According to the survey, 66 percent of brides bought their wedding-day looks at a bridal salon, with the next largest group at 17 percent purchasing their attire at an independent local bridal salon. No matter the location, 83 percent of brides stuck to tradition with a white or off-white dress, down from 92 percent in 2017. The percentage of brides who bought their wedding attire at a ready-to-wear or specialty store increased from 2 percent in 2017 to 4 percent in 2018. 

Only 8 percent bought their wedding-day attire at a national bridal chain, a significant figure in light of the recent David’s Bridal bankruptcy, although the riskiest choice of buying online ranked the lowest at just one percent. No matter where they bought, the survey found that brides spent an average of $2,260 on their dress, while grooms spent an average of $602 on a suit and accessories (although only just over half of grooms wore a suit on their big day at 53 percent). Overall, the average wedding cost clocked in at a record high of $44,105, and while 92 percent of couples set a budget (compared to 90 percent in 2017), 45 percent went over (compared to 2017’s 34 percent).”In 2018, spending is way up across categories, proving that while couples are doing things their own way, they are still prioritizing celebrating their marriage,” said Lisa Gooder, executive director of Brides in a press release. “More than ever, couples are savoring the whole process, from engagement to honeymoon and beyond, by celebrating with more events, trips, and professional photos or videos to capture the moments.”