Wedding season is here. And if you’re planning to tie the knot in the near future, you probably have money on your mind.
According to recent statistics, the national average wedding cost is just shy of $34,000 which, considering the median household income in the U.S. is $56,516, is pretty high. A wedding is supposed to be one of the most important days in your life — but does it have to break the bank?
This time of year, it can feel like there’s a never-ending stream of engagements and weddings. And while it’s tempting to compare your own life with others’, it’s important to plan your wedding (and your life) on your own terms. So, if you’re planning your big day, it’s important to bear in mind how to approach your wedding planning in a way that’s wallet-friendly, but also celebrates your relationship with your spouse-to-be.
While statistics are helpful, we wanted to get to the bottom of how real women are planning — and budgeting for — their weddings. So we chatted with sixty women across the U.S. to gain some insight into how real people approach budgeting, planning, and executing their weddings. Ahead, six of them give insights on how they got through wedding planning, what they ended up spending, and who helped them foot the bill.
Age: 29
Location: Chicago, IL
Yearly income: $ 53,000
Year married: 2018
Who paid for your wedding?
"My husband and I paid $10,000 total and then our parents chipped in $3,500 each for $7,000 total."
How did you finance your wedding?
"We had a wedding savings account that we put in $900 per month for a year."
What was the total cost of your wedding?
$17,000
Did you accumulate any debt?
"No."
Do you wish you’d done anything differently?
"I wish that I had spent more on the photographer."
What’s your advice to someone who’s planning a wedding?
"Don’t leave things until the last minute!"
Age: 30
Location: Atlanta, GA
Yearly income: $51,000
Year married: 2019
Who paid for your wedding?
"I paid the bulk of the cost for the wedding. My family chipped in on certain things, and my husband gave a small sum."
How did you finance your wedding?
"We paid for it very slowly. We sold a lot of things to make way for it."
What was the total cost of your wedding?
$19,000
Did you accumulate any debt?
"No."
Do you wish you’d done anything differently?
"I wish we would have waited and saved rather than stressed out. I appreciate my family’s assistance, but I would have preferred to pay for it on my own. I also wish I didn’t feel pressured by family or expectations. I would have invited less people, and saved the money."
What’s your advice to someone who’s planning a wedding?
"Do what YOU want. Don’t let your mother-in-law or mother sway your guest list!"
Age: 29
Location: Philadelphia, PA
Yearly income: $150,000
Year married: 2018
Who paid for your wedding?
"My husband has owned the house we live in since 2008. When I moved in with him, I was making less than he did. We decided that instead of paying him rent, I would contribute to utilities and put money in a joint savings account. When we got engaged, that savings money became our wedding budget. We ended up putting aside over $30,000. My parents agreed to pay for our venue and our caterer, which did not include booze. My husband’s parents gave us $10,000 to apply however we wanted. "
How did you finance your wedding?
"Through our wedding savings account."
What was the total cost of your wedding?
$59,000
Did you accumulate any debt?
"No."
Do you wish you’d done anything differently?
"I’m still in love with our wedding, but if I could change one thing it would be to have more flowers."
What’s your advice to someone who’s planning a wedding?
"Prioritize! We really didn’t care about invitations, so we got the cheapest option off of Minted. It ended up working out exceptionally well, because our planner ended up being able to buy the font on our Minted invitations, and we used that throughout our wedding. It created a cohesive design element that was affordable. We also weren’t interested in a cake, so for dessert we did tiramisu and a cookie table, which cost us less than $400. Also, if you fall in love with a photographer who you can’t afford, ask if they have different prices for their assistants. We ended up saving about $1,000 that way."
Age: 29
Location: Cleveland, OH
Yearly income: $69,000
Year married: 2018
Who paid for your wedding?
"My parents are divorced and split the cost of my wedding. My mom said it was because I was such a ‘good girl’ growing up."
What was the total cost of your wedding?
$11,000
Did you accumulate any debt?
"No."
Do you wish you’d done anything differently?
"I wish we would’ve chosen a different venue."
What’s your advice to someone who’s planning a wedding?
"Don’t trust anyone to handle anything. Do absolutely everything yourself."
Age: 21
Location: Hamilton, NJ
Yearly income: $20,000
Year married: 2019
Who paid for your wedding?
"My father-in-law gave us $2,000 to spend for our wedding, I was surprised when my partner said his dad was giving us [such a] large sum. We used all of that and then covered the additional amount for our rings, honeymoon, and outfits."
What was the total cost of your wedding?
$2,400
Did you accumulate any debt?
"No."
Do you wish you’d done anything differently?
"I feel good about what we spent. We had a lovely day with people who matter to us commemorating the next step in our lives. It was worth the money in my opinion. Only thing I would have done differently is not spend the money on our cheap aisle runner."
What’s your advice to someone who’s planning a wedding?
"All that matters is the couple, the officiant, and the rings. Everything and everyone else is optional. My stepdad didn’t attend my wedding because he didn’t approve, and I refused to let that put a damper on my happiness. You do you regardless of any other circumstances."
Age: 30
Location: Richmond, VA
Yearly income: $ 56,000
Year married: 2018
Who paid for your wedding?
"My husband and I did."
How did you finance your wedding?
"We had some small savings and used credit card for the rest."
What was the total cost of your wedding?
$15,000
Did you accumulate any debt?
"Yes — $10,000."
Do you wish you’d done anything differently?
"No regrets about what I spent. I wish we would have splurged more in choosing a nicer resort. "
What’s your advice to someone who’s planning a wedding?
"Destination weddings (or eloping) are the best way to go."
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Source: Refinery29 – Ludmila Leiva