The cost report

How much does a wedding cost?

The average U.S. wedding costs about $34,000 for roughly 117 guests, about $292 per guest. Below: where that money goes, how the total moves with your guest count, and what it looks like by vendor, state, and city. Or jump straight to the budget calculator for your own numbers.

Quick answer

The national average is about $34,000 for a ~117-guest wedding — roughly $292 per guest. Your total varies most with guest count and location: budget-friendly states average in the mid-$20,000s, while the priciest states and metros run $50,000+.

Where the money goes: the national average, by category

Here's how a $34,000 budget for 117 guests typically breaks down, with 10% set aside as a contingency reserve:

Category	Share	Estimated cost
Venue & rentals	30%	$9,180
Catering & drinks	25%	$7,650
Photography & video	12%	$3,672
Attire & beauty	8%	$2,448
Entertainment	8%	$2,448
Florals & decor	8%	$2,448
Stationery & favors	3%	$918
Transportation	3%	$918
Miscellaneous	3%	$918
Contingency reserve	10%	$3,400

Percentages are of the allocatable budget after the reserve — see the budget breakdown guide for how to flex them toward your priorities.

Wedding cost by guest count

Guest count is the biggest driver of total cost. At the national average of about $290 per guest, here's roughly what different guest lists add up to:

Guest count	Estimated total
75 guests	$22,000
100 guests	$29,000
125 guests	$36,500
150 guests	$43,500
200 guests	$58,000

See exactly what each guest adds with the cost-per-guest calculator, or browse wedding budgets by guest count.

Wedding cost by vendor

National-average pricing for each major vendor — tap one for tiers, price drivers, and ways to save.

Photographer$2,900 Videographer$2,300 DJ$1,700 Live band$4,500 Florist$2,800 Caterer$85/person Venue$11,000 Planner$4,000 Hair & makeup$250/person Officiant$300/ceremony

Average wedding cost by state

Estimated average wedding cost for every U.S. state (the national average is about $34,000). Pick your state for a full breakdown.

State	Avg. total	Per guest
Alabama	$28,000	$240
Alaska	$39,000	$335
Arizona	$33,500	$285
Arkansas	$26,500	$225
California	$46,000	$395
Colorado	$37,500	$320
Connecticut	$49,500	$425
Delaware	$34,000	$290
Florida	$35,500	$305
Georgia	$34,000	$290
Hawaii	$47,500	$405
Idaho	$29,000	$250
Illinois	$39,000	$335
Indiana	$29,000	$250
Iowa	$28,000	$240
Kansas	$28,000	$240
Kentucky	$28,000	$240
Louisiana	$30,500	$260
Maine	$35,500	$305
Maryland	$41,000	$350
Massachusetts	$49,500	$425
Michigan	$32,500	$280
Minnesota	$34,000	$290
Mississippi	$26,500	$225
Missouri	$29,000	$250
Montana	$30,000	$255
Nebraska	$28,000	$240
Nevada	$35,500	$305
New Hampshire	$41,000	$350
New Jersey	$54,500	$465
New Mexico	$29,000	$250
New York	$51,000	$435
North Carolina	$33,500	$285
North Dakota	$27,000	$230
Ohio	$30,000	$255
Oklahoma	$27,000	$230
Oregon	$35,500	$305
Pennsylvania	$35,500	$305
Rhode Island	$47,500	$405
South Carolina	$32,500	$280
South Dakota	$27,000	$230
Tennessee	$31,500	$270
Texas	$33,500	$285
Utah	$28,000	$240
Vermont	$37,500	$320
Virginia	$35,500	$305
Washington	$37,500	$320
Washington, D.C.	$51,000	$435
West Virginia	$26,500	$225
Wisconsin	$30,500	$260
Wyoming	$29,000	$250

Wedding cost by city

Popular metros, where costs often run above the state average.

Albany$34,000 Albuquerque$30,500 Ann Arbor$35,500 Asheville$39,000 Atlanta$37,500 Augusta$30,500 Austin$37,500 Baltimore$39,000 Baton Rouge$30,500 Birmingham$29,000 Boston$51,000 Boulder$42,500 Brooklyn$54,500 Buffalo$32,500 Charleston$41,000 Charlotte$34,000 Chicago$44,000 Cincinnati$30,500 Cleveland$30,000 Colorado Springs$34,000 Columbus$30,500 Dallas$35,500 Denver$39,000 Des Moines$29,000 Detroit$32,500 Durham$34,000 El Paso$29,000 Eugene$34,000 Fort Lauderdale$41,000 Fort Worth$34,000 Fresno$34,000 Grand Rapids$30,500 Hartford$41,000 Honolulu$49,500 Houston$34,000 Indianapolis$30,500 Jacksonville$32,500 Jersey City$51,000 Kansas City$30,500 Key West$51,000 Knoxville$30,500 Las Vegas$35,500 Lexington$30,000 Long Beach$46,000 Los Angeles$51,000 Louisville$30,500 Madison$32,500 Maui$54,500 Memphis$30,000 Mesa$32,500 Miami$42,500 Milwaukee$32,500 Minneapolis$35,500 Napa$54,500 Naples$47,500 Nashville$37,500 New Orleans$35,500 New York City$58,000 Newark$47,500 Oakland$47,500 Oklahoma City$28,000 Omaha$29,000 Orlando$34,000 Palm Springs$44,000 Philadelphia$39,000 Phoenix$34,000 Pittsburgh$32,500 Portland$37,500 Providence$44,000 Raleigh$34,000 Reno$34,000 Richmond$34,000 Rochester$32,500 Sacramento$41,000 Salt Lake City$32,500 San Antonio$32,500 San Diego$47,500 San Francisco$58,000 San Jose$52,500 Santa Barbara$51,000 Santa Fe$37,500 Savannah$39,000 Scottsdale$42,500 Seattle$41,000 Spokane$32,500 St. Louis$30,500 St. Paul$34,000 Tacoma$35,500 Tampa$34,000 Tucson$30,500 Tulsa$28,000 Virginia Beach$34,000

Frequently asked questions

How much does a wedding cost?

The average U.S. wedding costs about $34,000 for roughly 117 guests — about $292 per guest. Your number depends most on guest count and location: low-cost states average in the mid-$20,000s while New Jersey and New York top $50,000.

What's the biggest wedding cost?

The venue — about 30% of a typical budget, or roughly $11,000 at the national average. Catering and drinks are next at about 25%, so venue and food together usually eat more than half the budget.

How much does a wedding cost per guest?

About $292 per guest fully loaded (total spend divided by headcount). Each additional guest adds roughly $75–$150 in variable cost — catering, bar, rentals, and stationery — which is why trimming the guest list is the single biggest budget lever.

Figures are estimates derived from national averages adjusted for each location's relative cost level — a starting point, not a quote.

Last reviewed June 2026 by Jared Waterworth. Estimates use widely accepted wedding-planning rules of thumb — see how we estimate. Numbers vary by region, season, and vendor, so verify before you book or buy.