How Much Does A Wedding Cost 2011

Cost Of A Wedding

Brides.com and TheKnot.com recently released the results of their wedding industry studies for 2011. Brides.com had nearly 3,000 participants that were surveyed between April 15 – April 28, 2011, while TheKnot.com surveyed nearly 19,000 participants in 2010 to come up with these wedding industry statistics. Let's take a look at both studies.

The average cost of a wedding, including total wedding cost with average costs for the reception, engagement ring, photography and videography, live band, flowers (and decor), wedding rings, ceremony site and wedding gowns are outlined above. Also included are the costs for the rehearsal dinner, disc jockey, limo/transportation, wedding cake, ceremony musicians, invitations, favors and bridesmaid dress.



Key Statistics (average % from both studies - Brides.com/TheKnot.com)

The average length of the engagement is 14.5 months. 15/14

The average number of wedding reception guests is 147. 152/141

Destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular (19.5%). 15/24

December is the most popular month of the year to get engaged (17%). 18/16



Key Statistics (from Brides.com)

Many couples are blending old with the new.

More couples are preserving traditions like the first dance and cake-cutting.

Less sit-down dinners and buffets, more continuous cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres.

The bride buys the wedding dress 9 months before the wedding.

The typical wedding party consists of 4.5 bridesmaids and 4.5 groomsmen/ushers, 1 maid/matron of honor and 1 best man (total: 11).

Couples spend $582 on gifts for each other. The top gift from bride to groom is a watch and the top gift from groom to bride is jewelry.

The favorite gift for bridesmaids is jewelry, the preferred gift for groomsmen is liquor related.

63% of brides-to-be provided input on their engagement ring.

21% of brides-to-be selected the engagement ring themselves.

Nearly 10% of all weddings have a “man of honor” or “best woman”.

Most couples register for wedding and shower gifts (93%).

The cake cutting is still a very important tradition (92%).

The majority of weddings have a maid/matron of honor (91%).

9 out of 10 newlywed couples are going on a honeymoon (91%).

9 out of 10 couples incorporate the first dance into their wedding (90%).

Friends usually pay for the bachelor and bachelorette parties (88%).

The bride and groom have a rehearsal dinner (87%).

Many grooms are still selecting a best man (87%).

Toasts are still an important part of the wedding reception (87%).

Brides wear something old, new, borrowed and blue (84%).

Friends pay for the bridal shower (72%).

Brides and grooms are paying for their honeymoon themselves (68%).

More than half of the wedding parties include a flower girl (62%).

Brides-to-be are the primary contributors for the bridesmaid’s luncheon (60%).

The groom's parents are paying for the rehearsal dinner (60%).

The bride's parents are primarily focused on paying for the wedding reception (58%).

Less brides and grooms are tossing the bouquet (68%) and garter (57%).

Brides-to-be are the primary contributors for the wedding ceremony (57%).

Brides-to-be are the primary contributors for the wedding weekend (53%).

The ring bearer will be present at 5 out of 10 weddings (53%).

Nearly half of all couples wed in the city or town where they currently live (48%).

Brides-to-be are the primary contributors for the post-reception party (47%).

Brides will box up their dress and pass it on (45%).

The bride and groom have an engagement party (35%).

More newlyweds are having a post-reception party (24%).

More brides and grooms are having a wedding weekend (22%).

More couples are using mobile apps to help plan their wedding (20%).

Photos booths are becoming very popular at weddings (20%).

Brides and grooms are using social media apps to plan, shop and/or register (17%).

More couples are getting married by a friend or family member who got ordained for the occasion (14%).

Couples make charitable donations on behalf of their guests (11%).


Key Statistics (from TheKnot.com)

The average wedding spend per guest is $194.

20% of brides are spending more than $30,000 on their wedding.

12% of brides are spending more than $40,000.

The bride's average age is 29 and the grooms average age is 31.

Hawaii has the most casual weddings, while Northern/Central New Jersey has the most formal weddings.

New York City Tri-State Area, New Jersey and Rhode Island brides are the biggest wedding spenders.

New York City is the most expensive area ($70,730) and Utah is the least expensive area ($13,214) to have a wedding.

