How Much Does the Average Wedding Cost? (And How Do You Fund Yours?)
Between the venue, ceremony and event photographer, weddings can easily eat up your savings and put you in a financial hole if you’re not careful. But just how much does the average wedding cost, anyway?
In 2021, the average wedding ran approximately $34,000 (including the engagement ring), according to The Knot’s Real Weddings Study. Wedding costs can skyrocket even higher depending on factors like the size of your guest list and choice of venue.
To help you budget, we break down spending by different categories so you can get a better sense of what your wedding might cost, and ways you can afford your big day.
Average wedding cost by goods and services
Wedding expenses can quickly add up, with some of the largest costs being your venue, band and wedding planner. In 2021, couples hired, on average, 14 vendors to supply goods and services for their wedding, including catering, decor and entertainment, according to The Knot.
When trying to get a sense of what you might need to budget for your wedding, start by looking at typical wedding prices, such as for the venue, food and drink, and attire. In particular, the average price for renting a venue — $10,700 — can take up about a third of the average wedding cost, so you’ll want to keep that in mind when budgeting.
Here’s about what you may end up paying when it comes to hiring vendors:
| Goods or services | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Reception venue | $10,700 |
| Live band | $4,500 |
| Wedding planner | $3,000 |
| Photographer | $2,500 |
| Flowers | $2,300 |
| Wedding dress | $1,800 |
| Videographer | $1,799 |
| DJ | $1,400 |
| Transportation | $750 |
| Photo booth | $650 |
| Wedding cake | $500 |
| Ceremony music | $500 |
| Wedding officiant | $300 |
| Tuxedo/suit | $270 |
| Hair/makeup | $250 |
| Catering | $75 (per person) |
Data based on a study by The Knot and the WeddingWire
Venue
For some couples, the venue can make up around a third of their total wedding spending, at an average cost of $10,700. Should you rent a venue that includes catering and alcoholic beverages as part of the overall rental package, that cost can bump up to $15,800.
Music
Couples found the average price for hiring a live band to play at the wedding to be $4,500 which can end up being one of the most expensive costs of a wedding. A DJ, on the other hand, could be a bit cheaper at $1,400. You may also have to hire someone to play music for your ceremony which costs an average of $500.
Wedding planner
Wedding planners can take a load off your shoulders by taking on some of the responsibility of preparing for your wedding. A wedding planner can help you put together a budget, help you find deals and help you understand your vendor contracts. However, wedding planners can add quite a bit to your bill, on average an extra $3,000.
Flowers
Flowers for a wedding are no small cost, sitting at an average $2,300. The kind of decorations and flowers used, however, will have a strong influence on this cost, as will the venue space and guest list.
If you’re opting for an empty rental space to save money on the venue, you may need to also account for the cost of renting furniture from an outside vendor. That could put you well over the average cost.
Catering
Couples who opt for a catered wedding as opposed to getting food through the venue should expect an average cost of $75 per person. But your costs will vary based on the types of food you serve.
But, don’t forget the wedding cake: It adds another $500, on average.
Wedding dress and tuxedo
Attire costs are impacted by how formal couples want their event to be. When it comes to getting dressed, tuxedos and suits are generally cheaper, with an average cost of $270. Wedding dresses, on the other hand, may cost you an average of $1,800.
If you also want to have any hair and makeup professionally done, it may generally cost you another $250 per person.
| Year | Average cost |
|---|---|
| 2015 | $32,641 |
| 2016 | $35,309 |
| 2017 | $33,391 |
| 2018 | $33,931 |
| 2019 | $28,000 |
| 2020 | $19,000 |
| 2021 | $22,500 |
Average wedding cost by state
According to a survey of 15,000 couples by The Knot, newlyweds spent an average of $28,000 on their ceremony and reception in 2021. To put this into perspective, here are some other statistics to compare:
- Students who graduate with a bachelor’s degree accrue an average of $28,400 in student loan debt.
- When borrowing for an auto loan, Americans typically take out an average of $39,721 for new vehicles and $27,291 for used vehicles.
