Dress? Check! Rings? Check! Masks? It’s no secret that the Covid-19 pandemic has totally upended the wedding industry. Both state- and federal-level mandates have imposed restrictions that would rightfully make any wedding planner throw in the towel.
But with 93% of couples originally set to wed in 2020 still intent on holding their nuptials, most couples are taking on this extra stressor in stride.But what does that mean for cost?
According to The Knot, the average cost of a wedding ceremony and reception in 2020 was $19,000. This is nearly one-third less of the costs from 2019, which averaged $28,000 for both events.
The drop in spending can be directly attributed to Covid-19, although one-third of couples who kept their 2020 wedding dates opted to hold mini ceremonies that averaged fewer than 20 guests.
This tactic allowed them to keep their special days, conform to any covid gathering restrictions, and significantly cut costs in the process. But what do these trends mean for 2022 planning?
As brides and grooms rush to reclaim the large celebrations they were denied in 2020, they’ve budgeted approximately $22,500 for 2021 receptions, similar to the $23,000 spent on receptions in 2019.