The downturn may have resulted in most people cutting back, but many couples are reluctant to compromise on their big day.
A bride, on average, plans to spend more than €23,400 on the perfect dress, invitations, wedding menu and cake -- more than the average yearly household disposable income of €22,168 set out by the Central Statistics Office.
However, this pales in comparison to the extravagant wedding spend of Sean Quinn's daughter Ciara, who forked out €100,000 for her wedding cake alone, although the bill was picked up by a subsidiary of the Quinn Group.
"People are making cutbacks in nearly every area of living -- however when it comes to their wedding, couples still choose top quality over a budget price," Cheryl Reilly, creative director of the upcoming The Designer Wedding Show, said.
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A survey of 200 couples commissioned by the show's organisers reveals that the average couple spend €9,905 on their venue, €2,436 on the band and entertainment, €1,865 on the wedding dress and €1,647 on the photographer.
Yet, other smaller items such as €476 on wedding car hire and €214 on wedding favours combine to bring the average spend to €23,398.
The big-ticket items are the reception venue and the photographer, with most couples allotting half their budget to these.
Around 71pc of the couples questioned said quality was more important than price.
The Designer Wedding Show takes place at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin, on October 27 and 28.