- The average wedding cost in the US is $33,391.
- But the average cost of a wedding varies widely depending on where you live.
- Couples in New York City spend the most at $76,944, while couples in New Mexico spend the least at $17,584.
Americans spend, on average, $33,391 on their weddings, according to The Knot’s 2017 Real Weddings Study. And that’s not even including the amount they spend on an engagement ring.
The cost of a wedding depends on a wide variety of factors, including the amount of guests, the ceremony site, the time of year, the decor, and of course, the city that you decide to host the wedding in.
While there’s a current trend in hosting fewer guests, the average cost per guest is increasing, due to couples wanting to create a unique and memorable experience for all those involved, The Knot found.
The tradition of the bride’s family paying for the wedding isn’t rapidly changing. “On average, the bride’s parents contribute 45% (56% for high spenders) of the overall wedding budget; the bride and groom contribute 41% (28% for high spenders); and the groom’s parents contribute 13% (15% for high spenders),” says the study.
In some places across the US, the average wedding cost is much lower than the national average. In New Mexico, for example, the average wedding cost is almost half the national average at $17,584. But some places spend much more.
The Knot's 2017 Real Weddings Study looked into which cities and regions across Americans are shelling out the most cash for their big day. Below, see the top 25 places where the average wedding cost is higher than the national average.
25. Illinois – Chicago Suburbs: $34,675
24. California – San Diego: $34,722
23. Pennsylvania – Pittsburgh/Southwest: $34,928
22. Michigan – Detroit: $35,843
21. Maryland – Baltimore: $36,305
20. California – Orange County/Inland Empire: $37,050
19. California – Santa Barbara/Ventura: $38,025
18. Hawaii: $38,984
17. California – San Francisco/Greater Bay Area: $39,329
16. DC — Washington DC/Northern Virginia/Suburban Maryland: $39,465
15. New Jersey – South: $40,231
14. Florida – South: $40,634
13. Massachusetts – Boston: $40,667
12. Louisiana – New Orleans: $41,167
11. California – Los Angeles: $44,142
10. Pennsylvania — Philadelphia/Delaware: $46,211
9. New York City – Boroughs outside of Manhattan: $46,808
8. Connecticut: $47,435
7. Illinois – Chicago: $52,332
6. Rhode Island: $52,777
5. Massachusetts – Cape Cod: $55,083
4. New York – Westchester/Hudson Valley: $55,357
3. New York – Long Island: $61,113
2. New Jersey – North/Central: $62,074
1. New York – Manhattan: $76,944
