Lauren Kay

And so I ended up having to adjust my budget and I did end up going a little over budget. So I'm really excited because we are aiming to fix that at The Knot. It's our life quest now.

And so I ended up having to adjust my budget and I did end up going a little over budget. So I'm really excited because we are aiming to fix that at The Knot. It's our life quest now.

Sure. So we do a ton of studies every year because we love data at the knot. And our knot 2023 real wedding study revealed that the average cost of a wedding is around $35,000. And I just have to caveat that because average means so many different things, right? Depending on the region you get married in, your guest count, how many vendors you use, budgets can vary widely.

Sure. So we do a ton of studies every year because we love data at the knot. And our knot 2023 real wedding study revealed that the average cost of a wedding is around $35,000. And I just have to caveat that because average means so many different things, right? Depending on the region you get married in, your guest count, how many vendors you use, budgets can vary widely.

Sure. So we do a ton of studies every year because we love data at the knot. And our knot 2023 real wedding study revealed that the average cost of a wedding is around $35,000. And I just have to caveat that because average means so many different things, right? Depending on the region you get married in, your guest count, how many vendors you use, budgets can vary widely.

And so it's important to think of it as an average. That being said, I feel like you very rarely talk to someone who's like, Sign me up for that average wedding, right? Everybody has their own vision. So I think it's a number we know and we have the data to support.

And so it's important to think of it as an average. That being said, I feel like you very rarely talk to someone who's like, Sign me up for that average wedding, right? Everybody has their own vision. So I think it's a number we know and we have the data to support.

And so it's important to think of it as an average. That being said, I feel like you very rarely talk to someone who's like, Sign me up for that average wedding, right? Everybody has their own vision. So I think it's a number we know and we have the data to support.

But I always kind of tread lightly there because it can really look differently depending on the type of wedding you're having and where you're doing it.

But I always kind of tread lightly there because it can really look differently depending on the type of wedding you're having and where you're doing it.

But I always kind of tread lightly there because it can really look differently depending on the type of wedding you're having and where you're doing it.

So the most expensive item is typically the venue. It's one of those things you book really early on and it's a big chunk of your budget. Sometimes it also includes catering, but if not, then catering usually comes next. And then we see couples spend a lot of money on music, photography, and flowers. So those are where we see the most of the wedding budget going to.

So the most expensive item is typically the venue. It's one of those things you book really early on and it's a big chunk of your budget. Sometimes it also includes catering, but if not, then catering usually comes next. And then we see couples spend a lot of money on music, photography, and flowers. So those are where we see the most of the wedding budget going to.

So the most expensive item is typically the venue. It's one of those things you book really early on and it's a big chunk of your budget. Sometimes it also includes catering, but if not, then catering usually comes next. And then we see couples spend a lot of money on music, photography, and flowers. So those are where we see the most of the wedding budget going to.

But again, it's so hyper-personalized. Weddings these days have so many factors that go into it around personalization and authenticity to the couple. So everyone spends a little differently, but that's the general consensus of how the budget gets spent.

But again, it's so hyper-personalized. Weddings these days have so many factors that go into it around personalization and authenticity to the couple. So everyone spends a little differently, but that's the general consensus of how the budget gets spent.

But again, it's so hyper-personalized. Weddings these days have so many factors that go into it around personalization and authenticity to the couple. So everyone spends a little differently, but that's the general consensus of how the budget gets spent.

Okay. So I think the most important thing is to budget for the entirety of something. And I feel like that gets lost in translation a bit. So, you know, for example, you're budgeting for your wedding dress, right? But you're not thinking, wait, I'm going to want shoes and I'm going to need alterations. And what about my jewelry?

Okay. So I think the most important thing is to budget for the entirety of something. And I feel like that gets lost in translation a bit. So, you know, for example, you're budgeting for your wedding dress, right? But you're not thinking, wait, I'm going to want shoes and I'm going to need alterations. And what about my jewelry?

Okay. So I think the most important thing is to budget for the entirety of something. And I feel like that gets lost in translation a bit. So, you know, for example, you're budgeting for your wedding dress, right? But you're not thinking, wait, I'm going to want shoes and I'm going to need alterations. And what about my jewelry?