The Ultimate List of 2022 Wedding Statistics

2022 has been deemed “The Year of the Wedding.” According to the NY Times, 2.6 million weddings will take place this year. And it really comes as no surprise– many couples are finally allowed to have the dream wedding they’ve been putting off for years due to pandemic-driven holdups.

What is shocking, however, is the sheer numbers behind this year’s wedding statistics. Below you will find that 2022 is an unprecedented year for the wedding industry– and couples are planning their big days differently than ever before. Enjoy this ultimate list of 2022 Wedding Statistics!

2022 is a huge year for weddings 

According to The New York Times, we’re anticipating as many as 2.5 million weddings to take place in 2022, up from 2.2 million in 2019, prior to the pandemic. The big events will also be much bigger — and likely more expensive amid record levels of consumer price inflation.

A CNBC article found the following stats to support a 2022 Wedding Frenzy: 

• Over 2 million couples will be getting married in 2022
• Market research firm The Wedding Report predicts that 2.5 million weddings will happen in the United States in 2022. 
• This record number of weddings hasn’t been broken since the year 1984.
• The surge in demand comes amid high inflation and supply chain shortages that could also make planning more complicated.
• Much of the increase is due to the fact that couples who postponed their nuptials due to Covid-19 are finally finding a window of opportunity to schedule their big day.

When are most 2022 weddings taking place?

According to Businesswire, the bulk of weddings this year are expected between summer and fall. The publication also found that:

• The most popular seasons to get married were summer and fall, with 77% of weddings taking place during this timeframe. (Businesswire)
• In 2021, October took the top spot as the most popular month to get married (22%) with four of the top five wedding dates falling in this month. (Businesswire)
• December was marked the most popular month to get engaged (20%). (Businesswire)

Where are couples getting married in 2022?

Data shows that destination weddings are becoming increasingly popular post-COVID. Here are some trends we’re seeing in terms of wedding locations for 2022: 

• Nearly 20% of weddings in 2021 were destination weddings meaning – outside of a couple’s hometown or where they currently reside (up 10% from 2020). (Pearl Source) 
• About half of those destination weddings were hosted in international locations. (Pearl Source) 
• This is almost up to pre-pandemic numbers for destination weddings (21% in 2019). (Pearl Source) 
• The average budget for a destination wedding is around $35,000 according to Brides
• There are around 350,000 destination weddings performed every year (Condor Ferries)
• The number is equivalent to 25% of all weddings in the US (Condor Ferries)
• The most popular destination weddings in the USA take place in Nevada, Florida and California (Group Travel)
• Outside of the US, the top destination wedding locations for couples who tie the knot are the Caribbean, Mexico, and Hawaii (Group Travel)
• Destination weddings are big business, summing up around $16 billion in annual spending (Ampers and Travel)
• 90% of couples cite climate as the top reason for choosing a destination wedding (Condor Ferries)
• The vast majority of couples (80%) who opt for destination weddings have been married before (Ampers and Travel)
• 50 is the average number of guests at a destination wedding (Bridal Guide)

How expensive is the average wedding in 2022?

With the increase in inflation, everyday expenses have drastically shot up. And weddings have definitely not been excluded from its effects. From venue costs to vendor costs, food, fun, and entertainment, everyone has been impacted by the rising costs and as a result many of these goods and service providers have had to increase their prices to make ends meet. 

• The average wedding cost was $28,000 in 2021—$34,000 if you include the engagement ring. (Pearl Source) 
• During the year 2022, couples can expect to pay a minimum of $1,000 to $3,000 in addition to those costs, without factoring in extras like a honeymoon.  (Pearl Source) 
• In 2020, brides paid an average of $1,631 for a dress, including alterations (Brides)
• The average age at the time of tying the knot in the US is 27.8 for women and 29.8 for men (Census)
• The vast majority of couples who tie the knot (91%) register for wedding gifts (Snipp)
• The wedding-registry gifts industry makes a whopping $19 billion every year, according to Loop Capital (Business Insider)
• Wedding guests spend around $776 for a wedding day – the statistic also includes the guests who traveled (Business Insider)
• For wedding party members, the costs are a little higher: $851 / wedding. The wedding party usually includes: the maid of honor, bridesmaids, best man, groomsmen, ushers and the parents and grandparents of the couple (Business Insider)
• The average wedding gift costs the guest around $100 (Brides)
• For guests that are close to the couple, the number is closer to $150 (Brides)
• The honeymoon industry rounds up around $12 billion dollars each year (Honeymoon Goals)

What is the average cost of vendors in 2022?

