According to a survey conducted by the wedding planning website The Knot, the average cost of a wedding in 2020 was $19,000. Of course, many couples were forced to cut back on guest lists and preparations for their ceremonies and receptions because of COVID time limits, so the total number was slightly lower than in previous years. It is estimated that a wedding in 2021 will cost around the same as a wedding in 2019, which is over $23,000.

How much, roughly, does a wedding cost these days?

A newlywed couple kisses passionately inside a stretch limo.

To have an accurate idea of how much money will be spent, one must be informed of all the aspects that make the wedding a success.

• For the most part, this is what most brides think about when estimating wedding costs:
• The venue and food photography together cost 40%.
• 10% - music
• Flora: 10%
• 10% - décor
• Dresses for the wedding party, including the bride's dress and the bridesmaids, as well as the groom's tuxedo and other formalwear (4 percent).
• The Transport Industry (3%).
• There is a 3% allotment for stationery, which includes wedding invitations, programs, and other printed materials.
• Two percent cake, in support of the two percent

According to this estimate, a couple will spend $23,000 on their wedding, with $9,200 going toward the location and food and around $460 for the cake. Keep in mind that this is only a quick assessment at this point. Spending more on a plated supper with gourmet foods, for instance, but opting for a less expensive photographic package and fewer flowers at the reception could be a reasonable compromise for a couple with a limited budget.

Strategic budgeting involves carefully weighing competing needs.

A rose and wedding bands sit atop a stack of $100 bills.

The primary consideration while organizing a wedding is the available or desired budget. When deciding on a wedding budget, you should be comfortable with your chosen sum. Do not go overboard with the wedding and reception expenses simply because you can.

Both of you need to sit down and talk over the finances in great detail. The only acceptable reason to invite a third party to a wedding is if they are contributing financially to the event. If your parents volunteer to foot the bill for the reception, be sure to factor their contribution into the total cost. Expect the chance that they will ask for your feedback on the budget. If you don't, you and your partner must agree and stick to a firm sum. Similarly, these will be discussed if there are any potential overages (more on that in a moment).

There are wedding budget calculators available online that can help make this choice. Having a firm grasp of the public funds and the anticipated number of attendees is critical. You can use the calculator to estimate costs for anything from invites to the rehearsal dinner by entering information such as the number of guests and the average price of each item.

Accounting for monetary expenditures

It's simple to lose track of how much you're spending. If you decide to splurge on nicer centrepieces or eat out more often, you might quickly exceed your permitted budget by 20–30%. Using a spreadsheet, you can easily monitor your budget, see which suppliers have been paid, and plan for future expenditures (you can find free ones online, like Google Sheets). (Hint: Use AutoSum, to sum up, all your charges automatically, so there are no surprises at the end.)

You should set aside money in your budget for "extras" that your suppliers didn't anticipate, such as:

Taxes

Service delivery expenses

Gratuities

Parking fees

Documentation of a marriage's official status

The inclusion of a contingency fund in case of unforeseen expenses

The bride has a close female friend help her zip up the back of her wedding dress.

No matter how meticulously you try to monitor your expenditures, you will inevitably go over budget. Cost overruns can be caused by guests dancing the Macarena for an extra half hour after the party ended (for which the venue initially estimated $2,000) to extreme improbabilities. According to the conditions of the contract, you'll have to pay an extra $500.

After initially planning to take an Uber from your home to the church, you've changed your mind and have instead arranged for a town car or limo to take you there. You've got to get those alterations made to your wedding dress or suit right away.

More postage will be required if souvenirs are sent with invitations. You've got a destination wedding to attend, but you've left your heels and veil home.