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BRIDES (special section) Costs

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wedding costs have risen since 1990 by nearly $4,000, to an

average expenditure of $19,104, according to a national study commissioned by

Bride's magazine.

Increases have risen across the board in nearly all of the 17 categories

considered in the magazine survey. An exception is the outlay for music, with

an average cost of $830, down from the $882 noted in 1990. The magazine

attributes the drop to a trend toward hiring a disk jockey instead of live

music.

The biggest single cost in a wedding remains the reception; average

expenditure is $7,635 for about 200 guests, $1,735 more than in 1990. Other

significant increases are for flowers ($756, up from $478) and

photography/videography ($1,311, up from $908).

Other average expenditures, with lesser changes, are the engagement ring

($3,044), wedding rings for both bride and groom ($1,016), the wedding dress

($823), the bride's headpiece/veil ($166), five bridal attendants' apparel

($790), mother of the bride's apparel ($231), groom's rented formalwear ($95),

formal wear for ushers and best man ($449).

Also, rehearsal dinner ($698), fees for clergy, church, chapel or synagogue

($232), limousine ($393), attendants' gifts ($308), and invitations,

announcements and thank you notes ($327).