Wedding costs up 5%, even as brides opt for less formal ceremonies says Weddingbells survey

[This post has been updated] Though brides are increasingly opting for less formal, simpler weddings, according to the annual survey published by Weddingbells magazine, the cost of those weddings continues to rise. The national survey, completed by more than 2,200 engaged or recently married brides, shows that the average cost of a wedding, including honeymoon, is $32,358, which is up 5% from last year. [Update: This equates to an estimated national annual spend of $5.3 billion, up eight percent from 2012.]

“Brides are throwing away the rule book and doing things their way. Around half of respondents are opting for a less traditional wedding in favour of creating a unique party and experience for their guests,” said Alison McGill, Weddingbells’ editor-in-chief. 

Social media is playing a much larger role in wedding planning; 72 per cent of respondents said it plays an important role in their planning, up from 42 per cent in 2012, with Pinterist showing the highest growth year over year. 

The majority of brides used professional help to coordinate the event; close to half of engaged respondents were currently considering a wedding planner. 

Weddingbells, is published twice annually by St. Joseph Media.