How much can a wedding cost?

The biggest day of your life could cost more than you think. Our wedding infographic shows how much people can spend on their weddings and the sacrifices they make to get down the aisle. Read our cheap wedding ideas and spend less on the big day so you have money left over for a home deposit or other things on your wish list.

Wedding infographic

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How much can a wedding cost? (accessible text version)

Average Australian wedding costs*

$18,683 - Food, alcohol & venue
$4,271 - Wedding clothes and accessories
$3,983 - Photography
$2,896 - Entertainment
$2,896 - Flowers and decorations
$941 - Ceremony
$2,534 - Other (cars, hair, makeup, accommodation, stationary)
$36,200 - Total cost

* IBISWorld, 'IBISWorld Industry Report X002 Weddings in Australia', April 2012

MoneySmart readers survey results**

How did they pay?

18% used their credit card
56% contributions from their parents
60% got a loan
82% used their savings

Sacrifices made

5% moved back in with parents
6% didn't marry due to high cost
10% sold car
20% put social life on hold
25% delayed plans: (12% buying a home, 7% having a baby, 6% having the wedding)
32% had a cheaper wedding

Wedding budgets

43% stayed within their budget
35% blew their budget
18% didn't have a budget

Suprisingly expensive costs

Photography
Food
Flowers & decorations

Weird wedding costs

Transport - helicopter, elephant, donkey, pink cadillacs
Decorations - custome-made bobble heads of bride & groom, lawn flamingos
Venue costs - port-a-loos, temporary fencing, skip bins
Ceremony - doves, butterflies, bagpipes

** MoneySmart survey, December 2013, 400 online respondents. Responses don't total 100% as respondents chose more than one answer.

Top 10 wedding savings tips

Talk about money early with your partner and both your parents (if they are involved)
Prioritise your dreams and start saving early
Make a wedding budget based on what you can afford and stick to it
Shop around, get lots of quotes and haggle
Don't tell suppliers it is for a wedding
Have an out of season wedding (winter or a Friday wedding)
Cut your guest list (ask yourself - is this person an active part of my life?)
Save on decorating costs by doing them yourself or enlisting a friend
Have a backyard wedding or use a friend's place
Spread out your wedding bills across a few months so you don't get all the bills at once

Remember to relax and enjoy your big day!