At the time of the writing of this article, researchers reported their finding regarding local trends and wedding spending behaviors in the Metro Detroit area. The report reflects a full year of survey results from couples who recently got married.
If this is your first time planning a wedding, at first blush, it can look overwhelming. By sharing the result of this study, our readers better able to plan and prepare for their upcoming wedding day.
Newly married Metro Detroit couples report spending an average of $26,385 on their wedding.
Attire & Accessories: $1,648
A little bling, the perfect dress, and a suit help couples make a fashion statement of their own.
Beauty & Spa: $152
When budgeting, don’t forget to factor in these expenses, including hair care, nails, and make-up.
Entertainment: $3,331
Make any wedding memorable by adding excitement and entertainment. Items included in this category are MC/DJ services, entertainment lighting, live bands, musicians, soloists, and ensemble.
Flower & Decorations: $1,783
With a few well-placed floral arrangement, venues and ceremony locations can be transformed. Adding a beautiful bouquet and a stately boutonniere can change an outfit from attractive to gorgeous. In the research, items in this category included bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, event decorations, flowers, and centerpieces.
Gifts & Favors: $829
Many couples show appreciation by giving wedding favors to guests or gifts to their parents and the wedding party. Make sure to budget for these expenses in addition to providing gratuity for all services provided to you.
Stationery: $1,020
Stationery items, including invitations, ceremony programs, engagement announcements, invitations, reception menus, save the date cards, place cards, thank-you cards, and postage come under this category.
Jewelry: $4904
Couples should budget for everything from the engagement ring and wedding bands to that stunning earrings and necklace set.
Photography & Videography: $4,111
Setting aside money to hire a professional photographer and videographer to capture this life’s milestone is money well spent. Items and services included in this category are digital photographs, photo CD/DVD, engagement photo sessions, photo booth, prints, wedding photo album book, wedding photographer, and videographer.
Wedding Planner or Consultant: $6,451
Wedding planners and consultants can be extremely helpful to make sure that your wedding turns-out right. Services provided by these profession range from full service to a-la-carte.
Venue, Catering & Rentals: $14,393
One of the largest expenses for a wedding falls under this category. It includes products and services such as ceremony officiator, event accessories, bar services, food services, location rental, other item rentals, hotel room for after the reception, transportation rentals, rehearsal dinner expenses, wedding cake, and desserts.
Of course, every wedding is unique. Yours may be more or even less. For additional help developing your wedding budget, here is a guide to help you distribute funds towards anticipated products and service. Additional helpful resources can be found on www.detroitweddingday.com.
Wedding Guide Recommendations (budget distribution)
| Reception | 45%–50% |
| Gifts | 2%-3% |
| Photographer/Video | 10%-12% |
| Transportation | 2%-3% |
| Wedding Consultant | 5%-15% |
| Stationary | 2%-3% |
| Attire | 8%-10% |
| Ceremony | 2%-3% |
| Flowers | 7%-10% |
| Entertainment | 7%-10% |
| Rings | 2%-4% |
| Miscellaneous | 8% |
Metro Detroit Couples’ Spending Distribution Trends
Reports show that just over 40% of Metro Detroit area couples spent $10,000 or less on their wedding.
| Amount Spent | Percentage of Spend |
| $10,000 or less | 41.8% |
| $10,000 – $19,999 | 30.1% |
| $20,000 or more | 28.1% |
Seasonality of Weddings and Length of Engagement
The average number of months that couples are in engaged in the metro area is 17-months:
| Wedding Month | Percentage |
| January – March | 9% |
| April – June | 30.4% |
| July – September | 41.4% |
| October – December | 19.1% |
Guest List Details
Managing the guest list is one way of keeping your wedding budget under control. An average of 54% of metro Detroit couples had between 50 to 150 guests attend their wedding celebration. Here is a breakdown based on a percentage of attendance and the average amount spent on the wedding.
| Number of Guests | Percentage | Average Spend |
| Less than 25 3% | 3% | $12,396 |
| 20 – 50 | 12% | $14,324 |
| 50 – 100 | 27% | $19,558 |
| 100 – 150 | 27% | $25,894 |
| 151 – 200 | 19% | $34,158 |
| 201 – 300+ | 13% | $41,596+ |
Sources: 1 The wedding Report (theweddingreport.com 2017 estimated weddings); 2 Data compilation from theknot.com; modwedding.c
