Average Wedding Cost: National Average Rose In 2011

The average cost of a wedding rose in 2011 for the first time since 2008, according to a new report released Wednesday from wedding websites TheKnot.com and WeddingChannel.com.

The Real Weddings Survey, which polled nearly 18,000 U.S. couples who tied the knot in 2011, found that the national average cost of a wedding had grown to $27,021 from $26,984 in 2010.

The annual report also revealed that in 2011, one in five U.S. couples spent more than $30,000 on their weddings, while 11 percent spent more than $40,000.

The research shows that couples are not as concerned with the economy and "are increasingly comfortable investing more in the once-in-a-lifetime occasion of their wedding," Carley Roney, co-founder of The Knot, said in a press release.

The survey also examined other interesting wedding trends across the U.S., such as the average age of brides and grooms (29 years old and 30 years old, respectively) and the most expensive places to get married in the country.

Click through the slideshow below to read some of the survey's other interesting findings.

Comments

[smp276dp]

12:51 PM on 03/26/2012

Get married in city hall and use that money for something worth while.
Like a down payment on a house. That is just stupid to spend that kind of money.
If people stop getting married that price will come down.

[Concerned Now]

09:47 AM on 03/26/2012

Some people can have money and be silly at the same time. Money does not make for a successful marraige, comittment does.

[toddisit]

09:39 AM on 03/26/2012

WOM, waste of money. One day out of your life.

[Onalaska]

09:38 AM on 03/26/2012

A couple married at a $5,000 wedding are just as married as a couple married at a $50,000 wedding.
Nobody will remember the details or really even care years down the road. People need to be smart.

[Sprinks678]

09:23 AM on 03/26/2012

I know a family that took out a second mortgage on their house to give their daughter a $45 K wedding. They'll probably being paying on their loan longer than their daughter will be married.

[nebro]

09:13 AM on 03/26/2012

I only have one child, a daughter. I told her we had $25k put aside for her wedding. Had an additional $5k I didn't tell her about, because these things always seem to go over budget. We were so careful, we came in at $22. All I cared about was that our guests - most from out of town- were comfortable, were well-fed and entertained, that the wedding ceremony was memorable, and the photographer was top-rate. Had I had less to spend, we would have made it work with less. No one should go into debt for a one-day event.

[llaurie21]

09:12 AM on 03/26/2012

Spending that kind of money is for couples who want to put on a show. Remember, the guests won't remember all the details you foolishly spent on the wedding, but you or your parents will remember as they are making the payments on the loan you or they took out to get married. My husband and I had a beautiful wedding at a beautiful winery and a private dinner for only our close family and it was beautiful and we are madly in love and didn't need to draw out of our savings to blow on senseless details.

[psandysdad]

09:11 AM on 03/26/2012

And the average cost of funerals keeps rising, too.

[Sprinks678]

09:07 AM on 03/26/2012

I found a pretty, beaded, vintage dress at a thrift shop for $40. My husband wore a suit he already had. We used flowers from our garden for bouquets. We had 18 of our closest friends and family at the courthouse with us when we married. A friend took great pictures. Afterwards we all went to our favorite Mexican restaurant for a late lunch. The bill was around $300 including the tip. 13 years later we're still as happy and in love as ever. I just can't get into the whole structured, expensive wedding day. I'd rather spend my money on something permanant and not a big party. I'm in the process of helping my daughter plan her wedding. She wants someting a little more elegant, but we're not going to spend as much as the national average!

[mraustin]

09:04 AM on 03/26/2012

My wife and I got married on the Courthouse lawn by a judge who we paid $50,00 to step outside and perform the ceremony. Including the license, we spent a grand total of about $75.00. Twenty four years later, we are happily married, living in a $300,000.00 house, (paid for) and don't owe anyone a dime. Extravagant weddings are a silly waste of money, even if you can afford it.

[Onalaska]

09:39 AM on 03/26/2012

Totally agree! I often think that couple that start out lower, and have to work hard end up much better off. Congrats!

[Kelli Cullen]

09:00 AM on 03/26/2012

We got married last week (3/17) and saved over $10,000 just by having a "winter" wedding. Venues offer packages that are cheaper and more inclusive because its a slower time. Plus if you're at the age where you have 3+ weddings a year, there's something very exciting about being the first wedding of the season and people are excited to go instead of tired and broke as they are in the more popular months later in the year. My dresses was gorgeous and with alterations $300, and we used simple seasonal flowers. We did a photo print (that I designed using photo shop) for our invitations, did most of the extra printing ourselves and using non floral centerpieces can make your tables unique and interesting at a fraction of the cost. If you are a DIY bride, search for craftstore coupons, and enlist your bridal party so you can use multiple coupons for all of your craft supplies. We also had a jack and jill instead of a stag/bridal party to help off set the cost of the wedding. We had awesome family/friends/bridal party who helped with the food, and 5 tables of raffle prizes for our guests to win.

[rkeeeballs]

08:57 AM on 03/26/2012

Got married by the justice of the peace in 1988 for the cost of a marriage license only..$10...Still married, and I would not have changed a thing !...But you go ahead !...$

[Rich Wretch]

08:51 AM on 03/26/2012

That is twenty seven thousand dollars that is simply flushed down the toilet. Get married by a Justice of the Peace and hand out Big Macs with extra pink slime to everyone in attendance and use the money for a down-payment on a home or to invest for retirement. My two cents!

[upstatenytruthhunters]

08:44 AM on 03/26/2012

My wedding in 2006 only cost us 500 DOLLARS! YUP! 500 Dollars! How!? Outdoors wedding, no tux.. easy. If you have your own nice black dress pants, and white wedding shirt (guaberra shirts--the same you find in Central America), the bestman has same thing.

Also my wife had nice simple dress. Everyone paid their own. Hey, nice fancy dress shoes that is black leather.. walmart for 6 dollars! It was clearance sale. Um.. for cake and for food, everyone in wedding group cooked. I made Polyasian Chicken enough for 75 people or so. We had 48 guests with 8 not coming. All GONE and wanted my 2nd! I was disappointed. But was real pleased people LOVED my chicken. They didn't know that I made it. Too few knew and told me that and some were shocked by that.

We also had salad, fruits, and cheese and crackers, etc. Food itself was like 75 dollars we spend. My wife and I made our wedding cake.

Wedding was great! Honeymoon cost separately at 300 dollars for 4 nights. Actual total for both wedding and honeymoon was 800! You can do the same! Get rid of tucedos, caterings, etc. DIY weddings!! Now, can I be a DIY Wedding Channel host? ;) Haha.

[Rich Wretch]

08:52 AM on 03/26/2012

And your 'concubine' divorced you in 2007 right?

[upstatenytruthhunters]

12:18 PM on 03/26/2012

STILL married to my wife. We got married in August 2006 and this is 2012. 8 years next month we have been together. Met her at a singles dance!

[rkeeeballs]

08:59 AM on 03/26/2012

And that's a great way to do it ! Bet everyone had a good time ! got you beat at $10...lol

[upstatenytruthhunters]

12:18 PM on 03/26/2012

hahaha. cool man! Yeah, we all had great time! At the end of the wedding, which was evening. tiki torch on.. and bonfire!

[quartrhoss]

08:41 AM on 03/26/2012

Just goes to show that people have forgotten it isn't about the wedding, its about the marriage. Spending that kind of money goes beyond foolish.