The average US wedding cost about $34,200 for couples who married in 2025, according to The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study. The year before, the same study put it at $33,000.
An average is not your budget. Your wedding can cost half that or twice that. This guide shows where the money goes, how to estimate your own total from the guest count, and where you can cut without anyone noticing.
Guest count matters more than anything else
The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study split the numbers by size. Weddings with fewer than 50 guests averaged $15,000. Weddings with more than 100 guests averaged $42,000.
The reason is simple. Food, drink, chairs, favors and often the venue size are paid per guest. Every name on the list carries its own cost.
Where the money goes
The two biggest lines are the venue and the catering. In the 2025 study, the reception venue averaged $12,200 and catering averaged $80 per person. With 100 guests, catering alone is about $8,000 before drinks, service charges and tax.
The rest is spread across vendors you pay once, whatever the guest count:
- photographer and, if you want one, videographer,
- music: a DJ or a band,
- flowers and decor,
- attire, hair and makeup,
- rings,
- officiant and marriage license,
- invitations and stationery,
- planner or coordinator, if you hire one.
Prices for each of these vary a lot by city. Ask at least two vendors per category for a written quote before you fill in your budget.
How to estimate your wedding cost
- Per-guest costs: catering, bar, rentals, favors. Multiply each by your guest count.
- Fixed costs: photography, music, attire, rings, flowers, stationery. These cost about the same for 60 guests or 150.
- Service charges and tax: caterers and venues often add a service charge and sales tax on top of the per-person price. Ask for both in writing.
- A buffer of around 10% for surprises.
Our free wedding budget spreadsheet does this math for you: estimated against actual, line by line. For the per-person side in detail, read our guide to wedding catering cost per person.
Why your wedding may cost more or less
- Location. Big cities cost more than small towns for the same wedding.
- Date. A Saturday in peak season costs more than a Friday or Sunday, or an off-season month.
- Number of vendors. Each extra, such as a videographer, a photo booth or a late-night snack, adds up.
- Planning help. A planner costs money, and sometimes saves more than they cost. See how much a wedding planner costs.
Where to cut without it showing
- The guest list. It is the single biggest lever, as the numbers above show.
- The date. Ask venues for off-peak days and months.
- Stationery. A wedding website and digital invitations replace much of the paper and collect RSVPs without phone calls. We compared the options in free vs paid wedding websites.
- Extras. Keep the ones you care about. Drop the ones that are there only because "everyone does it".
What our wedding website costs
On Wedding30s the site costs €49, paid once. There is no subscription and no expiry date. It includes the RSVP with meal choice and allergies, and you can download the guest list as a CSV file for your caterer. You can build the whole site and see it before you pay. Create your wedding website.
Frequently asked questions
How much does the average wedding cost in the US?
About $34,200 for couples married in 2025, according to The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study. The year before it was $33,000. These are averages: a small wedding can cost a fraction of that and a big city wedding much more.
What is the biggest wedding expense?
The venue and the catering. Catering is charged per guest, so the guest count drives the total more than any other choice.
How much does a 100-person wedding cost?
In The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study, weddings with more than 100 guests averaged $42,000, and weddings with fewer than 50 guests averaged $15,000. Your own number depends on your city, your venue and your per-person catering price.
How much should a wedding cost?
As much as you can pay for without debt you regret. Start from the amount you have, decide the guest count, and then fit the venues and vendors into that. Working the other way round is how budgets break.
Does the average wedding cost include the engagement ring and honeymoon?
No. The Knot figures above cover the wedding itself. The engagement ring and the honeymoon are usually budgeted separately.