Step inside the nearly 21,000-square-foot suburban Chicago jewelry store with Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff.
Average engagement ring spend inches closer to $6K
The average amount couples are spending on their weddings went up in 2014, including what they’re paying for engagement rings, according to a survey from The Knot.
New York--The average amount that couples are spending on their weddings went up in 2014, including what they’re paying for engagement rings, which increased from $5,598 in 2013 to $5,855 last year, according to a survey from The Knot.
The wedding website’s most recent Real Weddings survey shows that the average cost of a wedding across the country now is at $31,213.
The most expensive place in the U.S. to get married remains Manhattan, where the average wedding costs $76,328. The least expensive place to get married in the country in Utah, where couples spend an average of $15,257 overall.
An interesting, though perhaps not surprising, trend that The Knot noted is that couples are increasingly using their smartphones to help plan for the big day.
The use of mobile to access wedding planning websites has nearly doubled over the last three years--in 2011, that number was at 33 percent and last year it had increased to 61 percent.
And the trend of personalization that has taken the fine jewelry industry by storm also has seemingly taken over many more aspects of consumer spending, as couples are moving away from more traditional wedding venues to find unexpected places to get married to show their own unique style.
While traditional sites like banquet halls, country clubs and hotels are still popular, an increasing amount of couples are looking for unusual venues.
Since 2009, historic buildings/homes and farms have grown in popularity--historic buildings increased from 12 percent in 2009 to 14 percent last year, and farms have gone from 3 percent six years ago to 6 percent in 2014.
A third trend that The Knot spotted is that couples are starting to spend more on their receptions and less on the ceremony itself. The number of couples paying for a cocktail hour rose from 69 percent in 2010 to 76 percent last year; more also is being spent on catering, musicians and cake.
Other notable statistics from the survey include the following:
--Average amount spent on a wedding dress: $1,357;
--Average marrying age: women, 29; men, 31;
--Average number of guests: 136;
--Most popular month to get engaged: December;
--Average length of engagement: 14 months; and
--Most popular month to get married: June.
The Knot surveyed approximately 16,000 brides and grooms that were married between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2014. This was the site’s eighth Real Weddings report.
The Latest
These punk-inspired earrings from the new Canadian brand’s debut collection reveal the alter ego of the classic pearl.
The company brings its nanotechnology to two new fancy cuts for diamonds that feature its signature color and brilliance.
From protecting customer data to safeguarding inventory records, it's crucial to learn how to tackle cybersecurity challenges.
Sponsored by Tasha R
Three Titanic survivors presented him with the personalized Tiffany & Co. timepiece about a year after the tragedy.
A federal court found that the jewelry store chain violated terms of the settlement reached after it was accused of defrauding customers.
This fall, sharpen your skills in jewelry grading, quality control and diamond assessment.
Cynthia Erivo chose Dreams of Hope, an organization dedicated to empowering LGBTQA+ youth, as the charity for this year’s collection.
The new space was designed to evoke a warm, inviting vibe.
Kinney, who spent nearly 30 years at IJO, has been hired to head Abbott Jewelry Systems’ new virtual marketplace.
The auction house was accused of helping clients avoid paying taxes on millions of dollars’ worth of art purchased from 2010 to 2020.
The four finalists will present their pieces at the 2025 JCK Las Vegas show.
The “Camera Oscura” collection showcases earring designs celebrating female Surrealist artists Claude Cahun and Leonor Fini.
The money will fund the planting of 10,000 trees in critical areas across Oregon, Arizona, Montana, and other regions.
The event centered on advancing jewelry manufacturing technology will return to Detroit in May 2025.
Local reports identified the woman as the wife of the jewelry store owner.
A collection of pieces owned by Ferdinand I, the first king of modern Bulgaria, and his family, blew away estimates in Geneva last week.
The Australian jewelry box brand’s new West Village store will showcase new jewelers each month through its Designer in Residence program.
“Lovechild” was created in partnership with Carolyn Rafaelian’s Metal Alchemist brand.
Hampton discussed how Helzberg is improving the customer experience and why it was inspired by the company formerly known as Dunkin’ Donuts.
The group will host several curated events and an exhibition of designer jewelry made with Peruvian gold traceable to the miners’ names.
The collection honors the 50th anniversary of Dolly Parton’s “Love is Like a Butterfly” song, which shares a birth year with Kendra Scott.
This year’s theme asks designers to take inspiration from classic fairy tales.
Senior Editor Lenore Fedow makes the case for why more jewelers should be appealing to nerds at the annual event.
The latest “Raiz’in” drop showcases a newly designed “Scapular” necklace and donates a portion of the proceeds to Make-A-Wish France.
No. 1 out of 100, the timepiece was created to mark Citizen’s 100th anniversary and will be auctioned off at Sotheby’s next month.