Majority of newlyweds in debt after wedding: Survey

  • 67% of newlyweds went into debt to pay for their wedding
  • The average wedding in 2024 cost around $33,000
  • Many said they overspent to impress guests

The man gently holds the bride’s hand with a beautiful golden wedding ring. Enlarged image of newlyweds’ hands. Wedding concept. The groom gently touches the bride

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(NewsNation) — Debt after saying ‘I do’ is a reality for most newlyweds, with 67% saying they went into debt to pay for their wedding, a recent LendingTree survey found. Another third said they went over budget.

The average wedding last year cost around $33,000, according to Zola, an online wedding registry and planner.

Nearly half of newlyweds primarily paid for their wedding with savings, while a quarter used credit cards, LendingTree reported.

Many said they overspent to impress guests. Per LendingTree estimates, people spent the most on average for honeymoons, the venue and food and drink.

Was it worth it? Tying the knot isn’t supposed to be stressful, but it can be. Over half of newlyweds said they had financial arguments before or after the wedding. Strikingly, a portion of respondents said money has caused them to consider divorce.

The survey defined newlyweds as those between 18 and 79 years old and married within the past two years.

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