More couples are living with each other before marriage (74%).

The most popular wedding color is white/ivory (43%).

Purple is the new popular color (21%).

June is the most popular month to get married (15%).


Most Expensive Areas for Weddings (TheKnot.com)

New York (NYC/Manhattan): $70,730
New York (Long Island): $51,811
New Jersey (Northern/Central): $49,347
New York (Hudson Valley): $45,695
New York (Outer Boroughs): $44,718
Rhode Island: $41,169
New Jersey (Southern): $36,694
Pennsylvania (Philadelphia): $36,294
California (Santa Barbara/Ventura): $36,233
Massachusetts (Boston): $35,458
Illinois (Chicago): $35,389
Connecticut: $35,197
Florida (Southern): $33,810
California (Los Angeles): $33,745
Washington DC Area: $33,727


Source: Brides.com, TheKnot.com

Submitted by Joe Tortorello, owner and site administrator at www.weddingzone.net, a popular Wedding Planning Guide online since 1997.

New York Becomes the Sixth State to Legalize Gay Marriage

ALBANY, N.Y. – DEVELOPING: New York has become the sixth state to legalize same sex marriage after a vote Friday night ruled in favor of the measure. Once Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs it into law gay weddings could begin 30 days after.

Leading up to this vote a veteran Republican senator had told The Associated Press he would vote yes on gay marriage, which apparently gave the measure the support it needed to become a law.

Sen. Stephen Saland says he has long been undecided. He voted against a similar bill in 2009, helping kill the measure and dealing a blow to the national gay rights movement.

Before he announced his intention, 31 senators were in favor, one short of a majority. Since they all still voted that way, and after Gov. Andrew Cuomo signs it into law, New York will officially become the sixth state, and by far the largest, where gay marriage is legal. Gay marriages can begin 30 days after the date that Cuomo signs it.

Republicans in the New York Senate agreed Friday to allow a full vote on legalizing gay marriage, setting the stage for a possible breakthrough victory for the gay-rights movement in the state where it got its start.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos had said that the bill would go to the floor and be brought up for an "up or down vote." It would be a "vote of conscience for every member of this Senate," Skelos said.

The heavily Democratic Assembly has already approved one version of the measure and was expected to easily pass the new version that contains more protections for religious groups that oppose gay marriage and feared discrimination lawsuits.

Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who campaigned on the issue last year, has promised to sign it.

Though New York is a relative latecomer in allowing gay marriage, it is considered an important prize for advocates, given the state's size and New York City's international stature and its role as the birthplace of the gay-rights movement, which is said to have started with the Stonewall riots in Greenwich Village in 1969.

The effects of the law could be felt well beyond New York: Unlike Massachusetts, which pioneered gay marriage in 2004, New York has no residency requirement for obtaining a marriage license, meaning the state could become a magnet for gay couples across the country who want to have a wedding in Central Park, the Hamptons, the romantic Hudson Valley or that honeymoon hot spot of yore, Niagara Falls.

Gay-rights advocates are hoping the vote will galvanize the movement around the country and help it regain momentum after an almost identical bill was defeated here in 2009 and similar measures failed in 2010 in New Jersey and this year in Maryland and Rhode Island.

The sticking point over the past few days: Republican demands for stronger legal protections for religious groups that fear they will be hit with discrimination lawsuits if they refuse to allow their facilities to be used for gay weddings.

Now, all 32 Republicans have approved stronger religious protections.

New York, the nation's third most populous state, would join Connecticut, Iowa, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Washington, D.C., in allowing same-sex couples to wed.

For five months in 2008, gay marriage was legal in California, the biggest state in population, and 18,000 same-sex couples rushed to tie the knot there before voters overturned the state Supreme Court ruling that allowed the practice. The constitutionality of California's ban is now before a federal appeals court.

While court challenges in New York are all but certain, the state -- unlike California -- makes it difficult for the voters to repeal laws at the ballot box. Changing the law would require a constitutional convention, a long, drawn-out process.

Movement on the bill comes after more than a week of stop-and-start negotiations, rumors, closed-door meetings and frustration on the part of advocates.

