It's common knowledge that weddings are tough on the bank account — what you may not know, however, is just how much of a hit your/your parents' funds will take. Value Penguin outlines the average cost of tying the knot in America, and let's just say it isn't as pretty as the fancy white dress.
. . . But it varies from state to state. In Southern Florida or Chicago, for example, the typical price of a wedding runs about $50,000. In Manhattan, specifically, you might be forking over $88,176 (yikes!). There's a silver lining: if you plan to say "I do," in Mississippi, it'll only cost you a little over $12,500. Iowa's another comparatively low figure at $13,637. In west Texas, the average cost is capped at $13,904. All (your money) is not lost.
So why is a wedding valued in the tens of thousands of dollars, anyway? Well, there's a lot to cover. The Knot breaks it down:
The Knot recommends saving 20 percent of your monthly income in the time leading up to your wedding. If you want to go all-out with your ceremony, embrace a longer engagement period! YOU make the rules, and a year is really give or take. The longer you stash away cash, the bigger the affair. And check out our tips for spending less — every little thing counts!