The wedding boom of 2022 may be over after a glut of nuptials following years of pandemic-related delays, but the cost of marriage continues to rise as the typical ceremony now costs couples $29,000!
In 2019, before the sudden rush of couples getting married, the average cost was around $24,700. The $29,000 cost is even a $1,000 jump from the 2022 average.
The average cost of hosting a wedding was also higher in Northeastern regions, including Washington, DC ($45,400), New Jersey ($44,200), and Massachusetts ($40,000).
Weddings in the South of the country seem to cost half as much with the average cost of nuptials in Mississippi ($25,000), Kentucky ($24,500) and Alabama ($20,000). The cheapest place in the country to get married is Alaska, with the average cost around $12,000.
But regardless of venue, the rise in wedding expenses can largely be attributed to escalating costs faced by vendors due to inflation.
The surge in weddings in 2022, caused by a backlog of ceremonies delayed by the pandemic, has diminished, but the cost of marriage continues to rise
The average price of a wedding is now $29,000 for couples, up from $28,000 the year before, while in 2019 the average cost was around $24,700
One of the biggest price increases has been for entertainment, with DJs now charging 25% more between 2019 and 2022.
One of the biggest price increases has been for entertainment, with DJs now charging 25% more between 2019 and 2022.
Others who have lost colossal amounts of work during the pandemic have also seen their rates increase, such as makeup artists and hairstylists with a 20% and 18% increase, respectively.
Even the items to decorate the premises increased by 20% with flowers over the three-year period.
Wedding dresses also increased by 19% over the same period. All of the above categories increased more than the cumulative inflation rate of 14%.
Other wedding essentials that have increased, but less than inflation, include photographers – with rates up 8%.
Other people who lost their jobs during the pandemic also increased their rates, such as makeup artists and hairstylists with an increase of 20% and 18%, respectively.
Even the items for decorating the premises increased by 20% in flowers over the three-year period
The cost of feeding customers increased with the average cost of dining per person up 7% while the cost of renting a venue increased by the same amount.
Wedding cakes have also increased – and not just in the oven. Their price is now 2% higher than in 2019.
The only item that appears to have gone down in value is groom’s wear, which is down 3%.
In a survey conducted by Zolaaround 300 wedding vendors reported that 83% of their business costs are expected to increase in 2023.
Additionally, 26% of vendors said an increase in the cost of goods was to blame along with the overall price escalation in the last tab.
Around 17% of providers surveyed said couples had smaller service budgets, with 77% of providers now having increased their rates.
Wedding dresses also increased by 19% in the three years between 2019 and 2022
Room rental and cost of feeding your hungry guests increased by 7%
Emma Dykstra, who runs Deborah’s Specialty Cakes, a family bakery in Athens, Georgia, explained how supplier costs have risen dramatically, leading her to raise prices twice in the past year.
The bakery has raised prices by around a third or more, which means some customers are heading elsewhere once they get out of their price range.
“We’ve had to kind of adjust to that, and we also want to make sure we’re paying our employees as well, so we’ve had to increase their hourly rates,” Dykstra said. “This results in slightly higher costs for the customer.”
Rising costs mean the bakery now caters to a higher income clientele.
“We haven’t raised our price in ages and we hate having to because we really want to be as accessible to people as possible.”
The number of marriages is expected to decline from the peak recorded last year – when more than 2.6 million marriages took place in the United States
Prices for wedding cakes have also increased – their price is now 2% higher than in 2019
The only item that appears to have gone down in value is the groom’s garment, which is down 3%.
“They’re really very mindful of the cost of a wedding and the decisions they have to make based on their personal style and what day they may have been thinking about for a long time,” Emily Forrest, Zola’s director of communications says.
To cope with rising expenses, some couples explore the second-hand market or opt for weekday or morning celebrations to cut costs.
“Flowers or setups or anything that’s really heavy in decorating and requires extra labor on site, those costs go up dramatically,” said Paige Thom, co-founder of Weddings by Leigh, a wedding planning service. Las Vegas-based wedding.
“Everyone is feeling the pain – rent, groceries and gas – so if you’re trying to keep a team, just like us, you give raises. The idea of cheap labor no longer really exists.