Online discussions took on a nasty turn with insults and vulgarities peppering the screens of opponents and supporters alike and security was beefed up in the capitol to give senators easier passage to and from their conference room.

(Newsfeed, Associated Press)

What He's Really Thinking Before The Wedding

Groom Musings

The thrill of engagement can quickly turn to anxiety: Now we must plan the wedding. While many brides-to-be have their noses in flowers, grooms often have one eye on the checkbook. (“$850 on invitations?” as one man I know shouted about the expense.) But cost is not the only pre-wedding concern. Here's what newlyweds, a couple men with nuptials this fall and some guys who've been married for a while say really goes on in a man's mind before the wedding.

Conversation Starters

"Can we talk about something else?" Getting married is big news, but not necessarily the only thing a guy wants to talk about. “It was a little awkward [telling everyone], 'Hey, we're engaged!' But Facebook made it easier," says Brad, 27, who married last Memorial Day weekend. "Then I couldn't wait for it be over so people can start asking me about other things. I wondered what would change once we were married. Turned out, nothing—just titles."

Planning Perils

"Why does it have to be so complicated?" Apparently guys can't just nod their heads and smile during preparations. "Wedding planning is the worst," says Greg, 29, who will be married this October. "Deciding on the tables was way more complicated than I imagined,” Brad recalls. "Figuring out who can or should sit with each other was like planning an Israeli-Palestinian negotiation."

Family Matters

"I hope that everyone will just be civil." Every family has its issues; ideally differences will be set aside on the big day. "I was worried about the families getting along at the wedding," says Brad. “Especially because my parents are divorced and their families don't get along well. Add another family in the mix and it could get messy.” For Dave, 29, his fears were realized: “I prayed that my [divorced] parents wouldn't make a scene. They did. Come wedding day, my mom refused to be in some family photos with my dad."

Must Be Dust

"I can't cry." Ravi, 30, married two months ago, reveals what many of the other grooms probably think too. “I was flat-out afraid of getting a little too emotional during the ceremony. My brother-in-law told me how his brother was a slobbering mess at his wedding, and I did not want that to be me.”

Boots Knocking

"Someone will inevitably hook up." There's just something about weddings that makes people take off their pants, which is fine with the grooms, as long as it doesn't end messy. "I can envision a couple of pairings that might want to have some fun together," says Greg. "I can also envision a few that could end badly."

Game Time

"I hope my team's not playing." Sports fanatics aren't any less invested in the wedding, but they would just prefer that a big event doesn't kick off while they're at the altar. "I checked the sports calendar when we were picking the date," says Brad. "We ended up with the weekend of the PGA Championship, but I decided that was OK. Plus, we would be done by Sunday afternoon, so I could watch the end of the final round."

Down the Hatch

"How much should I drink at my wedding?" This is a question Greg asked himself, with his wedding only three months away. "I don't want to get bombed and either make an ass out of myself or forget part of the night.” Brad echoes the sentiment: "I thought, Better make sure I don't get too drunk. You don't want to be 'that guy' at your own wedding." "But then again," says Greg, “all of these other people are drinking on my dime. … Why should they have all the fun?”

Making The Rounds

"I want people to know I appreciate them being here." Some guests come a long way for the wedding, many of whom the groom doesn't often get to see. "I wanted to make sure I spent some time with each guest," says Sean, 31, married this past April. "I still managed to mess it up. At the rehearsal dinner, I made it to two out of 11 tables. At the wedding, I made it to maybe five out of about 18.”

Is This Registering?

"I hope people buy from the registry." "Please, I beg of you, don't go off the grid and buy us a crystal candy bowl for a gift," says Ben, 32, who will be taking the plunge soon, speaking to the imagined cavalier gift-giver. "There's a reason we didn't put it on our registry in the first place. I would likely end up putting coins and paper clips in it and wish you had just followed simple protocol.”

List Service

"I wish I could invite everyone." Most guys grapple with the difficulty of narrowing the invite list and the associated cost of having everyone they desired attend. "Do we have to send one to that relative no one likes who won't come anyway?" Brad asks. "Our reception room fits about 150, but we have to invite 180. So if everyone decides to come, then we may have to seat people outside in a tent or in a separate room. Yikes.”

