New data shows Australian weddings are bigger, bolder and worth the spend in 2026
The 2026 Easy Weddings Australian Wedding Industry Report reveals that long engagements, smarter spending and new planning tools are shaping weddings this year
Australian couples are continuing to prioritise weddings with 124,27 expected marriages across the nation in 2026, and despite cost-of-living pressures, new data from the 11th annual 2026 Easy Weddings Australian Wedding Industry Report reveals that weddings remain one of life’s most meaningful and resilient celebrations.
The average cost of an Australian wedding has risen to $38,252, up 8% year-on-year, compared to a 4.5% increase in 2025. The rise reflects increased supplier costs, higher guest expectations, and couples’ willingness to invest in personalised, experience-driven celebrations.
Overall, despite rising costs, wedding demand has not softened. Engagements remain strong, planning timelines are lengthening, and couples are making deliberate choices about where to spend and where to save.
“What we’re seeing in 2026 is not couples stepping back from weddings, it’s couples becoming more intentional,” said Matt Butterworth, CEO of Easy Weddings. “Weddings are still incredibly important to Australians. Couples are prioritising meaningful experiences, quality suppliers and moments that reflect who they are, even if that means planning longer or strategically spending more.”
Australian couples continue to invest in weddings amid rising supplier costs
- Average wedding cost (2026): $38,252, up 8% YoY, compared to an increase of 4.5% from 2024 to 2025. ● Weddings now cost more than initial budgets, reinforcing that expectation vs reality remains a key planning challenge.
- 69% receive financial assistance from friends and family, up 4.5%. Of this, family members are funding 39% of the wedding
- Engagement periods stay the same (24 months) as couples allow up to two years to manage costs. ● $6,842 is the average cost of an engagement ring, up 14.5%.
- Couples invite an average of 23 fewer guests than originally planned, highlighting the direct link between budget pressure and guest list decisions.
- A wishing well is the preferred choice of gift by a couple (61%). Guests spend an average of $208 on gifts (up 27%, while close family and friends spend an average of $380 up 32%.
While inflation has impacted the industry, couples are adapting, choosing flexible dates, reassessing guest lists, and prioritising suppliers that deliver standout experiences.
Destination weddings and honeymoon
Destination weddings remain a niche but appealing choice, with 89% of couples marrying in their home state, 7% interstate and 4% overseas. These weddings typically have smaller guest lists (average 75) and a lower spend ($34,700) than the national average, offering a more intimate and meaningful experience.
Honeymoons remain a priority, with 88% of couples taking a holiday after getting married. The average spend is $9,684 (^4%), with 65% travelling overseas (down 11%) and 23% staying in Australia (up15%). The number one location is Europe, followed by Queensland, Japan, Bali, Fiji and New Zealand.
Couples embrace AI for support, but trust humans for key decisions
Artificial intelligence is increasingly playing a supportive role in wedding planning, with 61% of couples feeling positive about using AI for tasks such as generating ideas, budgeting, and drafting emails or messages. Popular uses include inspiration (21%), budgeting and timelines (18%), and invitations or signage (14%).
However, when it comes to recommendations or major decisions, couples remain cautious. 54% trust AI less than human advice, and only 2% trust it more than humans. This highlights a growing trend of couples using AI as a helpful tool rather than a replacement for trusted human guidance.
Personalisation over tradition continues to define modern weddings
The 2026 data confirms a clear shift away from rigid traditions, building on trends first identified in 2025. Couples are:
- Replacing traditional ceremonies with highly personalised celebrations.
- Choosing experience-led styling, entertainment and food like roving Tiramisu servers and late-night dessert and snack carts.
- Moving away from “one-size-fits-all” weddings in favour of events that reflect their values, cultures and personalities.
This evolution has cemented weddings as high-value, emotionally driven events, rather than purely formal milestones.
Saturday weddings remain most popular, but Fridays hold steady
While Saturday continues to dominate as the most popular wedding day, accounting for 53% of weddings in 2026, Friday celebrations remain a strong choice for 20% of couples. Thursday and Sunday weddings are also gaining modest traction, reflecting couples’ ongoing desire to balance tradition with flexibility, venue availability, and supplier convenience.
Families still play a key role
Financial support from family remains a cornerstone of Australian weddings.
- 69% receive financial assistance from friends and family, up 4.5%. Of this, family members are funding 39% of the wedding
- Family contributions remain a significant portion of total wedding spend, reinforcing weddings as a shared milestone, not just a couple’s expense
Demographics
When it comes to an average profile of someone getting married in 2026, data shows the average age is 32 for brides, 33 for grooms and 33 for same sex couples (down from 35 years old). A decade ago (in 2016), the average couple was a 28-year-old bride and a 29-year-old groom.
Dating apps are by far the most common way couples meet (32%), followed by friends and family (17%), school (13%) and work (12%). And when it comes to popping the question, December is the most popular month for engagements, accounting for 13% of all proposals, with Christmas Day and New Year’s Eve among the most common dates. Valentine’s Day, when it falls on a weekend, is also a standout proposal date, and was ranked as the single most popular day.
Wedding planning is becoming more evenly shared between couples, with fewer couples relying on a single partner to manage the majority of tasks. Furthermore, 80% of couples don't have children and 89% plan to celebrate a hen's and or buck's party.
Weddings remain a priority purchase
Even in a challenging economic environment, weddings continue to hold their place as one of the most emotionally significant investments Australians make.
“Couples are navigating higher costs with clarity and confidence,” said Butterworth. “They’re not walking away from weddings, they’re reshaping them. The data shows weddings are still very much a priority, and the industry remains resilient, creative and in demand.”
