Weddings 101: Quick Facts

Weddings are an endless subject of fascination for Americans, whether they are just engaged, long married, or neither. These are some fun basic facts about weddings worth having at your fingertips...

Getting Engaged: The most popular month for proposals is December, which is why the time between Thanksgiving and New Year's is often called "Engagement season". Nearly 3/4s of brides will wear a traditional diamond ring on their left hand.

Image via www-diamond.us

Planning the Wedding: 13.4 months is the average length of an engagement, with couples in the Northeast tending to have the longest engagements (have you ever tried to book anything in Manhattan on short notice?!). 5 bridesmaids and 5 groomsmen is the most common number of attendants, and 150 - 175 guests is the average.

When to Wed: June has long been the most popular month for weddings, which likely dates back to the Roman goddess Juno, who ruled over marriage, hearth, and childbirth. However in the last few years, June has lost ground to September, July, October, and August. The real answer is that anytime in the summer or early autumn is likely to have the good weather and great flower availability that couples desire. The single most popular days of the year for weddings are Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve.

The beauty of autumn has sparked an increase in September weddings. Image via http://realisticwedding.wordpress.com

The Budget: The average cost of an American wedding ranges from $26,500 - $27,800, depending on who you ask. Of course, a lot of couples spend less than that, just as quite a few spend more. The New York area is home to the highest average wedding cost.

The Attire: Brides typically purchase their bridal gowns 9 months before the wedding, and spend an average of $1289. The average price for a bridesmaid dress is $135, which many bridesmaids still consider to be way too much for a dress they will probably never wear again!

"But the bride promised us we'd be able to wear the dresses again..." Image via www.tackyweddings.com