The most recent nationwide estimates put the average cost of a wedding in the U.S. at about 36,000 dollars , with a wide range depending on location, guest count, and style of celebration.

Quick Scoop on the Numbers

  • National average: Around 36,000 dollars for a full wedding (ceremony plus reception) as of 2025–2026 data from major wedding platforms and financial sites.
  • Median spend: Closer to 10,000 dollars, meaning many couples spend well below the headline “average.”
  • Typical range: Roughly 20,000–35,000 dollars in over half of U.S. states, with some big‑city or luxury weddings going far higher.
  • Hometown vs. destination: One 2025 breakdown found hometown weddings averaging about 32,000 dollars and international destination weddings around 41,000 dollars.

Think of it this way: the average is pulled up by big, splashy events, while plenty of couples marry very happily on a fraction of that budget.

Why It’s So Expensive

Most of that 36,000‑ish average goes into a few big-ticket categories.

  • Venue and catering: Often 40 percent or more of the total budget; venue packages in 2026 commonly run 3,000–18,000 dollars depending on city, day, and inclusions.
  • Food and drink: Per‑person catering, bar packages, and service fees scale quickly with guest count.
  • Photography and video: Professional photo and video teams are now standard “must‑haves” for many couples.
  • Attire, dĂ©cor, and florals: Dresses, suits, flowers, rentals, and dĂ©cor can add several thousand more.
  • Entertainment: DJs or bands, plus extras like photo booths or after‑parties, add another layer of cost.

A recent 2026 overview also notes that U.S. wedding costs tend to be higher than in many other countries, especially in major metro areas where venues and vendors charge a premium.

How Location Changes the Price

Where you marry can swing your budget dramatically.

  • High‑cost regions: States with high incomes and big metro areas (for example, New York, New Jersey, parts of California and the Northeast) regularly see averages well above the national figure, sometimes exceeding 45,000–50,000 dollars for a “typical” wedding.
  • Mid‑range states: Many states fall into the 25,000–35,000 dollar band for an average wedding.
  • Lower‑cost areas: Some Midwestern and Southern states show averages under 25,000 dollars for a full wedding.

Even within a single state, city‑center venues are often much pricier than suburban or rural spots, and weekday or off‑season dates can significantly reduce venue quotes.

Real‑World Forum Vibes

On wedding forums, couples often share very detailed budgets, and a common theme is that final totals creep above the original plan.

  • Many posters say they underestimated “little things” like tips, alterations, dĂ©cor extras, and beauty services.
  • Some users report that seeing a full cost breakdown convinced them to elope or plan a smaller wedding instead of a big traditional event.
  • Others emphasize that while they overspent, they still felt it was worth it for the experience and memories.

One popular breakdown thread includes line‑item costs, percentages by category, and lessons learned, which other brides and grooms bookmark to sanity‑check their own budgets.

Trend Check and Takeaways

Recent guides and surveys describe wedding prices as being at record or near‑record levels for U.S. couples, with averages climbing from the low 30,000s to the mid‑30,000s in just a year or two. At the same time, there is a strong counter‑trend of couples intentionally scaling down: smaller guest lists, backyard venues, brunch weddings, or courthouse ceremonies with a nice dinner afterward.

Bottom line: the “average” U.S. wedding may cost around 36,000 dollars today, but plenty of couples marry for under 10,000 dollars—or even just a few hundred—by trimming the guest list, picking simpler venues, or skipping certain traditions.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.