Better or worse, average wedding costs $27,490

By Linda Miller

Published: July 8, 2007

I've been married way too long to remember how much my wedding cost. Not that I ever really knew anyway.

But with a daughter who dreams of a big wedding, big dress and big reception, I imagine all those wedding costs that were lost on me so long ago will hit my bank account tenfold one day. And not anytime soon, I hope.

I thought of this when I came across a list of the top 10 average wedding expenses for 2007 in Women's Wear Daily.

According to theweddingreport

.com, an online wedding statistical service, most of the expenses happen the day of the wedding and during the reception.

"Couples want to give their guests a show,” said Sharon Naylor, wedding expert and author of more than 30 books, in Women's Wear Daily. "They want to create an entire experience, especially when guests take the time to travel. Couples are focused on making sure they love their food, they're well entertained and that they get the best of everything.”

About 2.4 million couples in the U.S. will marry this year and spend more than ever — an estimated $27,490 each.

Here's what they're spending it on:

• Reception food service. Average price per wedding: $9,400. The average number of wedding guests is 167, according to theweddingreport. com. The trend is to combine platters of dishes that guests can't get every day. Couples can save a fortune by planning a Friday night celebration, early Saturday or Sunday afternoon or evening.

• Engagement ring. Cost: $5,400. Sapphires and emeralds are catching more interest.

• Honeymoon. Cost: $3,700. Hot destinations include Maui, Hawaii; Rome; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Paris; and London. One trend is to have close friends and family pitch in for the cost of the honeymoon.

• Reception band. Cost $3,100. In Larchmont, N.Y., the going rate is $1,000 per musician for five hours.

• Reception beverages/bartender. Cost: $2,800. Alternatives to liquor are starting to include fun drinks such as sparkling cranberry-grape combination or fruit drinks.

• Photographer. Cost: $2,300. The latest trend is toward a more fashionable approach, to transform the everyday couple into celebrities.

• Wedding dress. Cost: $1,500. It's still a top priority for most newly engaged brides.

• Wedding planner. Cost: $1,500. It's an option for those who have the extra money and don't have the time to decide the minor details.

• Ceremony band. Cost: $1,400. Couples are becoming more creative with wedding music. How about bagpipes or Hawaiian drums?

• Videographer. Cost $1,400. Everybody smile!