2020 Average Wedding Cost and Covid-19 Wedding Market Guidance
The most current Wedding Industry Covid-19 Guidance is available here:
2020 Average Wedding Cost and Covid-19 Wedding Market Guidance
2020 and 2021 will likely be two of the worst years in wedding industry history. Both spending and the number of people marrying are down significantly. 2020 and 2021 numbers are based on the following data: 1,081 cost survey samples from people getting married, 50,083 behavioral data samples from our wedding cost estimator, 1,452 Covid-19 survey samples from wedding vendors, 4,069 Covid-19 survey samples from people getting married, Census Pulse Survey, and Bureau of Economic Analysis data.
NOTE: all markets have been updated to support the current 2020 spending and number of weddings forecasts out to 2024.
Covid-19 Wedding Market Guidance
This guidance supersedes all pervious guidance we have issued on Covid-19 and the Wedding Industry.
Wedding Spending
For 2020, the average wedding cost came in at $20,286 down 21.6% from the 2019 total of $24,675. For 2021, we believe that couples will continue to spend less and the current estimate is at $22,473. Up slightly over 2020, but still down overall. 2020 spending is based on an average guest count of 108. This is higher than expected, but keep in mind full weddings took place the first quarter of 2020 and have completely different restrictions on gatherings.
Over 2 years, the industry will lose approximately $47 billion in total sales, with only slight gains in 2022, 2023, and 2024, there may be surge demand that would generate an additional $13 billion in total sales. But we will likely never recover the loses from 2020 and 2021.
Number of Weddings
Many States have not published their 2020 numbers yet, so we might be months from knowing the exact number. But, we can tell you that Hawaii saw a 50% decrease, Florida saw a 23% decrease, and New Hampshire saw a 10% decrease. It really depends on the State and what they allow or not. In general, we think 2020 will come in between 1.2 and 1.4 million weddings. As for 2021, we thought there would be a surge, but its clear now that this will not happen until 2022 or 2023. Most of 2021 will be down until we can get widespread distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine or we get the virus under control. Based on what couples and vendors are saying in our surveys, 2021 will look remarkably similar to 2020. We believe that the number of weddings will come in between 1.8 and 2.0 million for 2021.
Over 2 years, the industry will lose 1.3 to 1.6 million weddings with some surge in 2022, 2023, and 2024. But we do not believe that surge over 3 years will be enough to recover the loses. These couples will find the simplest ways to marry and start their life or continue to cohabitate with their partner.
2020 Average Wedding Cost
| Market Totals | 2019 | 2020 | Chg % | |
| Market Summary | 24675 | 20286 | -21.6% | |
| Attire & Accessories | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Dress Accessories * | 222 | 227 | 2.2% | |
| Tuxedo/suit/other Accessories * | 104 | 107 | 2.8% | |
| Tuxedo/suit/other Rent/purchase * | 211 | 217 | 2.8% | |
| Wedding Dress * | 1217 | 1251 | 2.7% | |
| Beauty & Spa | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Hair Service * | 68 | 70 | 2.9% | |
| Makeup Service * | 56 | 58 | 3.4% | |
| Manicure & Pedicure * | 45 | 46 | 2.2% | |
| Entertainment | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| DJ/MC * | 739 | 759 | 2.6% | |
| Entertainment lighting | 333 | 341 | 2.3% | |
| Live Band * | 1724 | 1773 | 2.8% | |
| Musician/s, Soloist, or Ensemble * | 624 | 642 | 2.8% | |
| Flowers & Decorations | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Bouquets * | 337 | 346 | 2.6% | |
| Boutonnieres, Corsages * | 152 | 156 | 2.6% | |
| Wedding Venue Decorations * | 443 | 456 | 2.9% | |
| Wedding Venue Flowers & Arrangements * | 598 | 337 | -77.4% | |
| Wedding Venue Table Centerpieces * | 326 | 185 | -76.2% | |
| Gifts & Favors | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Gift/s for Attendants * | 102 | 103 | 1.0% | |
| Gift/s for Parents * | 122 | 123 | 0.8% | |
| Tips (for all services) * | 384 | 214 | -79.4% | |
| Wedding Favors * | 241 | 136 | -77.2% | |
| Invitations | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Ceremony Programs * | 129 | 73 | -76.7% | |
| Engagement Announcements * | 111 | 64 | -73.4% | |
| Guest Book * | 61 | 35 | -74.3% | |
| Invitations & Reply Cards * | 222 | 126 | -76.2% | |
| Postage * | 105 | 60 | -75.0% | |
| Reception Menus * | 126 | 71 | -77.5% | |
| Save the Date Cards * | 112 | 64 | -75.0% | |
| Table Name and Escort/place Cards * | 85 | 48 | -77.1% | |
| Thank You Cards * | 90 | 51 | -76.5% | |
| Jewelry | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Bracelet | 175 | 179 | 2.2% | |
| Earrings | 152 | 155 | 1.9% | |
| Engagement Ring * | 3380 | 3456 | 2.2% | |
| Necklace | 201 | 205 | 2.0% | |
| Wedding ring/band for HER * | 769 | 787 | 2.3% | |
| Wedding ring/band for HIM * | 454 | 465 | 2.4% | |
| Photography & Video | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Digital or Photo cd/dvd * | 282 | 285 | 1.1% | |
| Engagement Session * | 388 | 392 | 1.0% | |
| Photo Booth | 379 | 384 | 1.3% | |
| Prints and/or Enlargements * | 234 | 239 | 2.1% | |
| Wedding album/s or photo book/s * | 405 | 414 | 2.2% | |
| Wedding Photographer * | 1589 | 1634 | 2.8% | |
| Wedding Videographer * | 1073 | 1104 | 2.8% | |
| Planner/Coordinator | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| A La Carte Services * | 939 | 962 | 2.4% | |
| Day of Coordinator * | 806 | 825 | 2.3% | |
| For Getting Started * | 864 | 884 | 2.3% | |
| Full Service * | 2704 | 2773 | 2.5% | |
| Month of Direction * | 1032 | 1055 | 2.2% | |
| Venue, Catering & Rentals | 2019 | 2020 | ||
| Ceremony Officiator * | 212 | 215 | 1.4% | |
| Hotel Room for After Reception * | 314 | 319 | 1.6% | |
| Limo Rental * | 486 | 494 | 1.6% | |
| Other Transportation * | 520 | 291 | -78.7% | |
| Rehearsal Dinner * | 563 | 320 | -75.9% | |
| Wedding Cake/dessert * | 413 | 234 | -76.5% | |
| Wedding Venue Accessories * | 323 | 185 | -74.6% | |
| Wedding Venue Bar Service * | 2365 | 1361 | -73.8% | |
| Wedding Venue Food Service * | 4618 | 2645 | -74.6% | |
| Wedding Venue Location * | 3638 | 3734 | 2.6% | |
| Wedding Venue Rentals * | 1749 | 1392 | -25.6% |
* = item included in the total average wedding cost.
Get More Wedding Data!
Unlock valuable insights and knowledge about the wedding industry with our in-depth analysis.
