Getting married can be one of the best days in a couple’s life, but it can also be a huge drain on their bank account. According to The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study, the overall average wedding cost in the U.S. is now $34,200. But location is everything, as weddings in some parts of the country cost just half that much, on average, while others are far more pricey.

The wedding planning site’s study is based on surveys of 10,474 couples who tied the knot in the U.S. last year.
Costs that affect the average wedding price tag include not just where they say “I do,” but the season, the guest count, what type of event they have and details like the bride’s dress, the food, the music, and if they have an open bar.
The Knot’s study shows that weddings in the Northeast U.S. typically cost the most overall.
New Jersey tops the list as the most expensive, with an average wedding cost of $57-thousand.
Rhode Island is second, with a total of $51-thousand, thanks to a high demand for unique waterfront venues.
Tying the knot out west tends to be more affordable, and Wyoming tops the list of least expensive states for weddings with an average cost of $17-thousand.
States with lower costs of living also have cheaper wedding expenses for things like flowers, venues, and catering.
The study shares that the average cost for a domestic destination wedding is now $41,700, while an international destination wedding averages $43,700.

The States with the Most Expensive Average Wedding Cost

New Jersey: $57,000
2. Rhode Island: $51,000
3. New York: $49,000
4. Vermont: $47,000
5. Massachusetts: $45,000
6. Connecticut: $42,000
7. California (tie): $39,000
8. Delaware (tie): $39,000
9. Illinois (tie): $38,000
10. Maryland (tie): $38,000

The States with the Least Expensive Average Wedding Cost

Wyoming: $17,000
2. Idaho (tie): $18,000
3. Utah (tie): $18,000
4. Alaska (tie): $19,000
5. Arkansas (tie): $19,000
6. Oklahoma (tie): $19,000
7. West Virginia (tie): $19,000
8. Kansas: $20,000
9. Iowa (tie): $21,000
10. Mississippi (tie): $21,000
11. Montana (tie): $21,000
12. Nevada (tie): $21,000
13. South Dakota (tie): $21,000

Source: Mental Floss

photo: GETTY

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