For the first time in years (aka, since the recession), wedding budgets are surging, according to a recent survey by The Knot. In 2011, the average wedding cost $27,000. One in five cost upwards of $30,000.

The average Manhattan wedding? $65,000. Ouch. 

Personal finance blogger Michael Pruser recently shared his wedding budget on the blog PT Money; the total — for a wedding held in October 2011 in New Jersey, with 75 guests — came in at $25,207.90:

 

My Aunt Sherri (that’s her in the top left picture, marrying her husband Ellis) shared her wedding budget with me, also. Her wedding was in Colorado on June 28, 1987, and the numbers were a bit different:

This lists everything from the rings ($500 for hers, $110 for his) to her shoes ($29) and slip ($51), her gown and veil ($570), the flowers ($302.56), her mother’s dress ($145), the entire reception ($1,084), the photographer ($800), the priest ($100), alterations ($180), and plane tickets for visiting family members ($200). I don’t know how she did it. Well, she did get married in 1987 — that was her first smart move. Here’s my aunt’s grand total:

$5,471.37. That’s almost $22,000 less than today’s average. Go Aunt Sherroo! And nice note-taking skills. She says her husband Ellis knew “very little about the costs.”

As important it is to be thrifty, even Pruser says it’s okay to go a little nuts. (Though he was still below the national average.) “Even though I would say this event was 100 percent anti-frugal, we had an absolute blast. Yes, saving money is important, however, I would argue that the biggest priority when it comes to your wedding is having a good time because if you’re lucky, you’ll only get to do it once.”

[Real Weddings Survey / PTMoney, via Business Insider]

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