So how much does YOUR wedding cost?

Did you know that the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. is now at $27,690, not including the honeymoon, engagement ring, bridal consultant or wedding planner?

Here on Oahu, these are your averages:

• Total Average: $31,840


• Attire (Gown, Dresses, Tuxes, accessories, hair & makeup, etc.): $2996


• Ceremony costs (accessories, site rental, decor, officiant, & rehearsal dinner): $2904


• Favors & bridal part gifts: $1290


• Photography & Video: $4241


• Reception Costs (food service, hall decor & rentals, beverages & bartender, cake, etc.): $16,293


• Flowers (includes bouquets, boutonnieres, corsages, etc.): $2264
  "The Music" (DJ, Band, etc.): $1095

All of these statistics come from CostOfWedding.Com . So how does YOUR budget compare?

A few more interesting tidbits...

AFTER THE VOWS...

72% of all brides say they would have spent more time choosing their reception entertainment.

• Almost 100% say they would have spent more of their budget on the entertainment.


• During wedding planning, Brides say their highest priority is their attire, followed by the reception site and caterer - reception entertainment is among the least of their priorities. Within one week after their reception, 78% of Brides say they would have made the entertainment their highest priority!


• When asked, 81% of guests say the thing they remember most about a wedding is the entertainment.


• 65% of all couples that chose a band to entertain at their wedding, said, if they had it to do over again, they would have chosen a disc jockey.

These statistics were published in St. Louis Bride & Groom Magazine in 2003. Sources include: Simmons, 2001; USA Today, 2002; National Bridal Service, 2001; The Knot, 2002; Brides Magazine, 2001.

Today's Tip of The Day is a fun one, especially if you are having children or children-at-heart at your celebration. We've done this at past weddings, and it has ALWAYS been a success. You know how traditionally the guests would tap the glasses to get the newlyweds to kiss? It can get annoying and repetitive for the couple, and for the kids, they don't really care about it. They usually just run around and keep their parents busy making sure they don't get into any major mischief. So here's a good way to involve the children and let you not have to kiss so often.

Bring a small putting green, putter, and a few golf balls to your reception, and lay it out on the dancefloor when dinner begins. Tell your guests that, instead of tapping the glasses to get the newlyweds to kiss, the guests have to hit a hole-in-one. And to make things more fun and challenging, the farther away they are from the hole--and if they make it in--the longer your kiss will be! For the golfers in your group, this will be something they will enjoy. Your other guests will enjoy the fun watching others try (and usually miss) the hole-in-one. For the kids, it gives them something fun and entertaining to do instead of running around the ballroom causing all sorts of mischief. And for the parents of these children, they not only will have great photos of their kids having fun, but the kids will be out of their hair for the moment, allowing them to relax and enjoy your celebration more fully!

Have a great weekend, and I will see you on Monday!

Warmly,

Marino
Ninja Entertainment