tyingcloud.tctimes.com/ez_read/archive/2017/012217_s_tyingthe...featured section january 22, 2017...

Featured SectionJanuary 22, 2017

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Tying theKnot

Visitdreamweddinghub.com

for the area’s best online bridal resource

Weddings 2017:WHO PAYS FOR WHAT?

Page 4

Your wedding dress—IT MAY BE NEW,

USED, BORROWED OR BLUE

Page 6

Love and marriageTHE SECOND TIME AROUND

Page 8Page 8

Page 3

LAST-MINUTE

wedding pointers

BRIDE: LAURA CONSTABLE • PHOTO BY: JAG-PHOTO

2 Sunday, January 22, 2017 TYING the KNOT www.tctimes.com

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Tying the Knot DIRECTORY

You’ll meet vendors, get design ideas and have a lot of fun planning your own wedding

By Sally [email protected]; 810-629-8282 June is the month for weddings, and January is the month for bridal shows, where you can start to turn your engage-ment excitement into wedding plans. Bridal shows are a productive place to start, where dozens of prospective vendors are located all in one place. This is where the fun begins, and you can turn your girlhood dreams into your own wed-ding reality. These events are the most convenient way to learn about a number of wedding options, from the most fashionista bridal gown to a photographer that fits your style and budget. Rather than just research websites, you can smell the flowers, feel the material, taste the cake and hear the band. You can ask questions one-on-one with a knowl-edgeable vendor, who knows more about wedding planning than you do. You’ll also have a chance to sign up for gift registries, nibble bites from ca-terers, play with fun bridal accessories

and jewelry and learn about new themes and décor. Many bridal shows also offer a fashion show, where you can begin to decide your own personal bridal style. Here’s some advice about bridal shows from herecomestheguide.com: TIP #1: Choose a show in the same geographical area where your wedding will be held, in order to meet vendors servicing that region. TIP #2: Talk to recently married friends and find out which shows were the most helpful and interesting. TIP #3: Plan to attend no more than three bridal shows. Otherwise, you risk bridal show burnout. TIP #4: Plan ahead by making a checklist of services and vendors you might be interested in talking to. TIP #5: Pre-register for these events to save you time at check-in, and you may also save a few dollars. TIP #6: Wear comfortable clothing and shoes because you will be doing a lot of walking. Bring a large bag, back-pack or carry-on with wheels to store brochures and freebies. TIP #7: Bring your credit card and some cash to take advantage of sales. TIP #8: If you’ve already selected your gown and bridesmaid dresses, bring a color swatch for matching with jewelry or other accessories.

March down the aisles of a

bridal show

TIP #9: Eat a meal before you go to avoid over-snacking at these events.

TIP #10: Bring a companion with you — someone you trust and can bounce ideas off of. One bridal expert suggests attending one show with a friend or relative, and another with your fiancé.

TIP #11: Make sure you get current contact information from each vendor, and find out the name and title of the person you’re speaking with at the show.

TIP #12: Notice which vendors lis-ten to your needs and ask the right ques-tions. Proceed cautiously before signing on with a particular vendor, but keep in mind popular vendors book early.

TIP #13: Only provide your contact information to vendors you are truly interested in.

TIP #14: Sort through your bag of goodies and contact information a day or two day after the event, after the excite-ment has worn off and you’re ready to make some decisions.

UPCOMING BRIDAL SHOWS

• Jan. 29: Genesee County Bridal Alli-ance 6th Annual Wedding Marketplace, The Captain’s Club at Woodfield, Grand Blanc• Feb. 12: Michigan Wedding Info Valentine’s Bridal Show at Chemung Hills Golf Club, Howell • Feb. 19: Bridal University at Ford Field in downtown Detroit

For a complete list of bridal shows in Michigan, visit www.michiganwedding-slavin.com

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www.tctimes.com TYING the KNOT Sunday, January 22, 2017 3

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REAL ADVICE EVERY BRIDE SHOULD KNOW

While those last few weeks before a wedding day can be hectic, it’s important that couples stay focused and remember to perform a handful of tasks as their big day draws closer. And don’t forget to relax and enjoy!

SPEAK TO YOUR VENDORS. Vendors play a big role at weddings, so it’s important that couples contact

their vendors to confirm wedding schedules and ensure vendors have

directions to the ceremony and reception locations, if necessary. You will be busy on your wedding day, so you may want to provide the phone numbers of maids of honor and best

men so vendors can reach them should something go awry or need to be addressed while you’re preparing

for the ceremony.

