Guides · October 10, 2026
Average wedding cost by state: all 50, from the 2026 survey
The national average hides a threefold gap. The same survey that puts the US average at $34,000 puts one state at $17,000 and another at $57,000. Where you marry matters more than almost any other choice.
All 50 states
Average cost of the ceremony and reception, not including the engagement ring, from The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study of 10,474 couples married in 2025.
| State | Average wedding cost |
|---|---|
| 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 |
The ends of the table
| Highest | Lowest | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $57,000 | Wyoming | $17,000 |
| Rhode Island | $51,000 | Utah | $18,000 |
| New York | $49,000 | Idaho | $18,000 |
| Vermont | $47,000 | Alaska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, West Virginia | $19,000 |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 | Kansas | $20,000 |
By region
| Region | Average |
|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic | $48,400 |
| New England | $46,600 |
| South and Southeast | $31,300 |
| West | $31,300 |
| Southwest | $30,800 |
| Midwest | $29,000 |
Major cities
Cities run well above their states. From the same study:
| City | Average | City | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $88,000 | Dallas | $32,000 |
| Chicago | $54,000 | Charlotte | $32,000 |
| San Francisco | $51,000 | Jacksonville | $32,000 |
| Boston | $51,000 | Seattle | $31,000 |
| Los Angeles | $45,000 | Denver | $31,000 |
| Washington, DC | $42,000 | Columbus | $30,000 |
| Philadelphia | $40,000 | Nashville | $29,000 |
| San Diego | $38,000 | Phoenix | $27,000 |
| Austin | $37,000 | San Antonio | $26,000 |
| Houston | $33,000 | Indianapolis | $25,000 |
Hometown or away
The study also splits by kind of wedding. Hometown weddings averaged $32,600, destination weddings within the US $41,700 and weddings abroad $43,700. Destination weddings had fewer guests on average, so the higher total is a higher cost per person, not a bigger party.
What these numbers are, and are not
- They are averages of what couples in the survey reported. A few very large weddings raise them: nationally the median was $24,000 against an average of $34,000.
- They reflect guest counts as well as prices. A state where weddings are larger shows a higher average even at similar prices.
- The people surveyed were recruited from The Knot and WeddingWire members, not drawn at random from all couples.
- Other publishers get different figures by different methods. We use one consistent survey here and do not mix them.
Using your state's number
- Treat it as a check on quotes, not as a budget. If a venue quote is far above your state's average total, ask what is driving it.
- Your guest count is the lever. The national average comes with about 117 guests.
- If you live near a state line, compare venues on both sides of it.
Sources:
General information for planning, not legal or financial advice. My Wedding Plan is independent and not affiliated with the sources cited.