How Much Does an Average Wedding Cost?

A recent survey of more than 10,000 U.S. couples by wedding planning site The Knot found they spent an average of $34,000 on their ceremony and reception in 2025.¹ But not every wedding will cost that much: for one thing, the national average is inherently skewed by regional outliers. For example, the average wedding cost in New Jersey is about $57,000, while Utah averages around $18,000.²

There’s also the matter of timing. Wedding season typically runs from May to October, which can make your big day more expensive due to high demand. Plus, the number of guests can dramatically impact cost. Your personal preferences and priorities can also greatly affect the cost of a wedding: Maybe you’re insistent on a live band, but they don’t come cheap.

Averages can be helpful in determining a reasonable budget, but your needs, wants, and financial constraints play a larger role in calculating the final bill. After all, no one else knows what features are most meaningful to you and which ones you may be able to forgo in favor of saving money. Only you and your significant other can make those decisions.

The top three largest expenses you can expect for a wedding include the venue, the photographer, and the florist. In addition to the three highest costs, these are the average prices couples spent with each wedding vendor in 2025:³

While these costs can give you a rough idea of what to expect, you may pay more or less depending on your priorities, preferences, and budget. From there, you can estimate your costs based on your wedding budget and adjust for where you may want to splurge or scrimp.

When considering where each expense stands within your wedding budget, it may help to know the average cost for services like photography, catering, or a wedding planner. These common wedding expenses can eat up large swathes of your budget, even when choosing the most frugal options. But there are still ways to cut costs on each of these categories with some creativity and compromise.

• Reception Venue
  If you’re flexible with the date, holding your wedding during an off-peak month may help keep venue costs down.
• Wedding Photography
  In the U.S., 88% of couples hired professional photographers.⁴ Photography costs may increase if couples opt to expand their documented memories with “first look” sessions and next-day brunches. Wedding photography costs average about $3,000.⁵
  
• Music
  If you prefer the vibe of a DJ, you’ll probably spend about $1,800 for the night.⁶ Some add-ons may include giveaways, dancers, and extra hours for after-parties.
  
• Florist
  In 2025, couples spent an average of $2,800 for wedding flowers.⁷ Those costs are driven by a range of factors, including quantity, quality, and location. Limiting the variety of blooms and choosing in-season flowers may help you save money on this line item.
  
• Wedding Attire
  For brides, the average wedding gown cost was $2,100.⁸ There’s also the consideration of hair and makeup, which averaged $300.⁹ Grooms spent significantly less, with the average groom’s outfit coming in at $330.¹⁰
• Catering
  Catered food may vary depending on food choices and averages about $80 per person.¹¹ Opting for a buffet or self-serve station (like 60% of receptions) could be a money saver compared to formal plated meals.¹² Bar and beverage options can also drive costs up. Some couples opt for “cash bars,” which can help to eliminate or at least reduce this cost.

The state or region where you host your wedding plays a large role in how much it may cost. Wedding cost averages tend to correlate with an area’s average household income, so in larger cities, you can expect those costs to soar far past the national average. For example, these are the average wedding costs in three major U.S. cities:¹³

• New York City, New York: $88,000
• Los Angeles, California: $45,000
• Chicago, Illinois: $54,000
  

New York City alone surpasses the national average by $54,000; the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. overall had the highest average cost among the six regions at $48,400.¹⁴ The Midwest boasts the lowest average cost at $29,000, and it’s also home to one of the most affordable cities to get married, alongside locations in Texas and Nevada:¹⁵

• El Paso, Texas: $20,000
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: $21,000
• Las Vegas, Nevada: $22,000
  

Your wedding should be one of the happiest days of your life, not one that wrecks your finances. There are four main steps you can take to keep your wedding within budget.

1. Clarify wants and needs
   During wedding planning, it can be helpful to connect with your future spouse to create a wedding wish list of what you both want and need for the ceremony and reception. This makes it easier to identify places you’re both willing to cut costs and which expenses are off-limits.
   
2. Consider revising the guest count
   Keeping the guest count low can help you save, but only up to a certain point. That’s because some costs are fixed. With fewer guests, however, you may be able to opt for a smaller venue or perhaps fewer flowers, since you’ll be working with a smaller space. In 2025, couples who had 92 guests spent an average of under $12,000 on their wedding.¹⁶
   
3. Shop around for vendors
   Compare prices with multiple vendors to find the one that best fits your budget. Get multiple quotes to ensure you’re getting the best price.
   
4. Be flexible with dates
   Weddings during prime wedding season months may be subject to fewer open dates and higher prices. If there’s availability in the off-season, you may find more affordable options.
   

These strategies may help you avoid more exorbitant wedding expenses so you can put more funds towards the honeymoon or future plans.