Weddingwire, and its infinite wisdom in all things wedding,
has collected and released its 2018 wedding statistics. The 2018 Wedding Report is a thorough compilation of couples’ every step taken towards their wedding, from finding a ring to popular wedding venue locations. While the report consists of over 150 statistics, I have gathered the highlights and takeaways for easier reader consumption. My goal in sharing these facts is that you and your S/O can make the best decisions towards an unforgettable, perfect wedding.
Engagement highlights:
Millennials are just now joining Gen X in considering marriage and settling down. While there are subtle differences in how the proposal is done (including how it’s announced and who witnesses it), 82% of people still get down on one knee, 72% still ask for their partner’s parents’ blessing, and 68% plan out their proposals. The average wedding ring cost? 5 G’s. The winter months (November through February) take the cake for most popular proposal dates, with an average of 13 months before the actual wedding.
Planning Takeaways:
Welcome to the technological era of wedding planning. More than half of couples make their own website as well as use a planning app and generate their own hashtag, with 83% of planning for the big day being done online. The highest amount of couples aim for their wedding in autumn (38%), while the lowest amount of couples shoot for a winter wedding (9%).
The average wedding employs 13 vendors. The top three vendors couples hire: 86% of couples hire a professional photographer, 80% pay for a suitable venue, and 75% hire professional hair and makeup, among other services. Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram are the leaders in looking for wedding day inspiration.
Age and Generation Highlights:
Most couples are getting married at 32 years of age. The average groom is 33 while the average bride is 31. Today, one in four couples meet online and are wed within two years of dating each other. Nine is the favorite quantity of wedding party members. Depending on generation, there are specific traditions that remain staples in the wedding process: 72% of Millennials are most likely to ask for parents’ blessings, while about half of Gen X couples spend the night apart from each other before the big day.
Budgeting Takeaways:
The 2018 wedding statistics reveal that getting hitched these days rakes up to $36,000! A whopping 42% of couples underestimate their costs. 45% of couples pay for their big day, 46% of parents pay up, and 9% of other sources fund the wedding. More than half of the time, parents use the money in their savings to pay for the wedding. The most expensive cities in the U.S.A. to marry list as follows: 1) New York, 2) Boston 3) San Francisco, 4) Washington D.C., and 5) Chicago.
And for those of you locals reading this, San Diego, California ranked 11th highest in wedding cost by location, at an average of $29,000. While I am the first to say experiencing beautiful San Diego is a priceless experience, I also advise all of you newly-engaged couples to pick a location that speaks to you and your budget.
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