How Wedding Costs Vary Across the U.S.
Key Takeaways
- Average wedding costs range from $17,000 in Wyoming to $57,000 in New Jersey.
- The average U.S. wedding costs $34,200, excluding the engagement ring.
- The Northeast contains many of the country’s most expensive states for weddings, while several of the least expensive are in the Mountain West.
Where a couple gets married can have a major impact on the final price tag, with wedding costs varying substantially across the country.
This map highlights average wedding costs across the U.S. using the The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study. The study’s results are based on more than 10,000 weddings held in 2025.
Location can influence everything from venue prices to vendor costs, helping explain the wide differences between states.
Pricey Ceremonies in the Northeast
Many of America’s most expensive states for weddings are concentrated in the Northeast, where higher living costs and expensive venues can push budgets upward.
New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the country, leads with an average wedding price tag of $57,000. The Garden State is also the only state nationwide where every county is classified as urban.
The table below lists each state alongside its average wedding cost, as reported in The Knot’s 2026 study.
| State | Average Wedding Cost in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,000 |
| Alaska | $19,000 |
| Arizona | $27,000 |
| Arkansas | $19,000 |
| California | $39,000 |
| Colorado | $31,000 |
| Connecticut | $42,000 |
| Delaware | $39,000 |
| Florida | $33,000 |
| Georgia | $29,000 |
| Hawaii | $33,000 |
| Idaho | $18,000 |
| Illinois | $38,000 |
| Indiana | $24,000 |
| Iowa | $21,000 |
| Kansas | $20,000 |
| Kentucky | $23,000 |
| Louisiana | $34,000 |
| Maine | $37,000 |
| Maryland | $38,000 |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 |
| Michigan | $29,000 |
| Minnesota | $28,000 |
| Mississippi | $21,000 |
| Missouri | $26,000 |
| Montana | $21,000 |
| Nebraska | $22,000 |
| Nevada | $21,000 |
| New Hampshire | $37,000 |
| New Jersey | $57,000 |
| New Mexico | $22,000 |
| New York | $49,000 |
| North Carolina | $29,000 |
| North Dakota | $22,000 |
| Ohio | $28,000 |
| Oklahoma | $19,000 |
| Oregon | $23,000 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,000 |
| Rhode Island | $51,000 |
| South Carolina | $35,000 |
| South Dakota | $21,000 |
| Tennessee | $24,000 |
| Texas | $31,000 |
| Utah | $18,000 |
| Vermont | $47,000 |
| Virginia | $34,000 |
| Washington | $26,000 |
| West Virginia | $19,000 |
| Wisconsin | $29,000 |
| Wyoming | $17,000 |
New Jersey is also popular as a wedding destination for couples in neighboring states like New York ($49,000) and Pennsylvania ($36,000). In 2026, New York, home to the nation’s most populous city, hosted the most expensive wedding in American history at Madison Square Garden.
Higher living costs also make much of New England pricey. Rhode Island, the smallest state in the country, has the second-highest average wedding cost at $51,000, while Connecticut averages $42,000.
Within the broader Northeast, Maine and New Hampshire tie for the lowest average wedding cost at $37,000. Even so, that remains more than double Wyoming’s average.
Budget Nuptials in the Mountain West
At the other end of the spectrum is Wyoming at $17,000, the lowest average in the country. Neighboring Idaho and Utah follow at $18,000, putting all three Mountain West states among the least expensive places to get married.
Lower living costs and greater competition among wedding venues can help keep prices down in these states. Venue costs are especially important, accounting for nearly a third of total wedding spending on average.
The region has also seen wedding activity rise in recent years. Utah alone reportedly hosted about 40,000 weddings in 2025, up from 28,000 in 2019.
The Most Expensive Cities for Weddings
Wedding costs can vary substantially within states as well. Among major U.S. cities, New York City leads at $88,000, followed by Chicago at $54,000, while Boston and San Francisco both average $51,000.
Differences within the same state can reflect local demand, venue availability, and other market factors. Texas, for example, has a statewide average wedding cost of $31,000, but prices vary considerably among its major cities.
Weddings in Austin, Dallas, and Houston each average more than $32,000, while the figure falls to just $20,000 in El Paso.
Learn More on the Voronoi App
To explore how living costs vary across the country, check out Ranked: U.S. Cities With the Highest Cost of Living on Voronoi.
