Average Wedding Cost - $28,400??? SAY WHAT????

Wow I def can't afford that

It's less than what we are spending.

It's not really fair to compare prices for a family reunion and a wedding. People have much higher expectations for wedding food.

I think it depends on the people who are coming we're doing bbq and all our guests are completely happy with that. And we were able to get three meats three sides lemonade tea and a baked potato bar for 1700 for 125 people. Were getting married in a church and our reception is in a barn. Wouldn't have it any other way.

I think when you add the engagement ring and the honeymoon, it's not really painting an accurate picture of the budget...but that's just me.

Our wedding will be right around $10k and that doesn't include rings. Our ceremony venue is $700 (golf club, which is the most expensive venue in our town), our food is $18/pp and that includes gratuity. DJ is $600 for 6 hours of coverage and our photographer is $2600 for 2 photographers all day. I read other posters on here that are saying their meals will be over $100/plate. That's crazy to me, I've never been to a wedding that had an open bar, and usually the food is buffet style. It really does depend on the area and cost of living!

That's average to low in my area (NY), and it's not that I "want" to pay that much, I definitely don't. We don't have a choice in pricing. I'm sure there's ways to go lower, I'm doing mine as cost effective as possible. I could have had a backyard wedding or a destination wedding, but for what I want it is what it is. I'm not getting married at a castle or anything. And our parents aren't helping us. This is a few years of savings. A brand new 3 bed/2 bath house is at least $500k or up in my area.

Ugh date twin... Freaking long island right Speaking of castles did u see the liw post about oheka...44k for a Friday night in January lol!

If you don't count our rings (e-ring or wedding bands), our wedding will be ~$8.5k. In SoCal!!! It's not impossible, but man is it HARD to do. Go-go frugal SoCal Bride!!!

But yeah, if we mysteriously got $50k that we had to either spend on the wedding or not get at all, you bet I'd spend every last dollar!

Lol guess I better hit the lottery soon then...

In my area (Delaware) it averages between 18 thousand and 32 thousand. We are spending much less.

Dress and tux: 1200 (includes fittings, accessories and shoes)

Flowers: $120 (includes centerpieces and bouquet)

Church and minister: $500 + $50 for marriage license

Photography: $ 1000

Reception location and catering: $2500

Makeup and hair: $250

So around 5600.

I mean, I personally think it is ridiculous. I don't know, maybe it is normal in other parts, over here it is only normal if you aren't watching your money or expenses.

Linzay, I wish I did! We're getting married at Crystal Cove ($250 for 1 hr), and our reception is at the Norman Murray community center in Mission Viejo. They are SUPER reasonably priced. Pics of our reception location: http://rayandjenn.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/reception-secured/

I think some of the estimates are low.

Http://www.costofwedding.com/

You can plug in your zipcode and find the average cost for your area. FYI, Orange County is between $24,630 and $41,050, and LA County is $22,850 and $38,084. We're getting married in OC.

There's definitely opportunities to cut costs everywhere. Not every aspect of your wedding has to be "traditional"

I'm in So Cal as well and I'm spending around $8000. My guest list is small otherwise I don't know how else we'd be able to afford anything.

I can see how this would be easy to spend on a wedding, but this is way more than I had to spend or could justify spending on my own wedding.

Just remember, Melissa-- you can be just as married for about $300-- that'll get you a license, an officiant, and two witnesses. Everything else-- the flowers, cake, dress, matching honor attendants, etc will NOT make you any more married at the end of the day. You have your budget, now figure out what you *have* to have-- is it the dress? The DJ? The video, and add it back in til either you're satisfied or your budget's gone, then roll with that.

I agree with most that it depends on location. Also, remember some people have bands and not DJs that are much more expensive! In my area I wouldn't hesitate to say that $28000 would be on the low side of weddings. I live outside DC. My budget is higher. I don't know anyone in my area who hasn't had a high budget. It's all subjective!