Average wedding cost
How much does a wedding cost in the U.S.? Here's the average by budget tier, state, and year — with a calculator to turn any number into a full category breakdown.
Short answer
The average U.S. wedding costs about $33,000 for roughly 100–130 guests — around $250–$300 per guest. It ranges from under $15,000 for a small wedding to $80,000+ for a luxury one, and varies a lot by state and season. Use the calculator below to split your own number across every category.
Remaining to allocate
$0
- Total budget
- $30,000
- Allocated
- $30,000
Budget breakdown
Venue & catering
40% of budget
$12,000
Photography & video
12% of budget
$3,600
Attire & beauty
7% of budget
$2,100
Flowers & decor
8% of budget
$2,400
Music & entertainment
8% of budget
$2,400
Cake & desserts
2% of budget
$600
Stationery
2% of budget
$600
Wedding rings
3% of budget
$900
Planner & coordination
3% of budget
$900
Miscellaneous & buffer
15% of budget
$4,500
Average wedding cost by budget tier
Guest count is the biggest driver, so cost scales with the size of the celebration. These are typical all-in totals by tier.
| Tier | Guests | Typical total | Per guest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small / micro | Up to 50 | $10,000 – $20,000 | $200 – $300 |
| Budget | 75 – 100 | $15,000 – $25,000 | $180 – $250 |
| Average | 100 – 130 | $28,000 – $38,000 | $250 – $300 |
| Upscale | 130 – 180 | $45,000 – $70,000 | $320 – $420 |
| Luxury | 180+ | $80,000+ | $450+ |
Average wedding cost by state
Where you marry matters — Northeast metros run the highest, while much of the South and Mountain West sits well below the national average.
| State | Average total |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $51,000 |
| New York | $48,000 |
| Massachusetts | $44,000 |
| California | $39,000 |
| Florida | $34,000 |
| Illinois | $33,000 |
| Texas | $30,000 |
| Colorado | $29,000 |
| North Carolina | $27,000 |
| Ohio | $24,000 |
| Utah | $21,000 |
| Arkansas | $19,000 |
Average wedding cost by year
Costs have risen steadily as vendor prices and guest expectations climb.
| Year | National average |
|---|---|
| 2021 | $28,000 |
| 2022 | $30,000 |
| 2023 | $31,000 |
| 2024 | $33,000 |
| 2025 | $34,000 |
Cost of each wedding vendor
Frequently asked questions
How much should I budget for a wedding?+
The average U.S. wedding runs about $33,000 for roughly 100–130 guests, but there's no single right number — set your total by what you can comfortably afford, then work backward. A common planner split puts about 40% toward venue and catering, 12% photography and video, 8% each on flowers and music, 7% attire, and the rest across cake, stationery, rings, a planner, and a buffer. Enter your total above to see every category in dollars.
What percentage of a wedding budget goes to each category?+
A typical breakdown is venue and catering 40%, photography and video 12%, flowers and decor 8%, music and entertainment 8%, attire and beauty 7%, a planner 3%, wedding rings 3%, cake 2%, stationery 2%, and about 15% for miscellaneous costs and a safety buffer. These add up to 100%. They're a starting point — the calculator lets you edit any line and shows what's left.
How much does a wedding cost per guest?+
Most U.S. weddings cost roughly $225–$300 per guest once catering, drinks, rentals, and per-head extras are included, so guest count is the single biggest lever on your total. Cutting the list by 20 people can save several thousand dollars. Switch to guest-count mode above to estimate your total from a per-guest cost.
What is the biggest expense in a wedding?+
Venue and catering, by a wide margin — together they usually take about 40% of the whole budget because they cover the reception space, food, drinks, rentals, and staff. That's why picking a date, guest count, and venue first sets the ceiling for everything else. Trim the guest list or choose an off-peak date to move that number the most.
How do I stick to my wedding budget?+
Decide your total first, allocate every category before booking anything, and track each deposit against its line so you catch overspending early. This calculator flags the moment your edited categories exceed the total and shows exactly how much you're over. Keep the ~15% miscellaneous buffer intact — tips, transport, and last-minute extras almost always appear.
Are these wedding cost figures exact?+
No — they're planning estimates based on published U.S. national averages, not quotes. Real prices vary widely by state, season, guest count, and vendor. Use the breakdown as a realistic starting framework, then replace each line with actual quotes as you collect them. Nothing here is financial advice.
Figures are planning estimates based on published U.S. national averages, not quotes, and are not financial advice. Actual costs vary widely by location, season, guest count, and vendor.