October is the second most popular month for getting married, just behind June, according to wedding planning website TheKnot.com. October is also one of the top months for selling used wedding dresses, says a company that does just that.
It makes sense. One follows the other like love and marriage. Dresses are one of the few things that can be resold and reused, helping newlyweds recoup some of their wedding costs.
How much does your average bride spend on a dress, and which brides insist on the most expensive weddings?
The Knot surveyed nearly 16,000 brides and grooms married in 2014, and here are the Top, Best, Most expensive things to keep in mind.
THE WEDDING
According to The Knot, the average American wedding costs $31,213, which does not include the price of the honeymoon.That's up 5 percent in a year, and more than triple the $10,000 average in 1988, when yours truly was married in a stylish Princess Di knockoff she bought for a staggering $700. "Spend in nearly every single vendor category increased from 2013 to 2014, except invitations and favors," The Knot reported.
The most expensive place to get married is Manhattan, where the average wedding costs $76,328. That's a whopping 144 percent above the national average. The second most expensive place — Long Island — drops quite a bit to $55,327.
Other places on the list:
North/Central New Jersey: $53,986
Chicago: $50,934
Philadelphia: $44,090
San Francisco: $39,690
Boston: $38,665
Los Angeles: $37,317
Baltimore: $34,409
Houston: $33,809
San Diego: $32,941
Pittsburgh: $32,359 (yes, Pittsburgh weddings top the national average)
On the other hand, if you want to get married for less, do it in Utah, where the average wedding costs only $15,257, according to The Knot. Or to Vegas and tie the knot in the Elvis Chapel for $195 ... and your wedding singer is Elvis!!
Read More
THE RECEPTION
Half the wedding budget usually goes to the venue for the reception, where couples pay on average $14,006, up 5 percent in a year, according to The Knot. Catering per person is up $2 to $68.
THE RING
The rock is the second most expensive cost, averaging $5,855, also up 5 percent.
THE WEDDING SINGER
Paying the band is up $120 in a year to an average of $3,587.
Read More 8 ways to cut wedding costs without looking cheap
AND ... THE DRESS
Your average American bride is spending $1,357 on her dress (his dress? I don't judge). That's about $74 more than a year ago. Bridezillas, of course, pay more. A lot more. The Knot reports brides in Manhattan spend $2,914, more than twice the national average.
At the other end of the scale, brides in Alaska pay the least, only $925. Smart women up there. Look, you only wear that thing once.