WRITE SOME CHECKS.Many vendors expect final

payment a week or two before the ceremony, and it’s imperative that

couples make these payments on time. Revisit all of your

contracts to determine when the final installment of each vendor’s payment is due. Pay via check so

you have a record that the final payment was made.

Last-minute wedding pointers

PREPARE VISITOR BAGS.Many couples like to

leave visitor bags for their guests at the hotel where

the majority of their guests will be staying. The weeks leading up to the wedding are a great time for you to prepare these bags and arrange for their drop-off

with hotel personnel.

DROP OFF PERSONAL ITEMS AT THE RECEPTION VENUE.

If you have chosen to use personalized toasting glasses, cake servers and other personal items at your wedding reception you should

drop such items off in the week leading up to your wedding. Arrange

this dropoff with your contact at the reception venue, at which time

you also can confirm any additional details about your reception you

might want to inquire about.

CONFIRM REHEARSAL RESERVATIONS.

Contact your ceremony venue as well as the restaurant where your rehearsal dinner will be held to

confirm the time of the rehearsal and your dinner reservation.

When confirming these details, it’s also good to make sure all bridal party members and family who will be attending the rehearsal and subsequent dinner have

transportation to and from each venue.

PUT THE “MAYBE” ITEMS ON YOUR REGISTRY.

Many people are going to look at your registry

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Weddings 2017: WHO PAYS FOR WHAT?

These ‘rules’ are made to be broken, depending on your own family’s circumstances

By Sally [email protected]; 810-629-8282

Centuries ago, the bride’s family paid for all their daughter’s wedding expenses, because of the traditional system of dowries — the price they paid to her future husband for her support, and as a measure of good faith between the two families.

Those days are long gone, but many of the same traditions remain, with the bride’s family paying many of the ex-penses of a wedding.

On average, the bride’s parents usu-ally spend 44 percent of the overall budget, while the bridal couple contrib-utes 43 percent and the groom’s parents pay about 12 percent, ac-cording to The Knot. In 2015, 12 percent of couples paid for the entire wedding on their own, while 9 percent of couples didn’t pay for any part of their wedding.

From a traditional viewpoint, here’s how families, according to The Knot, have shared wedding expenses. It all comes down to rules that are meant to be broken, depending upon the circumstances of the families and the couple involved.PRE-WEDDING EVENTS• Bride’s or groom’s family plans and hosts the engagement party. If there’s more than one, the bride’s family hosts the first one.

• Groom’s family plans and hosts the rehearsal dinner.• Maid of honor and bridesmaids host the bridal shower and bachelorette party.• Best man and groomsmen host the bachelor party.• Friends may throw additional showers or parties.INVITATIONS• Bride and family pay for all invitations, announcements and wedding programs.CEREMONY• Bride and family pay for church or synagogue, sexton, organist, etc.• Groom and family pay for marriage license and officiant’s fee.WEDDING DRESS, TUXEDO AND ATTIRE• Bride and family pay for bridal dress, veil, accessories and trousseau (lingerie and honeymoon attire).• Groom and family pay for groom’s

attire.• All attendants pay for their own

clothing, including shoes, as well as their hotel accom-

modations.RINGS• Bride and/or her family pay for the groom’s ring.• Groom and/or his fam-ily pay for both of the

bride’s rings.TRANSPORTATION

• Bride and family pay for the wedding transportation of

the wedding party to and from the ceremony and reception.FLOWERS AND DECORATION• Bride and family pay for floral arrange-ments for ceremony and reception, plus bouquets and corsages for bridesmaids and flower girls.• Groom and family pay for the bride’s bouquet, boutonnieres for men and cor-sages for mothers and grandmothers.PHOTOGRAPHY• Bride and family pay for all wedding photos and videography.RECEPTION• Bride and family pay for all professional services, including food and décor.• Groom’s family pays for the DJ or band, and liquor.HONEYMOON• Groom and family pay for the complete honeymoon.

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How to choose a wedding photographer

By Tim [email protected]; 810-433-6795

I’m going to say the same thing I always say to people I know who are looking for a wedding photographer — ‘You don’t have to hire me, but can I offer some advice?’

My name is Tim Jagielo, I’m a photographer, writer, video producer, and media editor for this newspaper.

I’ve also been shooting weddings since 2005, and in my capacity as the photo editor of the ‘Times, I take

UNSOLICITED advicephotos in a variety of environments, and also edit (make fit to print) photos that are submitted to us.

