Australian couples do not hold back when it comes to their big day, forking out an average of more than $36,000 for their dream wedding.

Many retailers may be finding it tough going, but for weddings it is apparently a case of "sensible splurging".

Business information analyst IBISWorld says couples are spending an average of $36,200 on their dream weddings - a 6.5 per cent increase on 2010-11.

Weddings are still viewed as a high-priority expense that couples save for over a period of time, despite gloomy consumer spending reports, IBISWorld general manager (Australia) Karen Dobie said.

"So while couples may tighten their budgets in order to save, sensible splurging seems to be the theme for the big day," she said in a statement.

The company's study shows:

Average wedding spend is $36,200, up 6.5 per cent on 2010-11

Average wedding spend is $36,200, up 6.5 per cent on 2010-11 119,000 couples expected to get married in 2011, up 0.8 per cent

119,000 couples expected to get married in 2011, up 0.8 per cent Average age is 29 for women and 32 for men

Average age is 29 for women and 32 for men 60 per cent of couples blow their wedding budget

60 per cent of couples blow their wedding budget Australia's wedding industry worth $4.3 billion, expected to be $4.7b by 2016-17

IBISWorld senior analyst Craig Shulman says the trend over the past few years, after the global financial crisis, was for people to be more value-conscious.

"When you think about value, you want to prioritise what you're spending on, and weddings are obviously a high priority purchase," he said.

Ms Dobie says couples are often in a stronger financial position when they get married than their predecessors, given an increase in disposable incomes, financial help from both sets of parents, and a higher average age when they walk down the aisle.

Australia's wedding industry was worth a massive $4.3 billion and that is expected to reach $4.7 billion over the next five years.

Venue hire is the highest cost, followed by wedding dresses, clothing and accessories and catering.

Where the money goes: Venue hire $1.44bn

Wedding dresses, clothing $942.3m

Food $668.3m

Photography, filming $498.3m

Flowers, stationery, etc $758.3m

The study tips the $942 million spent on wedding dresses and clothing to increase by almost 7 per cent in the next five years.

"Although wedding spending is up, value for money still plays a large role in purchasing decisions," Ms Dobie said.

"This has seen demand decrease for high-price tailored wedding dresses - which were once considered essential for brides."

But Mr Shulman said it was most likely on the groom's side that savings were targeted when it came to clothes.

"The secondary clothing would most likely be diminished in expenditure - getting groomsmen to wear their own suits, that type of thing," he said.

People are spending less on photography, taking advantage of cheaper, digital technologies, but what they save there is simply shifted onto other parts of the wedding budget.

"You find around 60 per cent of people actually go over budget with their weddings," Mr Shulman said.

AAP