Planning for weddings can be very expensive. It is not uncommon to be in the six-figure salary bracket, if you are getting married in a major city like New York or Los Angeles. Many couples will opt to hold their weddings in these venues to keep the cost down. If you live in a small town in Montana, you may need to factor in your travel costs when calculating how much does a wedding cost. Holding your wedding in another state, like Idaho or Utah, can be an option as well. The first thing you need to do is know the average cost of weddings in your area and then figure out what you can do to reduce the impact of these costs.
The cost of weddings will vary from location to location. Some areas have more tourists, while other areas have fewer weddings. Also, the average age of couples increases slightly during the planning process, and so does the cost. Couples that are in their late 20s or early 30s will pay more than couples that are in their mid-to late 30s.
The location you choose will also influence the cost of your wedding. The most popular locations in the west, like Denver, Oregon, San Francisco and Salt Lake City, have dramatically higher prices per head in these locations. This is due to how many young adults move to these areas and spend their whole lives there. Other popular locations for weddings in the Pacific Northwest like Seattle and Portland have lower costs, because people that are staying in smaller cities aren’t as likely to commute five miles to get to work, resulting in lower cost.
Once you know the average cost of weddings in your area, you can start to put together an affordable wedding forward plan. The first thing you want to do is consider how many guests you are inviting. For smaller couples, it may make sense to simply hire a photographer to capture the day and then let the attendees buy their own pictures after the event. For larger couples, it may be helpful to hire a caterer, or purchase pre-made food and decorations to make it easier on the budget.
Next, you need to know how many people will be attending the wedding. An average cost for a reception of a dozen people is approximately two thousand dollars. If you are inviting thirty people, your reception will cost approximately six thousand dollars. A good rule of thumb is to have about three to four times the number of guests invited to your reception, but not so many that you feel you might be paying out too much. You don’t want to fill up your table at the last minute, so plan on cutting back on the food costs. Also, keep in mind that just because your guest list is large, doesn’t mean you can’t get special services, such as a band, to provide for additional music and photography.
Finally, you need to get married on time. To calculate how much does a wedding cost, consider how long it takes from the date you set up the date with your minister to when you confirm your reservation. The average time taken from a confirmation to booking a reservation is about three weeks.
When you add up all of these factors, you may find that it adds up to more than you initially expected. The good news is that it’s usually well within the range of a couple’s budget. Most venues offer packages that include food, champagne, and other types of refreshments to cut down on costs for couples who aren’t looking to go all out for their wedding night. It’s also helpful to ask the owner of the venue if they have any packages available if you’re planning on having a large guest list and getting married on a popular weekend.
Planning a wedding isn’t an easy task. With so many details to keep track of, and so many different variables to consider, many couples wonder how much does a wedding cost. The average cost is probably closer to three thousand dollars, though some locations have significantly higher or lower rates. On the whole, most couples will find that the price is definitely worth it. If you’re one of the few who can afford it, then that’s great!