If you’re planning on getting married anytime soon, get saving.
As if proof was required that weddings in Ireland are an expensive business, it’s been revealed that €26,015 is the average amount that Irish couples spend on their big day.
That figure is a 7% increase on last year’s figure of €24,427, which in turn was an 8% increase on the average amount spent on weddings from the year previous, illustrating the fact that it ain’t cheap if you’re going to tie the knot in Ireland.
The eye-opening numbers come from an annual survey by weddingsonline, the country’s most popular wedding website, with 1,200 participants contributing to a survey that took place this month.
The overall figure of €26,015 includes the cost of the honeymoon (thankfully), with the survey revealing that over 60% of couples struggled to stay within budget and that 13% of couples spend over €5,000 more than they had planned to.
18% of couples look to take out a loan to help fund their big day and 22% of couples get help from their parents.
You can see some of the main findings from the survey below; you can see the results on weddingsonline in full here.
- The average budget for a wedding including honeymoon is €26,015, up 7% on last year.
- Friday and Saturday are still the most popular days for weddings, with Saturday being the top choice (42.41%).
- Over half of weddings take place during the summer months, with August being the most popular month, followed by July, June and September.
- Engagements are spread quite evenly throughout the year with a peak in December (24%).
- On average couples invite 159 guests to their Big Day.
- 62% of couples use their savings to fund their wedding, 22% get help from their parents and 18% take out a loan to help cover costs.
- Almost 60% of couples surveyed went over budget, with 13% spending over €5,000 more than they had intended to.
- The average age for brides tying the knot is 31 years of age, while the groom’s average age is 33 years of age.
- On average, brides choose three bridesmaids and grooms opt for three groomsmen.
- 39% of couples surveyed have their speeches before the meal, 31% opt to have their speeches after the meal and 25% have them between courses. 5% opt to have no speeches at all.
- More and more brides are opting to say a few words with 31% giving a speech.
- 9 out of 10 couples honeymoon abroad with 59% waiting a few months after the wedding before they head off on their honeymoon.
- Almost half of couples enjoy a mini-moon in Ireland directly after their wedding.
- The average cost of a honeymoon is €5,261.
- The most popular honeymoon destinations are The Maldives, the USA, Italy, Mexico and Spain.
- 63% of the couples surveyed paid for accommodation for parents, 41.49% paid for accommodation for the bridal party and 21.74% didn’t pay for anyone.
The average spend on each category, meanwhile, was as follows:
- Venue: €12,413
- Weddings Rings: €1,292
- Engagement Ring: €1,849
- Wedding Band: €2,019
- DJ: €434
- Photographer: €1,597
- Videographer: €1,283
- Wedding Dress: €1,787
- Ceremony Music: €440
- Evening Entertainment (Non Musical – Magician, dancers, comedian etc.): €570
- Honeymoon: €5,261
- Celebrant: €347
- Make-up Total (inc. Bridesmaids): €368*
- Hair Total (inc. Bridesmaids): €313*
- Wedding Planner: €1,523
- Bridesmaid Dresses: €726*
- Accessories: €504
- Wedding Suits: €1,068**
- Wedding Car: €457
- Wedding Cake: €378
- Décor: €677
- Flowers: €674
- Invitations: €369
- Ceremony Booklets: €257
- Foodie Treats: €358
- Hen/Stag per person: €253
*average of 3 bridesmaids
**4-5 suits bought on average
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