What Is the Average Wedding Cost in 2026?

The average wedding cost at a glance

The Knot’s 2026 Real Weddings Study surveyed 10,474 US couples who married in 2025. Their average wedding cost was $34,200, up from $33,000 in 2024. Zola, which surveyed more than 11,500 couples marrying in 2026, puts the figure at $36,000 for the second year in a row.

Guest count is the biggest reason the two numbers differ. The Knot’s couples invited 117 guests on average, while Zola’s averaged 145.

Sources: The Knot, Sep 2026. Zola, Oct 2026 and Mar 2026.

Cost by vendor and item

The reception venue is the single biggest bill. Catering is priced per person, so at The Knot’s $80 average and 117 guests, food comes to about $9,360 (our calculation).

Source: The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, Sep 2026.

Zola’s category averages for 2026 group things differently: venue and site fees $8,573, catering $6,927, flowers and decor $6,345, photography $4,400 and the dress $2,000. Either way, venue, food and flowers make up the core of the budget.

Some costs sit outside the average. The Knot reports $4,600 for the engagement ring, $2,800 for the rehearsal dinner and $5,500 for the honeymoon. Add those and the full bill is closer to $47,100 (our calculation).

Cost by region and state

Where you marry matters as much as how many people you invite. The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic cost far more than the rest of the country.

Source: The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, Sep 2026.

By state, New Jersey ($57,000), Rhode Island ($51,000) and New York ($49,000) were the most expensive. Wyoming ($17,000), Idaho ($18,000) and Utah ($18,000) were the cheapest. Zola’s city data shows how high big cities go: a 150-guest wedding averages $99,452 in Manhattan, against $33,891 in Tulsa.

Destination weddings cost more, not less. The Knot found hometown weddings averaged $32,600, domestic destination weddings $41,700 and international ones $43,700. If guests will drive in, our road trip cost calculator can help them plan.

Guest count, season and other price drivers

Source: The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, Sep 2026.

• Season. Summer (July to September) weddings averaged $35,400, while January to March and October to December both averaged $33,200.
• Generation. Millennial couples spent $39,600 on average, Gen Z couples $30,000 and Gen X couples $23,000.
• Who is paying. Couples who paid for only a minority of the wedding spent $39,600, while couples who paid for all of it spent $25,500.

How couples pay for it

Most weddings are a group effort. In Zola’s 2026 survey, 71% of weddings got some financial help from family, and in 69% of those cases both families chipped in. Overall, 88% of couples contributed: 29% paid for everything and 59% paid for part.

Here is how couples found the money, per Zola:

• 51% saved for years before getting engaged.
• 32% used credit cards strategically, for example to earn points.
• 27% added cash funds to their registry, up from 16% in 2025.
• 17% took on a second or third job.
• 4% took out a loan.

If you are saving up, set a monthly target with our 50/30/20 budget calculator, and keep your emergency fund separate so a surprise bill does not land on the wedding budget.

How to spend less

1. Trim the guest list first. The Knot’s data shows a jump from $27,200 for 51 to 100 guests to $43,300 for over 100. Every guest adds food, drink, rentals and seating.
2. Look outside peak season. Winter and late fall weddings averaged about $2,200 less than summer ones in The Knot’s study (our calculation).
3. Keep a buffer. The Knot suggests setting aside about 5% of your budget for surprises, so small overruns do not push you over.
4. Book early and ask about swaps. Early booking can lock in prices and avoid rush fees, and florists can often suggest less expensive flowers that give a similar look.
5. Think about location. Hometown weddings in The Knot’s study cost about $9,100 less than domestic destination weddings (our calculation).

Setting a realistic budget

Averages are pulled up by big-budget weddings, so many couples spend well under $34,200. The Knot splits its couples into three groups: those with budgets up to $15,000 spent $8,900 on average, those between $15,001 and $40,000 spent $26,400, and those above $40,000 spent $70,300.

A practical way to start is to decide on your guest count and region, then use the tables above to see which group you fall into. Write down the total you and any family members can actually contribute before you book a venue, since the venue is usually the first and largest deposit. Leave room for the costs outside the average, like the ring and honeymoon, so they do not end up on a credit card.

See how we research every number on our method page, or browse more family and life costs.