Article by Brett Smiley

(Newsfeed, glo.msn.com)

Get Married On Miami Beach

The Ultimate Stress-Free Wedding

For couples looking for a casual and relaxing marriage ceremony, the beach is the perfect choice. By its very nature, the beach is a beautiful place where you can sit back, unwind and enjoy the moment. A place where a sun-dress and shorts are considered dressed up, and a bathing suit with a sarong is the norm.

Imagine having your nuptials in a warm tropical setting. Gentle ocean breezes fill the air, the sounds of waves and seagulls in the background, the sun shining overhead, and soft sand beneath your feet. Next to you is the love of your life, passionately vowing their commitment and devotion to you.

Having your wedding on the beach is a wonderful way to set the mood for a romantic honeymoon. It is an intimate celebration that is convenient and carefree, the perfect way to start a lifetime together.

As more couples plan and pay for their own weddings, they want to have a casual unique celebration and combine it with their honeymoon. This is the concept of a destination wedding. For less than the cost of a traditional wedding, they can have a wedding and honeymoon with funds to spare. Couples can travel to a tropical location; stay in a luxury oceanfront hotel, have a beach marriage ceremony, and still have money left over for restaurants, dance clubs, shopping and attractions.

South Florida is a popular tropical destination for couples who want to combine their wedding and honeymoon, but do not want to travel outside the United States. For those who desire the laid back ambiance of the Caribbean mixed with the exciting energetic atmosphere of South Beach, Miami Beach is the ideal location.

Miami Beach has become a haven for tropical destination weddings because of its beautiful weather and amenities. It has many miles of lovely beaches with a wide range of hotels and accommodations overlooking the warm Atlantic shoreline. An abundance of world renowned restaurants, bars, dance and night clubs for vibrant evenings of food and entertainment. Water sports and activities like jet skiing, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating or para sailing to fill your days with fun in the sun. Trendy stores and shopping malls to satisfy all your shopping needs.

Relaxing by the water and sunbathing is a typical pastime. You may even catch a glimpse of your favorite celebrity during your stay. Centrally located between the Florida Keys and Ft. Lauderdale, Miami Beach is a great place for a romantic casual tropical beach wedding and honeymoon.

Monique N. Gilbert is a Wedding Officiant (Florida Notary) at Tropical Miami Beach Weddings. She caters to couples who seek a romantic and carefree beach marriage ceremony, commitment ceremony or vow renewal. She meets you at the beach of your choice and makes all the arrangements necessary. She even helps out-of-state couples obtain their Florida marriage license by mail.

Submitted by Monique N. Gilbert, www.tropicalmiamibeachweddings.com

Choosing The Perfect Reception Site

Don't waste a trip to see the location if it cannot meet the basic criteria

The three best ways to search for wedding reception sites are through local publications, the Yellow Pages, local bridal shows and wedding web sites. You can also ask friends about sites they think will appeal to you.

Once you’ve identified several appealing sites, learn the details by calling them:

• Available on the date you want
• Large enough to accommodate your estimated guest count
• Pricing to fit your budget

Once these stipulations are met, if you remain interested in seeing the location, schedule an appointment to view the site. Obtain contact names when setting up your appointments and schedule thirty to forty minutes at each facility you will visit. Then draft a list of questions relative to your reception requirements.

Site selection visits

Bring along your list and a camera or video recorder to document the site. This will come in handy when it comes to decision time, especially if others participating in the decision are unable to accompany you.

An important objective of the appointment is determining what is included in the price quote, e.g., tables and chairs. If a specific amount of time is allotted, are there possible overtime charges? Do they provide catering, require that you use an approved caterer, or can you bring in your own caterer? Moreover, if you want to have the ceremony onsite, verify that is possible and the added costs. Will yours be the only wedding that day or will other events go on simultaneously?

Tour the site to look for adequate guest parking, bride and groom changing areas, restroom facilities and wheelchair accessibility. Inquire during the meeting about liability insurance, music restrictions, access for taking pictures and whether setup and cleanup times are included in the allotted time on the contract.

