The cost of a wedding: Couples spending $48K and more The average Australian wedding costs $48,296 according to the 2011 'Cost of Love' survey by Bride to Be magazine i . The same survey found that in the past decade the total cost of a wedding has increased by 73% i . Rising costs and the overall expense of a wedding means that the average Australian couple now has to save up for years to afford to get married ii . The costs associated with tying the knot can add up and the expense is not something that can be easily absorbed into a year's income ii . But it seems that most people are willing to shell out the money if it means they can have the wedding of their dreams. If one of your goals is to be able to pay for your children's wedding, or if you're planning to fork out for your own, it's important to make sure that you start saving early and arrange the event you can afford. Flowers, lace, and rings add up Like a graduation day, an eighteenth or a twenty first birthday, a wedding is one of life's milestones that calls for celebration with family and friends. Understandably, most people want their wedding day to be perfect: getting married is a landmark day in a couple's relationship and all eyes are on the bride and groom. But while your imagination is cost-free, many engaged couples quickly discover that turning a dream