Attention to lighting, color, composition and taking a photograph of a peak moment are things I do every day — and these are

things you should look for in a wedding photographer.

Rapport with the person is also important, and as always, you do get what you pay for with photographers.HERE’S WHAT TO LOOK FOR.

Depth of experience. The photographer doesn’t have to be 35 years old like I am, but

they do need to have enough experience to handle the challenges of shooting your

wedding. Weddings combine the skill sets of photojournalism, with well-composed and nicely lit portrait photography into one event.

Your photographer needs to be competent, and a quick problem solver. Can they shoot effectively indoors, and outdoors? Churches and reception halls are dim, poorly lit places, and your photographer has to know what they’re doing.

Look at the colors of their photographs. Is there a clear cast of yellow or blue? Are they reasonably sharp? How does the bride and groom’s skin look? Compare them to stock imagery you can find online. Photos shouldn’t be overly flat, or overly grainy/noisy. Too many black and white photos on their website may be a sign that they can’t handle dimmer indoor color and lighting.

An important note: your computer monitor will change the way the photographer intended the photos to look. Some monitors will have different contrast or color cast. Make sure you look on a mobile device as well, to compare them.

Ask to see an entir e wedding. Not literally every image they took that day,

but you should be able to see an entire wedding set, whether 100 or 300 photos. This will give you a feel for their work.

Every photographer can put a decent portfolio together, but seeing a whole wedding gives you a more accurate picture of their style and ability.

They communicate quickly , are friendly. If they take too long to get back to you, it may be a bad sign. You’ll have to be smiling in photos for hours straight, and if your photographer is overly stressed, or not personable, it could dim your experience that day.

Finally, spell out the terms. If you like the person, their work and their prices, spell everything out.

Does the price include editing the photos afterward? Are prints involved? What’s the deadline? How many photos will you be getting? Expect to pay a deposit, and finish paying the day of the wedding.

So , congra tu la t ions on the engagement, and best of luck — you don’t have to hire me, but make sure you hire someone who makes photos you like, and who you get along with. If you’d like to see my work, go to jag-photo.com.

Tim Jagielo

JAG-PHOTO

JAG-PHOTO JAG-PHOTO


Brides have many options for the perfect dress, from online shopping to rental or ‘pre-loved’

By Sally [email protected]; 810-629-8282 Your bridal gown is the focal point of your wedding day, so you want it to reflect your style, your personality and your budget.

Your wedding dress — it may be new, used,

borrowed or blue But there are many options available to today’s brides in choosing just the perfect wedding dress. Yes, you can buy a top-of-the-line designer gown for $5,000 and up, but you can also choose an average- priced wedding dress for $1,000 or less. For more savings, consider buying a “pre-loved” wedding dress that is gently used once, or maybe even renting your dream dress, just for your special day. BUYING NEW Start your search a year in advance and

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begin by setting a budget. Don’t forget to include the dress, but also taxes, alterations, possibly shipping, and the very important accessories, like your veil, shoes and jewelry.

Before you start shopping, figure out the style you’re looking for, starting with the ambiance of your wedding venue. A beach wedding will require a very different style than an upscale hotel wedding.

Consider the silhouettes that look best on your body shape. Look through photos of wedding dresses online and in magazines and tear out/print your favorite styles. Consider the Wedding LookBook by The Knot app, where you can search thousands of gowns by style and find local salons that carry them.

Bring either your mom or a trusted friend with you to shop, but no more than two or three people total, advises The Knot. Too many opinions can make the process more confusing.

Take photos with you of styles you like to narrow down your search with a salesperson.

You’ll know it’s “the one” when you don’t want to take it off, says The Knot.

Be prepared to sign a contract and put down a deposit, usually about 60 percent of the price of the gown. Make sure to start gown shopping early enough, as it takes an average of 16 to 20 weeks from the day you place your order, until it comes into the salon.

Plan on about three fittings to get the dress altered to fit your body just right. A simple hem might cost $200 and major alterations could amount to more than $1,000, so be prepared with this in your budget. BUYING USED

Buying a used wedding dress can be a little more of a gamble than buying new, but you can save hundreds of dollars by being thrifty.

Since your dress will have to be tailored to your body, a larger size is easier to work with for alterations, rather than a too-small

gown, says The Knot. Fabric can always be subtracted, but adding fabric that matches the gown can be an expensive proposition.