If you want to consider a Sunday, mid-week or off-season wedding, ask if there are discounts at those times, as well as for prepayment. Be sure to understand when final payments are due, and if there are any hidden or extra charges that are not listed in any of the contracts. Before leaving, request an event packet that will include costs, contracts, rules and regulations.

Finalizing your decision

Review contracts carefully to be sure you understand the language before signing on the dotted line. Most deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable. Should you decide to move your wedding date, facilities generally will not transfer the deposit to that date, so pay close attention to disclaimers, deposit requirements and payment schedules.

It is important to remember that signing a site contract means that you’ve agreed to all the rules and conditions stipulated by the site. Make sure all specific details for your reception are written into the contracts before you sign. If it isn’t specifically addressed in writing, you can’t expect it to be covered.

The site staff prepares for numerous weddings and have knowledge of what works well on their site—and most aim to please. During your site evaluations, ask yourself whether the staff seems to enjoy what they do and whether they seem interested in helping you create special memories that will last your lifetime. If not, don’t hesitate to move on to another site.

“Stress Free, Leave the Details to Me,” is the tried and true philosophy of Robbin Montero, California Wine Country wedding planning expert and owner of A Dream Wedding. Robbin is the premier wedding planner in the Northern California Wine Country, transforming any vision into the perfectly designed wedding creation. Robbin and her weddings have been featured in The Knot, Brides, Elite Magazine, Your Wedding Day and Vine Napa/Sonoma magazines, and ImportantOccasions.com. Travel & Leisure magazine calls Robbin, “The expert wedding planner in the California Wine Country.”

Submitted by Robbin Montero, www.a-dreamwedding.com

8 Wedding Hairstyles Ideas

If ever there was time to make the most of your hair, it is for your wedding. Your bridal hairstyle can look like a million with imagination and the skills of a good hairdresser. Wedding hairstyles range from a more coiffed version of your everyday hair to an elaborate and dramatic style.

Perfect wedding hairstyles flatter your face, your wedding gown, and your veil. They suit your personality while accentuating your best features and minimizing your weak ones. Here are some suggestions for different kinds of hair.

- Hair swept back or up shows more of your face and profile. This style can be especially nice for formal or evening weddings.

- A wedding up-do will accentuate your neck. This look can range from a simple French twist to a stylish mass of ringlets.

- Hair worn down or loose has a more casual look, perfect for daytime, outdoor, and informal weddings.

- Long hair can be worn back, loose, braided, or entwined with beading or fabric that matches your gown.

- Medium-length hair is nearly as versatile as long. It can be curled, straightened, tucked behind your ears, or brushed loosely down.

- Even brides with short hair can have a long, thick wedding day hairstyle. Clip on hairpieces and extensions are available in a variety of colors and styles.

- Short hair can be versatile, from sleek styles to curly. Tiaras, decorative bobby pins, combs, and hair clips all look stunning worn in short hair.

- Bangs can be worn several ways: soft, fringy, angled, or textured. If you’ve never had bangs, experiment with them well in advance. If you’ve always had them, this is not the time to sweep them aside and bare your forehead.

Current styles are important, but should be secondary to what is right for you. Something may be "in" but all wrong for you or your dress. Whatever style you choose, have practice sessions in the week before your ceremony. Do this and your wedding day will most certainly be a fabulous hair day.

Bobette Kyle-Wagner is publisher at www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com, a Website helping engaged couples get the most use from Internet wedding resources. The site includes online wedding tips, original articles, and tutorials. Read more about wedding hairstyles and beauty at www.MyOnlineWeddingHelp.com/beauty

Submitted by Bobette Kyle-Wagner, www.myonlineweddinghelp.com

Wedding / Bridal Makeup Instructions

Great wedding makeup ideas from makeup artist Kandee Johnson!

Submitted by www.kandeej.com

Hold The Microphone For Wedding Speeches

As a DJ since the mid 1980's, I've been to well over 1,000 weddings. Unfortunately, time and time again, I always run into the inexperienced microphone users.

You can find it all over the internet. Pre-written wedding speeches, what to say, what not to say, when to say it, say it in Chinese, etc. But, even more important, is how to properly hold the microphone while making your speech or toast. More than 80% of the time, the person making the speech has no idea how to handle a microphone. Very understandable since most of you have very limited experience using a mic. In most cases I see, people hold the microphone way too far away from their mouths.

