What is the average cost of a wedding?

These days, the average cost for an American wedding is almost $28,000.

With that, you can easily get a nice car or even use it as a down payment on a house! How in the world does a wedding end up costing so much? Let me break it down for you.

Women want to feel like princesses on their big day, and the first step to being ‘wedding royalty’ is the wedding gown. The average cost of a wedding dress is about $1,500, but it can skyrocket to $5,000 and above. If the bride wants a custom-made gown, be expecting to shell out a large amount of cash. Don’t forget about all the accessories and jewelry, too!

Next, you’ll need wedding bands for the bride and groom. The average cost for the rings is $1,016. For plain gold bands, it’s an average of $250 each. But for a 14k white gold, ½ carat diamond ring, you’re looking at almost $1,000, depending on where you shop.

Where is the wedding taking place? For a wedding in a church, it can cost around $750 or more. That includes the pastor, the sanctuary, organist/choir (even if you aren’t going to use them!), a wedding director, and custodial fees.  If you’re planning it at a special location, the price will definitely vary, but you might be able to pick up a package deal if you hold the reception at the same spot. But, for a separate reception venue rental, the average cost is about $1,300.

Each guest you have also holds their own cost—appetizers, entrees, and desserts for the reception, and wedding favors too. With a caterer, the average cost is $40 per person for a buffet… For just 100 guests, that’s $4,000! Chances are that you’ll probably want an open bar, too. Well, at an average of $20 per person, it would be $2,000 for 100 guests.

Music is a must-have for the reception, right? For a live, 5-member band holding a 4-hour performance, the average cost is $2,085. Professional DJs usually charge about $200 to $300 per hour. For a 4-hour reception, a DJ could run you between $800 and $1,200.