Every year, about 2.3 million couples get married in the U.S. The breakdown on this is nearly 6,200 weddings a day. The average age of a bride in the U.S. is 25.3, while the average age of a groom is 26.9. Another interesting statistic is the number of guests who are invited to a wedding. You might be surprised by this, but the number is 178 people. Usually, there are fewer guests at the wedding reception than the actual number who attend the wedding. The number of guests who attend the reception was not readily available, but one of my sources said that it is between 25 percent and 50 percent of the wedding attendance.
The money behind the marriage: Since approximately $72 billion per year is spent on weddings, the average wedding budget is $20,000. It is thought that about $1,016 is the average cost of wedding rings for the bride and groom, and the average honeymoon budget is $3,657.
Traditionally, the father of the bride would pay for the wedding, which included just about everything except the rings and a few other items. We are in different times, however. Today, the bride and groom pay for the wedding about 30 percent of the time; the bride’s parents pay about 17 percent of the time. As for the rest, costs are covered by various sources; the bride and groom and/or one, or both sets of parents, according to surveys by Bride’s Magazine.
Bridal registries are alive and well to the tune of $19 billion a year. To be sure, brides make their wedding gift selections from a myriad of registries where choices are as numerous as the stars in the sky! China, silver, and crystal are still at the top of the list; but in the last few decades, a variety of other items have been included, and the list is endless. I have yet to see a car company initiate a bridal registry, but I suppose it is an idea that could possibly catch on in this current economy!
Jana Norrell/901-335-0200