The mic should be held approximately 1 - 4 inches away from the mouth at a 45-degree angle while you are speaking. If the microphone is more than a hand's width away from your mouth, it is way too far. Don't scream into the microphone, but project your voice a bit higher than you would speak to someone during a normal conversation. Hold the mic at a constant distance so the volume of your voice doesn’t keep changing. Don't touch the microphone to your chin or lips. Holding the microphone too closely to your mouth will produce muffling and popping.

Submitted by DJ Joey Tee

Bridesmaids 2011 Movie Trailer

The official movie trailer for Bridesmaids from Universal Pictures. In Theatres on May 13.

North Jersey Minister Goes To Times Square

Photo Credit: Veronica Yankowski, Chiarascuro Photography

ABOVE: Rev. Mitchell Maged of Oakland officiating at the wedding of Christina and Jason Allentoff in Spring Lake last year. In a televised stunt tied to the wedding coverage of Prince William and Kate Middleton, Maged will preside over three consecutive weddings in New York City Friday, April 29.

Rev. Mitchell Maged is not your everyday knot-tyer.

"Mitch the Minister" - as he's known colloquially - said he has officiated at more than 1,200 weddings since becoming ordained on a whim at an interfaith ministry in Bound Brook 12 years ago.

It's an odyssey the former accountant said he never saw coming.

"Talk about a change of venue," said Maged, who has lived on Oneida Avenue in Oakland with his wife, Kathleen, and daughters, Patricia and Rachel, for almost 20 years.

But when it comes to venues, Maged is open to just about anything.

Museums, national parkland, a yacht on the Hudson River - even a hot-air balloon - Maged said he's done it all and that he considers himself a "mobile minister."

On Friday, April 29, Maged will officiate at three consecutive weddings at his biggest -or at least most visible - venue to date: Times Square in New York City.

The ceremonies are planned as part of the culmination of a week of programming The Learning Channel is broadcasting to celebrate the wedding of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Middleton, which will happen simultaneously at Westminster Abbey in London.

The Times Square weddings will take place at 7:40 a.m., 8:30 a.m. and 9:10 a.m. and will be broadcasted live on a JumboTron. Meanwhile, the royal wedding will be broadcasted live on a second JumboTron and on TLC beginning at 5 a.m.

The couples who will be married in Times Square were selected after undergoing an application and screening process that began in February, said TLC publicity coordinator Niki Kazakos. More than 45 couples applied, she said.

Among the couples are Marie Grace Singgo of Clifton and Jesse Chao of Jersey City. The other couples are from Connecticut and New York.

Kazakos said the perks include wedding cakes from Carlo's Bake Shop - of "Cake Boss" fame - in Hoboken and wedding gowns for the brides from Kleinfeld Bridal - of "Say Yes to the Dress" fame - in New York City.

Kazakos said Maged was selected to officiate at the weddings primarily because TLC, a cable TV network that caters to viewers interested in cooking, fashion, home design and parenting, had employed his services for "Four Weddings," a program that pits four brides against one another for the "honeymoon of their dreams."

Maged was the frontrunner for the project, Kazakos said, because he specializes in nondenominational weddings.

The genesis of Maged's compassion for interfaith couples was his own interfaith nuptials in 1985. On Oct. 20 of that year, Maged, who was born Jewish, married Kathleen, who is Roman Catholic.

In fact, according to Maged, if it wasn't for the trouble he and his future wife went through to find a wedding officiant, he wouldn't be one today.

Eventually, Maged said, the priest from Kathleen's parish agreed to preside over the wedding. But, he said, he and his future wife still had to find a rabbi in the telephone directory.

"Back then it was a rarity for two people of different faiths to get married without one of them converting or going to the mayor," Maged said. "When I heard about the opportunity [to become a minister], I knew the time was right to help couples going through the same aggravation I did."

As for the weddings on April 29, Maged confessed he may be the one with cold feet.

"I've done pretty good in front of large crowds," Maged said, "but the reality of being viewed by thousands of people is still setting in."

Article by Philip Devencentis, www.northjersey.com

(Newsfeed)