According to Bride's Magazine, the average wedding in the United States costs around $19,000. Unless someone else is paying for it and money is no object, you'll probably want to keep it well under that amount and use the money you save for a down payment on a house or to pay off debts.

The Wedding Budget

How can you keep your wedding costs under control? First of all, do a budget. Make a list of everything you can think of that you'll need for the ceremony, rehearsal dinner, and reception and your estimate of what each item will cost. Refine your budget as you get price quotes, and identify the things that are most important to you. Small compromises can often add up to big savings.

The biggest factor influencing your costs is the number of guests that attend. If your average cost per person for food, drink, linens, cutlery, china, and other things you have to rent by the person is $50, knocking twenty people off your guest list will save you $1,000 plus tips. Inviting just the people who really matter can save you thousands of dollars.

Consider a buffet or hearty hors d'oeuvres instead of a sit-down dinner. A good caterer can offer fancy finger foods that your guests will be talking about for long after the wedding, and it will cost you much less. Bar costs can be higher than food costs, and the markup on alcohol provided by your caterer is significant. It's cheaper to do it yourself but you'll have to assume the liquor liability. Talk to your insurance agent to see if your homeowner's policy will cover it. One option for limiting bar costs is to provide tickets for each guest that they can turn in for drinks. If they want more alcohol after using their tickets, they pay cash. To limit your costs even more, you can have a cash bar where everyone pays for their own drinks.

The busiest wedding season is May through October and the most popular day for weddings is Saturday. Reception sites are usually less expensive if you book a wedding in the off-season (November through April) or on any day other than Saturday. Entertainers and photographers may also charge less during the off-season. Think about the things you're going to remember most about your wedding and spend money on those things: the ring, which you'll wear for many years; the wedding gown, which you'll see in photographs; and the photographer, who will capture the memories on film. Everything else can take a back seat.

Rings and Things

Although the rings are important, don't spend more money on them than you can reasonably afford. It's ludicrous to spend $10,000 on a diamond ring when you don't have the money for a down payment on a house. It's the symbolism of the ring that matters, not the monetary value. You can buy a beautiful ring for a fraction of the cost that “experts” recommend you spend. You can also upgrade your rings as a sentimental gesture as time goes on and you refine your preferences.