The summer months, when the weather is (supposedly) nicest, will be the most expensive to book, so if you choose a wedding date from November to April, you could save yourself big bucks. Narrow it down even further and a December, January, February or March date will be the cheapest to book.
Weekday weddings are typically more affordable, with Monday being most affordable and increasing in expense as you get nearer the weekend. Of course, the differential will vary between venues — high-end venues are high-end every day of the week.
The most popular months to get married are from the months of May to October. More specifically, September takes first place at 16 percent, followed by June with 15 percent, and lastly October, at 14 percent. This means that the most popular wedding seasons are Fall/Autumn, and Summer.
November (spring) and March (autumn) are the most popular months to get married, each hosting 12% of Australia's yearly marriages. October is also quite popular, hosting 11% followed by April (10%).
If you have your heart set on a summer wedding, then you should probably prepare yourself for an expensive affair. Typically, during peak wedding season of May to October, and especially during the height of summer, wedding services and venues will be at their most expensive.
“Budget” Can Mean Different Things to Different People
For someone who lives in a major metropolitan area such as New York City or Los Angeles, $20,000 might be considered a “budget” wedding because the average for that area is $50,000 or higher.
In Australia, 'wedding season' extends from September to May, the most popular times of the year to be married being, not surprisingly, when the weather is nicest!
Average marriage length in Australia
The data from 2019 shows us that the average marriage in Australia lasts for 12.2 years. The data also shows that couples who have been married for between 5 and 9 years are the most likely to separate or divorce.
From the mid-1970s until 2018 there was a steady and ongoing increase for men and women in the median age at first marriage. This upward trend has not been apparent in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 statistics. In 2020 the median age of men was 30.6 years, and women 29.2 years.
“The ideal age to get married, with the least likelihood of divorce in the first five years, is 28 to 32,” says Carrie Krawiec, a marriage and family therapist at Birmingham Maple Clinic in Troy, Michigan. “Called the 'Goldilocks theory,' the idea is that people at this age are not too old and not too young.”
August was actually the most popular month to get married overall in 2021 with 16,350 couples tying the knot. And on which date did most of those weddings take place? The 21st of August, that much-loved third Saturday of the month.
A smaller guest list means a lower-cost wedding for so many reasons. You book a smaller venue (about half the cost of the average wedding). You also have a more modest cost for food, beverages, service, tables and table settings, linens, and invitations.
It is no surprise, then, that marital infidelity is a leading cause of divorce. Just how common is marital infidelity? According to a study from the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, as many as 25 percent of married men and 15 percent of married women have had extramarital affairs.
According to relationship therapist Aimee Hartstein, LCSW, as it turns out, the first year really is the hardest—even if you've already lived together. In fact, it often doesn't matter if you've been together for multiple years, the start of married life is still tricky.
While there are countless divorce studies with conflicting statistics, the data points to two periods during a marriage when divorces are most common: years 1 – 2 and years 5 – 8. Of those two high-risk periods, there are two years in particular that stand out as the most common years for divorce — years 7 and 8.
The average cost of an Australian wedding is said to be $54,295. That figure broken down looks a little something like this…
For men, early was defined as marrying before the age of 26 (29 percent), on time was between the ages of 27 and 30 (38 percent), and late if they married after 30 (33 percent). Results showed that people who married on time or late were least likely to report depressive symptoms in midlife.
What is the best month to get married in 2022? Well, the most popular month to get married is October, with September and June coming in second and third.
The most expensive parts of most weddings are costs associated with the reception venue, including the cost of renting materials, including tables and chairs, and serving food or alcohol.
Wedding-industry experts shared things couples should stop wasting money on for their big day. Favors, photo booths, and champagne toasts are all potentially unnecessary extras. Some professionals said elaborate invitations are oftentimes not worth the high price tag.
For family or someone close to you, $75 to $100 and even as high as $150 is perfect. Then if you're going as a couple, it's routine to double the amount or keep it at $200.
If you're keen on keeping to a $5,000 budget for your wedding, it's totally possible. View the real $5k weddings on The Budget Savvy Bride to get inspiration from other couples who've planned a $5,000 wedding.
In fact, you can cover the cost of a dress, invitations, flowers, photographs, ceremony and reception for a fraction of the average amount couples spend on weddings. Just ask Sandy Smith and LaTisha Styles, who both stuck to a budget of about $5,000 for their weddings.