Try local consignment stores, or use Facebook sites like Local Resale, where you can see posted pictures. Another Facebook site is Wedding Consignment, a totally free site that matches buyers and sellers with wedding attire, décor, etc.

The Knot recommends Nearly New-lywed, a used wedding boutique and inspirational blog. If you’re buying a used wedding dress, the application process en-sures you’re paying for the “real deal,” not a counterfeit wedding dress. This website does charge a 25 percent commission fee.

Other websites for buying and selling used wedding dresses include Tradesy, Still White and PreOwned Wedding Dresses.WHERE TO RENTA WEDDING DRESS

Ready-to-wear rental websites like Rent the Runway and Vow to Be Chic give today’s bride an opportunity to wear an expensive designer gown at a fraction of the retail price. The downside is the gown’s availability for your wedding date. You also can’t make alterations on the dress, nor will you have a keepsake gown in the end. WHAT ABOUT TUXESFOR THE MEN?

Glik’s of Fenton on Silver Parkway offers tux rentals all year ‘round for wed-dings, proms, etc., priced from $79.95 up to $189, according to store co-manager Ashley Stobaugh.

TRI-COUNTY TIMES | HANNAH BALL

Linden graduate Rebecca Ball, 25, tries on wedding dresses at Becker’s Bridal in December 2016.


HOWTO SAY

‘I do’Elope, destination or big wedding


Dreaming of a big church wedding with hundreds of guests, or does a beach wedding in sandals fit your style?

Maybe you’ve even thought of running off to say “I do” in a romantic elopement, just you and your groom.

Whichever route to marriage you decide to take, here are a few of the ups and downs you’ll encounter along the way.ELOPEMENT

If you’re overwhelmed by the thought of a large-scale wedding, or your budget just won’t allow it, whisking the two of you away to tie the knot just might be your best option.

Make sure to call your parents and siblings beforehand or immediately after, to alleviate hurt feelings, advises Everaft-erguide.com. Once you return from your

nuptials, you can send out wedding an-nouncements, and maybe a photo or two, to let everyone know your happy news.

Your elopement can be as fast and frugal as a trip to your local courthouse, or can entail a weekend getaway to your favorite resort. Expect that an elopement will cost about 10 percent of a traditional wedding, according to Everafterguide.

For a grander affair, wrap the wedding and honeymoon together for a trip to your dream destination, just the two of you.

You’ll need to meet all the legal re-quirements of getting married, so make sure you have made appropriate appoint-ments and have all your legal documenta-tion in hand.

Couples who choose to elope can still choose a traditional wedding reception at home, according to wedding etiquette ex-pert Peggy Post. You can wear your dress again, have a wedding cake and create a bridal registry, but it should be done in the immediate weeks following your wedding.

DESTINATION WEDDING For a smaller, more intimate setting

with fewer guests, a destination wedding may be just for you.

Your guest list will immediately be chiseled down, which is both a pro and a con to this kind of wedding. How will you feel if your grandma isn’t able to get there, or will you be more relieved that you don’t have to make so many guest list decisions? Even if your wedding guest list is small, you can still have an after-party when you get home.

Many of the details of your wedding can be handled on-site by a wedding plan-ner, making your wedding much easier to plan. However, you still need to know the laws and regulations of your “I do’s” in a different country, before you go.

The honeymoon of your dreams can also be the location of your wedding, keeping some of your travel costs and logistics down. Your exciting destination can also be unique and fun for your wedding party and guests.

Destination weddings are usually less expensive than traditional weddings, but not by much. According to The Knot, an average domestic destination wedding in 2016 was $27,840, and international was $25,800, compared to a traditional wedding average cost of $32,641.TRADITIONAL WEDDING

You may have dreamed about walking down the aisle of a church on the arm of your father ever since you were a little girl.

If that is still your dream when it’s time for you to get married, then you’ll prob-ably enjoy all the hoopla and planning that comes with a large, traditional wedding.

Most large weddings take at least a year to plan, starting with a venue and all the vendors that come together on the big day.

Having a large venue gives you an op-portunity to invite extended family and friends, even old high school and college friends and co-workers. But you also have the problems and costs associated with a big guest list.


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Couples can choose their own style rather than many first-time wedding traditions


Amanda Fausey-Fegan and Daren Shanholtzer knew exactly what they were getting into when they decided to get married Jan. 2, 2016.

