How Much Does a Wedding Cost?
Plan your wedding budget by guest count, region, and style. See where every dollar goes.
Average Wedding Costs (2026)
The national average wedding cost is approximately $33,000 (excluding honeymoon). However, this varies enormously: rural weddings average $15,000-20,000, suburban $25,000-35,000, and major city weddings $40,000-75,000+. NYC and SF weddings average $55,000-80,000. The single biggest cost driver is guest count — each additional guest adds $150-300 in catering, seating, and favors.
Where the Money Goes
Venue + Catering: 40-50% of budget (the biggest line item by far). Photography + Video: 10-15%. Flowers + Decor: 8-12%. Music/Entertainment: 5-8%. Attire + Beauty: 5-10%. Invitations: 2-3%. Officiant: 1-2%. Cutting guest count is the most effective way to reduce total cost — a 100-guest wedding costs 30-40% less than a 150-guest wedding.
Friday and Sunday weddings cost 20-40% less than Saturday weddings for the same venue. Morning/brunch weddings cost 30-50% less than evening receptions (less alcohol, simpler catering). These two changes alone can save $8,000-15,000 on an average wedding with zero reduction in quality or guest experience.
