑ | $1,875 |
Reception Band | $3,587 ↑ | $3,469 |
Reception DJ | $1,124 ↑ | $1,038 |
Florist/Décor | $2,141 ↑ | $2,069 |
Videographer | $1,794 ↑ | $1,700 |
Wedding Dress | $1,357 ↑ | $1,281 |
Groom's Attire and Accessories | $254 ↑ | $248 |
Wedding Cake | $555 ↑ | $546 |
Ceremony Site | $1,901 ↑ | $1,793 |
Ceremony Musicians | $637 ↑ | $588 |
Invitations | $439 ↓ | $443 |
Transportation and Limousine | $767 ↑ | $732 |
Favors | $275 ↓ | $281 |
Rehearsal Dinner | $1,206 ↑ | $1,184 |
Engagement Ring | $5,855 ↑ | $5,598 |
Catering (price per person) | $68 ↑ | $66 |
Officiant | $266 ↑ | $260 |
The Knot 2014 Real Weddings Survey can be broken down on a region-by-region basis across more than 80 markets. Regional highlights include:
Cost of Weddings: New York City (Manhattan) and Long Island have the highest average wedding spend ($76,328 and $55,327, respectively), and Arkansas and Utah had the lowest average wedding spend ($18,031 and $15,257, respectively), excluding honeymoon.
Marriage Age: Nevada and New York City (Manhattan) have the oldest brides (32.7 and 32 years, respectively), whereas West Virginia and Kentucky have the youngest brides (26.8 and 26.9 years, respectively), on average.
Engagement Length: North/Central New Jersey and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, brides have the longest engagements (18 and 17.5 months, respectively), while brides in Utah and West Texas have the shortest (10 and 9.9 months, respectively), on average.
Wedding Size: As in 2013, Nebraska and Iowa brides have the largest number of wedding guests (208 and 189, respectively), and Hawaii and Nevada brides still have the smallest number of wedding guests (82 and 66, respectively).
Wedding Style: Savannah, Georgia, and Hawaii still have the most casual weddings (40% and 39%, respectively), while North/Central New Jersey and Long Island had the most formal (black tie) weddings (36% and 35%, respectively).
Wedding Dress Spend: Brides in Manhattan and Long Island spend the most on their dresses ($2,914 and $2,137, respectively), while Idaho and Alaska brides spend the least ($982 and $925, respectively).
Honeymoon: Couples from Alabama (87%), North/Central New Jersey (85%), Utah (85%) and Tennessee (85%) are most likely to book a honeymoon, while couples in North Dakota and Alaska are least likely to book a honeymoon (44% each).
Gift Registry: Brides in Kentucky and Ohio are most likely to register for wedding gifts (96% and 95%, respectively), while brides in Hawaii and Nevada are least likely to register (69% and 68%, respectively).
About The Knot 2014 Real Weddings Survey
The 2014 Real Weddings Survey captured responses from nearly 16,000 US brides married between January 1 and December 31, 2014. Respondents were recruited throughout the year from TheKnot.com membership, which represents nearly 80% of brides nationwide. Brides received survey invitations shortly after their wedding date and were asked a comprehensive series of questions about the event and their planning process. All qualified respondents attested that they were 18 or older and had a wedding in 2014.
Survey respondents represent a variety of ethnicities and educational and income levels, and are geographically dispersed across the country. The survey and data management partner for the study was Decipher Inc.
About The Knot
The Knot is the nation's leading wedding resource, reaching nearly every couple in America through the #1 wedding website, TheKnot.com; mobile apps, The Knot national and local wedding magazines; The Knot book series; and syndicated columns in newspapers nationwide. The Knot is the flagship brand of XO Group Inc. (NYSE: XOXO), XO Group Inc. (the "Company") (NYSE: XOXO, xogroupinc.com), the premier consumer internet and media company dedicated to guiding people through transformative life stages - from getting married, moving in together and having a baby.@TheKnot.
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CONTACTS:
Caty Bennett
Public Relations Manager, The Knot
XO Group Inc.
(212) 515-3595
cbennett@xogrp.com
Jennifer Perciballi
VP, Corporate Communications
XO Group Inc.
212.515.1595
jperciballi@xogrp.com
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