Irish couples spend an average of €24,000 on their wedding celebrations, including their honeymoon, according to a survey by wedding website Mrs2Be.ie.
Despite falling wages, soaring debt levels and the general economic upheaveal of recent times, spending on weddings has risen.
The survey found couples last year spent an average of €19,625 on their big day celebrations, not including the honeymoon, and an average was €24,045, when the honeymoon was included.
This represented an increase on 2012, when the spend was €17,690, not including honeymoon, and €22,498 including the honeymoon.
While spending has shown an increase for the venue, band, the dress, stationery, transport and the honeymoon, the survey indicated a slight decline in other areas, including photographer, videographer and wedding DJ.
The survey of almost 2,300 brides and grooms found engagements appear to be getting shorter, with the majority of couples falling opting to wait to 13-18 months before tying the knot, compared to two years or longer recorded in the previous survey.
Almost one in four couples now live together for more than 5 years before getting married, the research indicated.
December was also the most popular month to get engaged.
The average age for getting engaged seems to be late twenties for the bride and early thirties for the groom.
The approximate spend per head on the wedding meal falls into the €51 to €60 category, while the typical number of guests for the wedding meal is 101 to 150.
