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Jayla
Champion October 2025

Over or Under: 27k Wedding Budget?

Jayla, on September 11, 2018 at 11:05 AM

Posted in Planning 187

This one is definitely a frequently asked question! When you exclude the engagement ring and the honeymoon, the average cost of a wedding is $27,000. Unfortunately, most couples budget an average of $16,000 for their wedding and 40% of couples go over their budget! Based on the total ceremony and...

This one is definitely a frequently asked question! When you exclude the engagement ring and the honeymoon, the average cost of a wedding is $27,000. Unfortunately, most couples budget an average of $16,000 for their wedding and 40% of couples go over their budget! Based on the total ceremony and reception costs, couples end up spending an average of $216 per guest.

Is your wedding budget in the same ballpark? Are you over or under $27,000? *you don't have to share exact numbers!!


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187 Comments

  • kymarmck
    Super March 2020
    kymarmck ·
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    Waaaay under (thankfully). We also live in an area, though, where you can almost always pull off a $10k wedding (which is what we're doing) unless you go into the major cities!

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  • Mrs Sullivan
    Expert June 2019
    Mrs Sullivan ·
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    Way over!

    Our budget for just the wedding (rehearsal dinner, ceremony/reception) is $50K. That doesn't include my engagement ring (custom designed/made) or our mini-moon and honeymoon.

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  • 2d Bride
    Champion October 2009
    2d Bride ·
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    That "average" cost is totally misleading. What you have is a few people who go way over, and most who are way under.

    For example, suppose you have five couples. Four have $10,000 weddings. One has a $95,000 wedding. Average cost is now $27,000. But that doesn't mean that most people are anywhere near that. And that's even leaving aside that people who answer those surveys tend to have higher cost weddings. (The people who just go to the courthouse over their lunch hour never end up on the industry's list of people to contact for the surveys.) Of course, the wedding industry is happy to have the misleading statistics, because then they can convince people that they are getting a real deal, even if they are spending about what most people spend.

    As for us, we were at $10,000. And that was with ceremony and luncheon for about a dozen people in one high cost area, and at-home reception for 60 people in a different high cost area.

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  • N
    Devoted June 2019
    Natalie ·
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    WAY under! Our main vendors are around $5000 and we're hoping to spend less than $1000 on a honeymoon.

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  • Laura
    Dedicated October 2018
    Laura ·
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    Over.... especially when counting honeymoon and rings....

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  • Ashley
    Dedicated October 2018
    Ashley ·
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    Waaay under i think we are right about 1200 dress included
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  • B
    Devoted September 2018
    Bri ·
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    We're way under. I can't imagine getting an engagement ring that costs more than a honeymoon like the infographic says is average.
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  • Ingrid
    Super September 2018
    Ingrid ·
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    $10k engagement ring, $28k wedding (if you include our wedding rings), and possibly no honeymoon. So I guess we are pretty average for our budget!


    Funny story: My mom told me she'd like me to stay under $5k when I first got engaged. Then she started getting excited and told me all the things I have to have at the wedding. I don't mind her upgrades one bit as long as she's the one paying!

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  • Laura
    VIP November 2019
    Laura ·
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    Way, way, way under. Our budget is around $3k including honeymoon. Obviously we’re not having a fancy affair but it works for us.
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  • Ingrid
    Super September 2018
    Ingrid ·
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    View Quoted Comment

    I had always said that too! But I am one of two daughters, and my sister wants an elopement to Scotland. So I think my mom wants to pour in all the details for the only traditional wedding she'll get to be MOB for. And I will treasure these memories forever!

    Not at all hating on you for being under!!! Just shedding some light from a girl who had your perspective and then changed Smiley smile

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  • BlessedBenton
    Dedicated December 2018
    BlessedBenton ·
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    It's ONE DAY! There's no way in hell I would spend $20k or even $10k on a WEDDING! Lol. I have three children who have college funds that need to be filled within the next several years. This is so insane. No judgement or anything but ehhhh.... that's a lot for one day.
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  • A
    Dedicated June 2019
    Andrea ·
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    Well under that. I'm doing a lot of things myself (making favors, chalkboard signs), and we are using minimal flowers since we're getting married outside in a gorgeous natural setting (it doesn't need much). And the flowers we do use will then go inside for the reception. We have a small-ish guest list, too, which helps.

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  • Ellebt
    Dedicated June 2019
    Ellebt ·
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    Over 😅 we're in California (LA/OC) and expecting about 300 guests so...
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  • Shaunte
    Expert December 2021
    Shaunte ·
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    Lol I'll just say we're over.

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  • MrsV1027
    Master October 2018
    MrsV1027 ·
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    We are way under that including flights and hotels. No way would we spend that much on a wedding

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  • Kate
    Devoted June 2019
    Kate ·
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    Under thank goodness. Ours is looking like it’ll be about $20k but I’m hoping I can get it down more.
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  • Lacie
    Devoted September 2018
    Lacie ·
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    Excluding rings and the honeymoon we are right around that number. Maybe slightly over. Based in Wichita, KS where things are generally less expensive. Just get a venue that has decor/tables/linens, etc. already included can save ya tons. Wish I would of known that in the beginning! Smiley amazing

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  • K
    Savvy July 2018
    Krissy ·
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    We didn’t go into our wedding with a budget, we just tried to keep things simple and small. We spent around $10,000 for everything (including my engagement ring and our wedding bands). We had a short engagement and paid cash as we went for everything, I suspect if we had longer engagement we might have spent more. However, this number doesn’t include a honey since we didn’t go on one.
    • Reply
  • Christina
    Dedicated June 2019
    Christina ·
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    Under! And hoping it stays that way!

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  • Yahaira
    Devoted November 2018
    Yahaira ·
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    My budget it’s between $10-15k.
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