According to TheWeddingReport.com, 2006 will see a modest 1% increase in the number of U.S. weddings, reaching a total of nearly 2.3 million estimated weddings. Couples should expect a 4% increase in wedding cost over last year with an estimated cost of $26,800 per wedding.

77% of couples surveyed said they’ll use the Internet to help plan their wedding and 13% of them said they’d actually purchase products and services from online vendors.

Of those who will shop online, here’s the breakdown: 60% will look for a wedding cake, 58% the wedding dress and the bride bouquet.

And of those willing to buy online, 32% said they’d purchase wedding favors, 31% attendant gifts, 29% invitations and reply cards. According to the site, that makes the online wedding market worth over $7.9 billion.

They report that wedding costs will likely reach an average of $31,400 by 2010.

So what are you waiting for? Chances are if you’re thinking of marriage, the sooner you do it the less it will cost.