By Kristin Myers, Editor-in-Chief

ICYMI: Inflation Is Making Weddings $2,316 More Expensive Now Than in 2019

In case you missed it, inflation is making weddings $2,316 more expensive now than before the pandemic, a new analysis from The Balance found. With an estimated 2.6 million couples looking to tie the knot this year, many Americans will find that celebrating their nuptials will become an even pricier affair.

Costs are rising for almost every major wedding purchase, including food, wedding dresses, and flowers according to The Balance's analysis of the latest inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI) and The Knot's 2021 Real Weddings Study.

The cost of the wedding dress saw the biggest price jump, increasing 20% to an average of $1,920 compared to 2019. The prices of food and flowers are also rising, by 14.4% and 11.5% respectively.

Even wedding guests will likely have to pay more to attend weddings, as the cost to travel is also on the rise. Airfare has risen 10.6% while hotel stays cost 11.4% more. The average domestic airline ticket costs about $419.32, while the average hotel stay costs $135.92 per night.

But not everything a couple might want for their big day is more costly. Bridesmaids dresses have dropped in price since 2019, edging down 0.9%, while attire for the groom has decreased 4%.

- Kristin

Editors' Picks

Inflation Is Making Weddings $2,316 More Expensive Than 2019 (The Balance)

6 Tips for Managing Finances as Newlyweds (The Balance)

Is There Ever a Reason to Not Combine Finances Once You Are Married? (The Balance)

Should I Use a HELOC for a Remodel? (The Balance)

How To Find Your Student Loan Balance (The Balance)

Diminished Value Claim: Will Your Car Insurance Pay? (The Balance)

How To Write a Check: A Step-by-Step Guide (The Balance)

Off the Charts

A whopping 41% of federal student loans weren't being paid before COVID-19, suggesting student debt was unmanageable for many people well before the government suspended payment obligations because of the pandemic.