6 Women Share What They Spent On Their Wedding — & Who Paid
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!"
