New York tops list for expensive weddings locales

The New York metropolitan area is the nation's most expensive place to have a wedding, topping the national average by more than $ 10,000. The average cost of a wedding in the region (NY, NJ, CT) is a whopping $ 29,454 versus the U.S. average of $ 19,104.

The results are part of a national study conducted by BRIDE'S magazine on "American Marriage Today."

With wedding costs rising, it's no surprise that the father of the bride is no longer the sole financier of the wedding (19%). Most weddings (53%) are funded by both set of parents and the couple, with a significant number of nuptials (27%) paid for by the bride and groom themselves.

The study also found that contrary to popular belief, the month of May (10.3%) is equally as popular as June (10.3%) when it comes to getting married. Right behind are August (10.2%), July (10%), October (9.9%) and September (9.6%). The least popular month for nuptials is January (4.3%).

Here are additional results from BRIDE'S "American Marriage Today" study:

Marriage and Engagement

• There are 2.34 million marriages in the U.S. each year.
  
• The average length of engagement today is 13 months, an increase of two months since 1990.
  
• Men and women are marrying later. The average age of first-marriage brides in 1997 is 25.7; grooms is 27.7. In 1960, the average age of a bride was 20; groom was 22.
  
• More men are registering with their fiancees these days. Today, 78% of men get involved, compared to less than half (43%) in 1993.
  

Average Wedding Costs*

• - The Midwest (IL, MI, WI, IN) is the least expensive place to get married, costing couples an average of $ 16,195.
  
• A wedding in the Southeast (NC, SC, GA, FL TN, AL, MS, VA) costs an average of $ 16,293.
  
• A West Coast (CA, AZ, TX, NV) wedding is close to the national average at $ 18,918.
  
• Nationwide, the average cost of a wedding is $ 19,104, an increase of nearly $ 4,000 since 1990.
  

Couples are spending the largest portion of their wedding budget on the reception, which has gone up $ 1,735 to $ 7,635 for an average number of 200 guests. - Women spend an average of $ 823 on their wedding dress. The engagement rings grabs $ 3,044 of the wedding budget.

Dual-earner couples

• Today's newlyweds are more likely to be dual-earner couples. In 1984, only 53% of brides and 79% of grooms were employed. Today, 83% of brides and 89% of grooms are working.
  
• A whopping 97% of brides will return to work after walking down the aisle, though with a different name; 90% plan to take their husband's.
  

The Honeymoon

• The average amount spent on a honeymoon is $ 3,657 for an eight day trip.
  
• Most honeymoons are paid for by the couple themselves (70%).
  
• The most popular honeymoon travel destinations are: the Caribbean (27%); Hawaii (18%); Florida (17%); Mexico (10%); Bahamas/Nassau (9%); and Europe (8%).
  

A questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 3,500 engaged/newlywed readers across the country. A total of 1,001 completed surveys were returned garnering a response rate of 29%. Karli Enterprises performed all tabulations.

(*) The categories used in compiling the average cost of a wedding include: invitations, announcements, thank-you's; flowers; photography and videography; music; clergy, church, chapel, synagogue fee; limousine; attendants' gifts; wedding rings; engagement ring; rehearsal dinner; wedding dress; headpiece/veil; brides attendant' apparel, mother of the bride apparel; groom's formalwear; men's formal wear; and wedding reception.