It’s no secret that the pandemic was destructive to the wedding industry. In addition to financial losses, vendors are now having a challenging time with inventory due to supply chain shortages. And some vendors who rely heavily on gas are facing hardships from inflated prices. And at the end of the day– the extra cost comes out of the consumers’ pocket. 

• More than 40% of wedding vendors estimated a financial loss of $10,000 to $50,000 in 2020. And 15% reported a financial loss of over $100,000. (Zola)
• As vendors try to bounce back from the economic hardship caused by mass cancellations during the pandemic, many are still encountering obstacles. For example, some bridal bakeries are claiming that they’re facing 20% price hikes for restaurant-quality cocoa products, due to the nationwide chocolate shortage. (Zola)
• Vendors are elevating prices. Increased costs have affected wedding hair stylists and makeup artists as well. (Zola)
• Chocolate shortages and gas price hikes are influencing the fees of some vendors, and others are being affected by the scarcity of certain precious metals and gemstones. For the bride who wants bling in the form of a beautiful engagement ring or wedding band, jewelry prices are trending upward. (Zola)
• 30% of vendors say they’ve had no rebookings or cancellations for 2021 so far, and 52% said several couples with dates between January-June, but not many, have rescheduled. (Zola)
• Because most vendors were only able to service less than 25% of working dates in 2020, 32% report an estimated financial loss of more than $50,000. (Zola)
• Vendors predict that more intimate, local, outdoor events, virtual components, focus on guest safety, and an acceleration of online wedding planning will continue on through 2022. (Zola)

Health and Safety remain a priority for weddings post-COVID

Due to the pandemic, we have had to drastically increase health and safety measures in our everyday life. The pandemic has negatively impacted us all, but a good number of couples are not letting this dull their shine. Many are finding ways to live out their dream wedding whilst incorporating safety into their ceremonies.

• 85% of couples are incorporating at least one health and safety measure into their wedding. (Forbes)
• The average guest count in 2021 was 105 guests (compared to 131 in 2019), though numbers differed in the first half of the year compared to the second half due to vaccine availability and weather. (Forbes)
• The average guest count for January through June weddings was 94 compared to 110 guests for July through December events. (Forbes)
• Couples in the Midwest averaged the highest number of guests in 2021 at 128, whereas weddings in the West had the smallest average count at 90. (Forbes)
• On average, 17% of couples provided a virtual viewing option for guests unable to attend in person. (Forbes)
• Affianced couples in 2021 were able to plan without any delays due to vaccines, eased restrictions, and a rise in available testing. But like McNicholl, many 2022 brides are altogether ditching the norms that the brides of 2020 and 2021 had to enforce. (Forbes)
• “There are no masks, no restrictions at all,” says McNicholl. “I’m paying thousands of dollars to my photographers, and I want to see the emotions and happiness.” (Forbes)

Engagements are getting even more extravagant 

• Brides’ American Wedding Study showed that the average couple spends $3,756 on an engagement ring in 2020 (Brides)
• The unique engagement ring, the bling, the magic, and the big ‘YES’ – they all define romance to the max. But a considerable percentage of cases show that engagements don’t always end up with tying the knot. Here are a few engagement statistics and facts from industry specialists.  (Pearl Source) 
• According to a study in which 1,000 people in the US were polled, 20 percent of all engagements were called off before the wedding (Best Life Online)
• In 2019, the average cost of an engagement ring band set for the bride is priced at an average of $6,113, while the groom’s band costs 87% less at around $468 (Diamond Nexus)
• The couples who opt for pre-marital counseling report a 30% stronger marriage than other couples who tie the knot (WebMD)
• According to Pearl Source, these are anticipated to be the most popular days for engagements to take place in 2022: 
  • Christmas Day – 12/25  
  • Christmas Eve 12/24  
  • New Year’s Day 1/1  
  • Sunday before Christmas Eve 12/22 
  • Valentine’s Day 2/14 

