wedding bling

I wondered how much the average blessed event would or should cost. One source stated $55,110 for a wedding in Chicago, IL. A few lines below this statement, there was another statement. It was a disclaimer stating that 82% of the weddings cost less. I am in the same boat as the 82% and not the crack pot who wrote that ridiculous disclaimer. No offense to those wanting the blingy-est of weddings, but that's not my cup of tea.

A few, more reputable, sources in the wedding industry gave an average of $19,000 - $25,000. Now, after comparing it to the $55k average, this seemed to be a great bargain. I thought to myself, 'I just saved $25k.' Then, after thinking about it, I realized that the 'bargain' wedding is still a jeep wrangler, or the amount you would spend on fueling up your small suv.

Is there a point to these average numbers? Not really. No one can really tell you how much it is going to cost. However, there is hope. It's what I like to call math. As a starting point, the overall budget can be broken down into general categories. It helps to give you an idea of where the money is spent. It's not all that fun when you see the real numbers, so let's keep it old school upbeat. In the immortal words of MC Hammer, let's. . .'break it down . . .'

• Reception: 50% (Site fees; rentals; caterer; beverages; cake)
• Ceremony Site: 2% (Location; officiant; marriage license)
• Wedding Attire: 8% (Gown; accessories; groom’s attire)
• Photography/Videography: 10%
• Flowers: 10% (Bouquets; boutonnieres; décor)
• Entertainment/Music: 4% (Ceremony; cocktail hour; reception)
• Stationery: 3% (Invitations; programs; thank-you notes)
• Wedding Rings: 2%
• Transportation: 3%
• Gifts: 3% (Attendant gifts; favors)
• Tax/Tips: 5%