Weddings are back after two years of pandemic restrictions and more expensive than ever, thanks to inflation.
Couples spent $30,000 per wedding to get hitched last year, up about $2,000 from 2021, according to an annual survey released Monday by The Knot, a New York City-based nuptials planning website.
In the 2019 survey, the average U.S. investment in matrimony was $28,000. That dropped to $19,000 per wedding in 2020 as COVID-19 restrictions limited gathering sizes, then boomeranged back to $28,000 in 2021 as restrictions on indoor gatherings eased and demand resurged.
Weddings in the U.S. and 14 other countries are getting smaller and relying more on vendors as couples contend with rising prices for food, flowers and staff, the survey found.
“Weddings look different than they did before and during the pandemic, which is why we’re calling 2023 the year of transformation,” Tim Chi, CEO of The Knot Worldwide, told The Washington Times.
“Couples have had to make concessions in response to economic conditions — but investing in guest experience, vendors and unique ways to celebrate are top priorities,” Mr. Chi added.
The Knot found that 51% of 2,000 U.S. couples responding to the 2023 Global Wedding Report survey said inflation had impacted their wedding budget and planning.
That is lower than the 68% of Argentinians surveyed who said the same. But it’s higher than most European countries: Fewer than 35% of couples in Italy, France, Portugal, the United Kingdom and Spain said inflation had affected their marriage budgets.
The cost of matrimony varies widely depending on guest count, location, time of year and the number of vendors hired.
According to the survey, couples in the U.S. hired 14 vendors on average last year, compared to 10 worldwide. The Knot found that 85% of couples hired a photographer, the most popular type of vendor.
The Knot survey follows a similar report last week from online wedding planner Zola that found the average U.S. wedding this year will cost $29,000, up $1,000 from last year.
From outdoor weddings to homemade decorations, younger couples have embraced more creative celebrations as wedding planners, photographers and cake makers raise prices.
“Everyone needs a good party now that we are out of COVID and a wedding is a wonderful way to have a good party and celebrate those we love,” said Melinda Eitzen, a Dallas, Texas-based family and marriage attorney.
The Knot reported that weddings averaged 117 guests last year, but 39% of couples plan to trim their guest lists this year for more “intimate” ceremonies.
Nationally, the cheapest weddings cost $24,000 on average in Midwestern cities like Cincinnati and Kansas City. Costs in larger metropolitan areas like Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., range up to $40,000 on average, according to The Knot.
Recent trends on social media have promoted buying wedding dresses online and using chain restaurants like the Olive Garden for catering to cut the price of plated food at wedding receptions in half.
More engaged couples are embracing “do-it-yourself weddings” that allow them to concentrate their spending on high-quality photography, food and music, according to Amber Brooks, the Florida-based editor of Datingnews.com.
“We see couples in the U.S. making smarter budgets that may skip some traditional must-haves or cut down on the guest list, but they don’t sacrifice on the things that truly matter to them,” she said in an email.
Mr. Brooks, 32, saved money on her wedding in December by creating centerpieces with old family books and wood bouquets rather than fresh flowers. She also chose wedding cupcakes instead of a tiered cake.
“We got married at the Orlando Science Center, so the decor didn’t need much pomp to be impressive,” she said. “The dinosaur exhibits brought the wow factor. I also skipped save-the-dates and kept the guest count under 70.”
• Sean Salai can be reached at ssalai@washingtontimes.com.