Survey Reveals Where Brides Spent Less in 2008

I’ve been talking a lot about the 24% drop in the average cost of a US wedding as reported by The Wedding Report quite a bit lately.

The amount of money brides spent on their weddings dropped in almost every category in 2008 for the first time in decades.  But there were a few exceptions.  Brides actually spent MORE in 2008 on ceremony location, the reception location, rentals, wedding bands, and tux rental.

Here’s the category by category breakdown of the changes in expense from 2007 to 2008.

Categories where brides spent LESS in 2008:

• Wedding dress……………..31% less
• Rehearsal dinner…………..34% less
• DJ…………………………………6% less
• Bridesmaid bouquets…….36% less
• Attendant gifts…………….38% less
• Wedding invitations……..34% less
• Engagement ring………….30% less
• Photographer………………26% less
• Videographer………………24% less
• Wedding cake……………..33% less
• Wedding favors…………….9% less
• Reception food service…53% less
• Limo rental…………………24% less

Categories where brides spent MORE in 2008:

• Tuxedo/suit…47% more
• Ceremony location…….108% more
• Bride bouquet……………….1% more
• Brides wedding band……21% more
• Grooms wedding band…38% more
• Reception bar service…..12% more
• Reception location………15% more
• Reception rentals………..84% more

Since the overall cost of average wedding decreased from $27,800 in 2007 to only $21,814 in 2008, how can we explain these increases?

What could be behind the 84% increase in reception rentals…the whopping 108% increase in ceremony location expense…the 15% increase in reception location?

Brides are beginning to shift their priorities.

2009 wedding trends will continue to show brides choosing smaller guests lists.  This will allow food, favor and invitation costs to decline while freeing them up to spend a bit more on the ceremony and reception location they prefer.

Brides are placing higher priority on the ceremony rather than the reception.

More brides are planning weddings at home that require tent, linen and other reception rentals.

Could it be that couples are purchasing the groom’s suit instead of renting, a thrifty choice when he can wear it again?

One thing is for sure: frugality is here for the long haul.

To learn more about why this is the best time to be planning your wedding and how to use the recession to your advantage and save $1,000’s on your wedding…check out my earlier post on the Breakdown of Average Wedding Costs and The $10,000 Dream Wedding.