Spending for weddings increased to $27,063 in 2021 up 25% from $20,286 in 2020. This is a significant increase over a horrible 2020 and a welcome sign for the industry. Details of spending changes are listed below. Average number of guests increased to 124 in 2021 up from 107 in 2020.
The latest data is based on 1,669 cost survey samples from people getting married, 39,235 behavioral data samples from our wedding cost estimator collected in 2021. Demographic distribution includes multiple ethnicities, education levels, occupation types, income levels, first, second, and third plus marriages, and ages 16 plus.
NOTE: Products; The final numbers are based on spending of couples getting married, not prices. This includes purchases of both new and used items. Services: The final numbers are based on spending of couples getting married, not vendor prices. This includes purchases of services from professionals, someone that simply provides the service, or a hired family member or friend.
2020 | 2021 | Chg % | ||
Market Totals | ||||
Market Summary | $20,286 | $27,063 | 25.0% | |
Attire & Accessories | ||||
Dress Accessories | $227 | $245 | 7.3% | |
Tuxedo/suit/other Accessories | $107 | $100 | -7.0% | |
Tuxedo/suit/other Rent/purchase | $217 | $273 | 20.5% | |
Wedding Dress | $1,251 | $1,499 | 16.5% | |
Bakery | ||||
Wedding Cake/dessert | $234 | $454 | 48.5% | |
Beauty & Spa | ||||
Hair Service | $70 | $88 | 20.5% | |
Makeup Service | $58 | $76 | 23.7% | |
Manicure & Pedicure | $46 | $57 | 19.3% | |
Ceremony Officiator | ||||
Ceremony Officiator | $215 | $249 | 13.7% | |
Entertainment | ||||
DJ/MC | $759 | $853 | 11.0% | |
Entertainment lighting | $341 | $414 | 17.6% | |
Live Band | $1,773 | $2,856 | 37.9% | |
Musician/s, Soloist, or Ensemble | $642 | $799 | 19.6% | |
Event Catering & Bar Service | ||||
Wedding Venue Bar Service | $1,361 | $2,144 | 36.5% | |
Wedding Venue Food Service | $2,645 | $4,164 | 36.5% | |
Event Location/Venue | ||||
Wedding Venue Location | $3,734 | $5,220 | 28.5% | |
Event Rentals | ||||
Wedding Venue Rentals | $1,392 | $1,614 | 13.8% | |
Flowers & Decorations | ||||
Bouquets | $346 | $389 | 11.1% | |
Boutonnieres, Corsages | $156 | $169 | 7.7% | |
Wedding Venue Accessories | $185 | $327 | 43.4% | |
Wedding Venue Decorations | $456 | $495 | 7.9% | |
Wedding Venue Flowers & Arrangements | $337 | $506 | 33.4% | |
Wedding Venue Table Centerpieces | $185 | $359 | 48.5% | |
Gifts & Favors | ||||
Gift/s for Attendants | $103 | $100 | -3.0% | |
Gift/s for Parents | $123 | $184 | 33.2% | |
Tips (for all services) | $214 | $387 | 44.7% | |
Wedding Favors | $136 | $200 | 32.0% | |
Invitations | ||||
Ceremony Programs | $73 | $143 | 49.0% | |
Engagement Announcements | $64 | $136 | 52.9% | |
Guest Book | $35 | $59 | 40.7% | |
Invitations & Reply Cards | $126 | $190 | 33.7% | |
Postage | $60 | $84 | 28.6% | |
Reception Menus | $71 | $146 | 51.4% | |
Save the Date Cards | $64 | $134 | 52.2% | |
Table Name and Escort/place Cards | $48 | $97 | 50.5% | |
Thank You Cards | $51 | $98 | 48.0% | |
Jewelry | ||||
Bracelet | $179 | $175 | -2.3% | |
Earrings | $155 | $207 | 25.1% | |
Engagement Ring | $3,456 | $3,603 | 4.1% | |
Necklace | $205 | $254 | 19.3% | |
Wedding ring/band for Partner 1 | $787 | $818 | 3.8% | |
Wedding ring/band for Partner 2 | $465 | $492 | 5.5% | |
Other Events | ||||
Rehearsal Dinner | $320 | $683 | 53.1% | |
Other Items | ||||
Hotel Room for After Reception | $319 | $439 | 27.3% | |
Photography & Video | ||||
Digital or Photo cd/dvd | $285 | $260 | -9.6% | |
Engagement Session | $392 | $331 | -18.4% | |
Photo Booth | $384 | $405 | 5.2% | |
Prints and/or Enlargements | $239 | $273 | 12.5% | |
Wedding album/s or photo book/s | $414 | $483 | 14.3% | |
Wedding Photographer | $1,634 | $2,003 | 18.4% | |
Wedding Videographer | $1,104 | $1,712 | 35.5% | |
Planner/Coordinator | ||||
Hourly Services | $1,846 | $2,002 | 7.8% | |
Wedding Coordinator | $1,880 | $1,599 | -17.6% | |
Wedding Planner | $2,773 | $2,761 | -0.4% | |
Transportation | ||||
Limo Rental | $494 | $454 | -8.8% | |
Other Transportation | $291 | $918 | 68.3% |