It was a second wedding for both of them – Amanda, 45, was a widow with three sons and Daren, 43, was divorced, with a grown daughter. After saying their vows at the Fenton Village Players Playhouse, they hosted a reception at The Laundry Room in Fenton for close friends and family. “We wanted a small venue that we knew would have quality food and a warm atmosphere,” said Amanda. “My mom suggested The Laundry Room, and it was perfect.”

A lot of planning goes into making a wedding both unique and memorable, whether it’s your first wedding or you

Love and marriage

THE SECOND TIME AROUND

have been married before. But some of the pressure may be off to make it a “perfect” wedding, with the most important goal of becoming husband and wife.

A second wedding is up to the couple’s individual style. Some couples skip cus-tomary wedding rituals like having a large bridal party, throwing a bouquet, etc., in favor of more personal touches.

Here are five alternative wedding cer-emony ideas for the second-time bride, offered by Annie Lee, founder and head coordinator of her own event planning company, Daughter of Design.1) YOU WANT TO WED IN A UNIQUE, INTIMATE LOCATION.

Try this: Host a destination wedding. This takes you far away from your first wedding, and also provides a casual set-ting with just close family and friends.2) YOU WANT TO SKIP THE TRADI-TIONAL WALK DOWN THE AISLE.

Try this: Shake things up a bit and kick off your wedding with the receiving line instead. Play the musical selection of your choice, stand together and welcome each of your guests as they enter the ceremony

TRI-COUNTY TIMES | SUBMITTED PHOTO

Amanda Fausey-Fegan and Daren Shanholtzer each had been married before, but joined their families together at their wedding a year ago on Jan. 2, 2016.

to take their seats. Once everyone is settled, the officiant

can walk up to you and your fiancé, or the two of you can walk each other up to the altar. For an even more casual idea, have your guests stand in a circle, then you and your fiancé enter the “heart” of the circle, suggests Lee.3) YOU WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR CHILDREN IN THE CEREMONY.

Try this: A simple option is to include your children’s names where parents’ names would traditionally go on the in-vitation, wording it as if it’s the children giving away their parent. The children could also serve as an honor attendant, be a reader, or even do the officiating.4) YOU WANT TO INCLUDE YOUR PARENTS, BUT DON’T LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING ESCORTED DOWN THE AISLE.

Try this: Your parents could be part of your wedding party, or have them read a special reading during the ceremony. Your father could also walk your mother or another close family member down the aisle.5) YOU WANT TO DO SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNEXPECTED.

Try this: Throw a surprise wedding. Select a date and venue, and then send out invitations requesting guests to attend what appears to be a party for some other occasion. In actuality, they’ll really be coming to your wedding.

Why marriage may be better the second time around

1. You’re not looking for someone to “complete” you — you’re older, wiser and more confident.

2. You already know very well that you can’t change your spouse.

3. You’ve had to search your soul and that authenticity and honesty has made you a better person.

4. Life at 40 can make you an entirely different person than you were in your 20s.

5. You have a more realistic view of what marriage is really like, problems and all.

6. With age and a tough divorce comes great wisdom.

7. You realize that marriage is a choice you have to make every single day.

8. You know what you want, and are much more confident about yourself and your needs.

9. You’ve taken ownership of what you did wrong the first time around.

10. You’re picky and determined to make a better choice the second time around.

SOURCE: Huffingtonpost.com

View stories atdreamweddinghub.com


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Don’t miss the sixth annual Wedding Marketplace on Sunday, Jan. 29


The best wedding advice for brides and grooms is to visit bridal shows in the area they’ll be getting married.

That’s why local couples won’t want to miss the sixth annual Wedding Marketplace on Sunday, Jan. 29 at the Captain’s Club at Woodfield in Grand Blanc, sponsored by the Genesee County Bridal Alliance (GCBA), in partnership with The Knot, the world’s leading online resource for wedding planning.

The doors will be open from 12 to 4 p.m. with pre-registration admission of $3, online at www.weddingmarketplace2017.com or by calling (810) 836-5201. Admission is $5 at the door.

The Wedding Marketplace is garnering much attention from vendors and sponsors alike, due to the nature of cooperation between local wedding vendors and the quality of the vendors involved,

Getting married

IN GENESEE COUNTY?according to the GCBA.

