How Much Did a Wedding Cost in 2018?

So you just got engaged. Congratulations!

You may take a month or so to just enjoy your time as a newly engaged couple before you start planning the big day. After that, there's lots of stuff that you'll start considering. What's at the top of that list? Your budget. Weddings can be WICKED expensive. The Knot released the 2018 Real Weddings Study, so you might want to take a look at these numbers before you start planning. The Knot surveyed over 14,000 couples married in 2018 to uncover the latest trends and overall wedding spend in America.

First off, the national average wedding cost in 2018 was $33,931. And that's before you add the cost of the honeymoon.

So, what’s all that money going toward? Couples are investing in super-personalized events infused with meaningful details. Many wholeheartedly embrace or blend their cultural customs, while others intentionally turn tradition on its head—by paying homage to pop culture (Harry Potter stilettos, anyone?), nixing old-school activities (like the garter toss) or reinventing big moments to suit their individual style (tequila shot unity ceremonies are never a bad idea!). At the end of the day, they want their wedding to be a true expression of their love story, and for guests to leave saying, “That was so them." - Maggie Seaver for The Knot

The average couple hosts 136 guests, and the average spend per guest was $258.

Click HERE for a breakdown of where all that money is spent on the big day.