The Wedding Costs Breakdown for the Average Wedding Budget

Making a budget is not the most fun wedding planning activity, but it's certainly the most important.

50% of engaged couples start planning their wedding without a budget. This is a huge misstep.

The average bride and groom underestimate wedding costs by 15%. Some couples are even further off-target and end up putting the overage on credit cards.

Learn how bride Lisa Spooner saved over $20,000 on her dream wedding - click here or scroll down to watch the video

• 45-55% Wedding reception (site fee, music, rentals, food, beverages, cake)
• 2% Ceremony (location, officiant, marriage license)
• 10% Wedding attire (gown, accessories, groom’s attire)
• 5-10% Flowers and décor
• 8-12% Photos and video
• 4-6% Music (ceremony, cocktail hour, reception)
• 2% Transportation (limo, vintage car, bus or trolley for guests)
• 2-4% Gifts (attendants, favors)
• 2-5% Wedding bands
• 2-4% Printables (invitations, programs, thank you cards)
• 5-8% Taxes and tips
• 10% Misc and unexpected costs (wedding insurance, overages, unpreventable crisis)

Click Here to Find Out How They Did It

Many couples spend as much as 70% of their budget on the reception, so be warned, 50% may be a low estimate.

Adjust the wedding costs breakdown to suit your needs.

Maybe you won’t need transportation, or flower centerpieces, but you will be paying for the rehearsal dinner, hotel rooms for out of town guests, hosting a welcome BBQ before the wedding, as well as a post-wedding brunch.

Add those line items to your budget.

Go to the wedding section of www.costhelper.com Once you have a good idea of the average wedding cost breakdown is and cost estimates for the goods and services you think you'll need, you're ready to create a working wedding budget.

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