How Much Did Jana Duggar’s Wedding Cost?

The Duggar family is known for throwing large weddings. Jana Duggar and Stephen Wissmann’s Aug. 15 affair is no different. The Duggar family is also known for figuring out how to get a good deal. Despite massively long guest lists, the Duggar family appears to throw weddings without absolutely breaking the bank. While Jana Duggar’s wedding was likely more expensive than many of her siblings, the odds are good that her nuptials cost substantially less than the national average. Here’s why.

Jana Duggar employed cost-cutting efforts to make her dream wedding happen

Jana Duggar was going for elegance with her Aug. 15 wedding at The Grand at Willow Springs. While the event was elegant and well-suited to the couple, it probably didn’t break the bank.

According to Bankrate, the average wedding in Arkansas costs around $21,000. Jana and Stephen probably paid substantially less for their big day, though. While they didn’t skimp on their attire or the venue, they made some decisions that cut costs. First, the couple opted to get married on a Thursday. While August is peak wedding season, wedding venues generally drastically reduce their rates for mid-week events.  

Choosing a mid-week wedding isn’t the only thing they did to cut costs. The couple had more guests than is typical for a traditional wedding, but they managed to bypass one of the largest wedding expenses. While feeding 500+ guests could certainly get expensive, Jana and Stephen opted not to use caterers or food services offered by the venue. Instead, the Wissmann family rolled up their sleeves and cooked for the event. The venue rental fee also includes the use of the facility’s kitchens, so the Nebraska-based family likely spent their time there prepping the grub for a fraction of what a caterer would have charged.

How much did Jana’s wedding cost?

While it’s impossible to know exactly what Jana and her new husband paid for their special day, we can make an educated guess. The Grand at Willow Springs, the venue the couple opted for, offers expansive packages for around $7,500 for the peak wedding season. The mid-week event, however, was surely cheaper. Rental of the venue likely cost the couple less than $6,000.

While elegant and timeless, Jana’s dress lacked heavy beading and intricate details. According to Bride, the average cost of a wedding gown is between $1,800 and $2,400. It’s safe to assume Jana spent around that much on her wedding day attire. Nothing about the gown would suggest it was more expensive than the average dress. Flowers, photography, and music likely cost the bride and groom an additional $4,000.

It is safe to guess that the couple likely spent between $10,000 and $15,000 on their special day, still significantly less than the average in the state where they wed. Now that they’ve tied the knot, Jana will move to Nebraska to be close to her husband and his family. Stephen Wissmann owns a home there and works for his family’s business.