Overall wedding costs are down.
The average price paid for an engagement ring in the first quarter of this year was $3,406, according to new data released by research firm The Wedding Report.
That was virtually unchanged from 2016, when the average cost over the full year was $3,407.
Spending on wedding bands was also flat.
The average price of a woman’s band in first-quarter 2017 was $785. That compared with $786 in 2016.
The price of a man’s band was unchanged at $456.
The average amount U.S. couples were spending on their wedding as of first-quarter 2017 was $25,961. That represented a 2.8 percent decrease from the 2016 figure of $26,720.
The Wedding Report noted: “While average spending for most items remained flat, the reason for the decline in overall spending is due to falling demand for services like, transportation, entertainment, and beauty. Couples seem to be looking for alternatives or other options, [rather] than the traditional route, for these services.”
The figures were based on responses from 3,401 couples.
Read more at The Wedding Report