Brides are spending more on their wedding dresses

According to year-over-year trends, the cost of wedding attire is also going up:

• The average cost of a wedding dress in 2019 was $1,600. (Pearl Source) 
• In 2020, brides paid an average of $1,631 for a dress, including alterations (Brides)
• Most brides who tie the knot will spend between $500 to $4,000 on a wedding dress (Brides)
• Most brides (31%) try on an average of 4-7 dresses before picking the one (Bridal Guide)
• In 2017, the global market value of wedding dresses was reported to be worth 2.86 billion U.S. dollars (Statista)
• The top seller of wedding dresses in the United States is David’s Bridal, representing a 28% market share (Brandon Gaille)

Wedding cake isn’t a huge priority for couples

While most brides are spending thousands of dollars on their dresses, some are cutting costs on their cakes. In fact, nearly 31% of couples spend less than $100 on their wedding cakes. But that isn’t everyone’s truth… check out the wedding cake stats:

• In 2020, the average cost of a wedding cake slice is $3.59 (based on a statistic by Wedding Stats). In other words, an average cake for $150 people will cost between $445-$631 (Wedding Stats)
• The most popular wedding cake option is the classic tiered cake with buttercream frosting (Wedding Stats)
• Between 2010 and 2019, vanilla was the top wedding cake flavor choice – picked by 26% of couples (The Black Tux)
• Chocolate was the second most popular choice (20%), followed by red velvet (14%) (The Black Tux)
• Most couples (59%) pick a 3-tiered wedding cake (The Black Tux)
• 83% of couples order their wedding cake from their local bakery (The Black Tux)
• The most popular non-cake wedding dessert is cupcakes (The Black Tux)
• Wedding Fun Facts: Cookies were the most popular non-cake wedding dessert for almost 4 decades, between 1970-2009 (The Black Tux)
• 83% of couples opt to have a cake-cutting ceremony during their wedding. (Pearl Source) 

Wedding trends and entertainment 

Colors, venues, trends, and more… find out what 2022 couples have up their sleeves for keeping their guests happy and entertained at their wedding: 

• 79% of couples who tie the knot choose to incorporate their wedding colors into their floral arrangements (Pearl Source) 
• 21% of couples choose a banquet hall for their wedding, while 18% choose a rustic barn or farm and 12% opt for a historical building to share their vows in. (Pearl Source)  
• 60% of couples opt for a flower girl and/or ring bearer (Pearl Source) 
• Despite tradition, 46% of couples see their partner before the marriage ceremonies 
• 38% of couples write personal letters to each other to be read on their wedding day 
• 91% of couples decided to perform a first dance (Pearl Source) 
• Guests are the number one priority for the couple, with 72% of them stating that making sure their guests had a good time was the most important aspect (Pearl Source) 
• 35% of couples chose unique hashtags for their guests to post on social media 
• In 2020, the average cost of a wedding band falls between $3,097-$3,617 (Wedding Stats)
• When it comes to wedding DJs, the costs are between $875-$1,101 (Wedding Stats)
• The average wedding band consists of 4 members who sign up for a 4-hour performance (Wedding Stats)

Plan your wedding the savvy way

2022 is a crazy year to be planning a wedding– vendors are booked out for months, inflation is raging, and a lingering recession is on the horizon. And starting your happily ever after off with a big pile of debt is hardly romantic. That’s why we created The Budget Savvy Bride. 

We’re the #1 resource for planning your wedding the savvy way and with the budget you can afford. Our database of free planners, tools, and resources ensures you plan your wedding exactly how you want it– without the debt! We can’t wait to help you plan your perfect wedding. 

Weddings can most definitely be pricey, but when it’s your special day, it should be a dream come true! At The Budget Savvy Bride, we’re here to help you save that coin! It’s time to celebrate without breaking the bank, so check our free resources today!