ATLANTA — It's the big day that many couples spend a small fortune putting together.
According to the Wedding Report, Inc., the average American wedding costs over $25,000.
So where does Georgia fall when it comes to wedding costs?
11Alive's own bride-to-be Ashley Johnson did some digging, and spoke to Johnnie Winston, III. He's the king of wedding planning here in Atlanta, and has planned several celebrity weddings that have gone viral.
"I've done some that were over $400,000, $500,000 where they want lions tigers and bears," Winston explained.
But for the average person, where they choose to tie the know plays a big part in the budgeting. Hawaii is the most expensive state on average $39,000 per wedding. Georgia falls in the middle, with a typical wedding running close to $21,000.
"The average Georgia wedding, it's way up," Winston said. "That $20,000 to $21,000, that's just more of if you just showing up today - that's a family reunion wedding. A family reunion wedding consist of everybody in the family doing something instead of leaving it to the professionals."
Some of the biggest expenses for brides-to-be is what it costs to "say yes to the dress." Here in Georgia, brides typically spend more than $1,110. But other big-ticket items include the venue, food, flowers, photographers and/or videographers, a live band or a DJ... the list adds up quickly. And so do the costs.
"Most people will say, 'I don't have a budget'," Winston said. "I'm like, 'Yes, you do.'"
And while it's commonly thought that getting married in the fall may be cheaper - that's no longer the case.
"People always think, 'Oh, let me get married in the fall. It's cheaper, it's cool...' No," Winston said.
But no matter what time of year brides choose for their wedding, Winston said the most important rule of wedding planning is: Set a budge and STICK TO IT. That way brides can enjoy the special day, and not worry about breaking the bank.