Prospective brides, grooms, families and friends will have an opportunity to visit with more than 40 on-site vendors, including Captain’s Club at Woodfield, Tasty Layers Custom Cakes, Special Occasions Linens, Centennial Image Photography, Atlas Valley Country Club, CC Events, Bella Birches, Bon Appetit Catering, Black Tie Productions, Pop Mod Photography, Vogt’s Flowers, Rusch Entertainment, Creative Catering, Men’s Wearhouse, Floral Sense, Floradora, Glen Gables Wedding Chapel & Hall, Mike Naddeo Photography, University of Michigan-Flint, Sloan-Longway, Holiday Inn Express, Titanium Buzz, U Pose Photo Booth, Affairs to Remember, The Whole 9 Yards, Circus Park Wedding & Banquet Facility, to name a few.

Two Grand Prizes will be given away, including a $500 voucher to be used with any GCBA vendor and “The Diamond Dash,” with a $500 diamond prize.

It’s a must-see event for engaged couples getting married in Genesee County, according to the GCBA.

Captain’s Club at Woodfield is at 10200 Woodfield Dr. in Grand Blanc.

Elegant garden weddings/receptions

Heavenly Scent Herb Farm13730 White Lake Rd. Fenton

810-629-9208

Our beautiful outdoor weddings offer a shaded gazebo in a picturesque setting with tranquil water features including a waterfall surrounded by fragrant gardens

Elegant garden weddings/receptions

Heavenly Scent Herb Farm13730 White Lake Rd. Fenton

Our beautiful outdoor weddings offer a shaded gazebo in a picturesque setting with tranquil water features including a waterfall surrounded by fragrant gardens

www.heavenlyscentherbfarm.com


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BLEACH TRAYSNORMALLY $225

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Get the perfect smile for the perfect day!

MUSIC MISTAKES TO AVOID Music is an essential component of a lively and fun wedding reception, and there are some musical miscues couples should look to avoid to ensure the music is not memorable for all the wrong reasons.

BLOCKS OF SILENCE Always have a constant flow of music to avoid awkward silences. This includes the time guests are waiting prior to the ceremony as well as when they’re entering the cocktail hour. Music will help everyone feel comfortable, and it creates a pleasing atmosphere.

SECOND- GUESSING A PROFESSIONAL In an effort to curb costs, some couples provide their own playlists via an mp3 player or a streaming service for the music. This is often a mistake. Hiring a professional means you will not have to worry about managing music on top of your many other wedding day responsibilities. A band or DJ usually also serves as the emcee for the event, announcing key moments of the reception as well as getting guests out on the dance floor.

PLAYING ONLY ONE TYPE OF MUSIC Playing too many songs from one genre of music will alienate some of the guests who simply are not interested in that type of music. Professional DJs or performers know how to offer a great mix that will appeal to the masses, and they are

often well worth the cost.

FAILURE TO MAKE A SONG LIST

Some songs you may feel are essential to the wedding and others may be on a do-not-play list and are associated with

negative memories. Give your band

leader or DJ ample time to review your requests so

that he or she has time to find a song that may not be in his or her collection.

DANCING TO LONG SONGS Pay attention to a song’s length, and choose spotlight dance songs wisely. Remember that guests will be watching you dance with parents or each other, and a five-minute song can seem neverending while others are waiting around. Avoid very long songs, and the mix of music should be upbeat.

PLANNING TIPIn 2015, the average cost of a wedding DJ was be-tween $875-$1,101. Many

DJs now offer emcee services that have signifi-cant impact or influence

over the atmosphere, flow, and overall appeal of a

wedding reception.-weddingstats.orgWeddings

BY THEnumbersInteresting trends note that October and September are among the most popular wedding months


WEDDINGS BYTHE NUMBERS

Most recent statistics available are from 2015

• Average Wedding Cost (excludes honeymoon): $32,641 (up from $31,213 in 2014)

• Most Expensive Place to Get Married: Manhattan, $82,299 average spent

• Least Expensive Place to Get Married: Alaska, $17,361 average spent

• Average Spent on a Wedding Dress: $1,469

• Average Marrying Age: Bride, 29; Groom, 31

• Average Number of Guests: 139

• Average Number of Bridesmaids: 5

• Average Number of Groomsmen: 5

• Most Popular Month to Get Engaged: December (16 percent)

• Average Length of Engagement: 14.5 months

• Most Popular Month to Get Married: June (10.8 percent) is the most popular month, then August (10.2 percent), followed by September (9.6 percent) and October (9.4 percent)

• Popular Wedding Colors: Ivory/White (47 percent), Blue (39 percent), Pink (30 percent), Metallics (34 percent), Purple (21 percent)

Source: The Knot

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