However, the average wedding cost varies greatly depending on which state you live in. Those that were among the biggest spenders were in areas in the Northeast like New Jersey ($47,000), the District of Columbia ($44,000) and Rhode Island ($43,000).
Spending tended to be the lowest in Idaho ($16,000), Oklahoma ($16,000) and Wyoming ($15,800).
Here’s what couples typically spend on their nuptials on a state-by-state basis.
How to budget for your wedding
You can tailor your wedding to your preferences and priorities, giving you the flexibility as a couple to splurge on wedding costs that are important to you and to be frugal elsewhere. You may, for example, choose to have a destination wedding with a small guest list, or rent your wedding dress or tux instead of buying.
To help make your wedding more affordable, here’s a few budgeting strategies you can implement:
Shop around for a cheaper venue
From banquet halls to castles, country clubs to mansions, there are many different options for a reception venue. Choosing a free location is a no-brainer if you have that option.
You may also want to consider looking for spots outside of metropolitan areas. Businesses in cities tend to have to pay higher costs in rent. By exploring outside urban areas and focusing more on rural options, you may be able to save when it comes to renting a venue.
Find less expensive food options
Picking alternative options for reception dining can save big money on overall costs. Bar tabs can quickly add up and catering can be expensive. Some cheaper alternatives can be to hire a local restaurant or food truck and serve substantial dishes instead of hors d’oeuvres.
Limit the hours the photographer is there
While hiring a photographer and videographer to stay for the entire day can be a fun way to memorialize your big day, this can end up being one of your most expensive costs. Instead, think about the pictures you’ll want to frame — the big moments like cutting the cake and exchanging vows — and let the photographer leave once those are taken.
Don’t be afraid to DIY
Do-it-yourself projects like decor and wedding invitations can also help save you a chunk of money on your wedding. However, keep in mind, this can eat away at your time instead.
Don’t be afraid to ask family and friends for help, especially if they have a special skill. For example, you may ask a close photographer friend to snap shots at your wedding. Just don’t sacrifice your wedding or your relationship if you aren’t sure the person can meet your expectations.
Pare down your guest list
Your guest list can not only impact how much you spend on catering, but it can also affect the size (and thus the price) of your venue.
According to The Knot, in 2021, couples invited an average of 105 guests to their wedding. However, this number typically depended on what time of year their wedding was. Couples who were married anywhere from January to June tended to have less guests (94 on average) due to weather challenges. Those who got married anywhere from January to March had even less (83).
How to fund your wedding
You might have your budget established, but that doesn’t mean you know where you’re going to get the funds to pay for all your wedding expenses. Consider the following options.
Savings
If you choose to use your savings to pay for your wedding, make sure you also save more along the way and see what family members want to contribute. This way, you can be prepared for any unexpected hiccups.
While using your own money to pay for your wedding instead of taking out a personal loan or credit card can help you to avoid interests and fees, it may leave you in a more financially vulnerable position.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Avoid paying interest or other fees You’ll have a clear picture of much you can afford to spend | May leave you short on cash May not be able to afford unexpected or last minute costs |
Unsecured personal loan
A wedding loan — also known as a personal loan — is an unsecured loan that generally has a fixed interest rate and payment. Often, for those with good credit, personal loans offer better interest rates than credit cards.
However, in order to qualify for a personal loan, you’ll need to have a good credit score and credit history, so if your credit could use some polishing, this may not be the right route for you.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Expand your budget since you can typically borrow $1,000 to $50,000 Don’t have to put down collateral May receive a lower interest rate than credit card | You may have to pay interest and fees May take several days to receive funds Eligibility and rates depend on your credit |
Credit card
Credit cards can be a straightforward way to supplement savings when dealing with both expected and unexpected wedding costs, particularly if you can acquire cards with low or 0% intro APR. Credit cards can be especially handy should you encounter unexpected costs.
However, if you’re not careful, you could easily acquire quite a bit of debt that may be difficult to pay off down the road. This is where planning out a budget ahead of time can come in handy and help you to avoid spending more than you need.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Borrow what you need on an as-needed basis May earn rewards depending on credit card Don’t need to put down collateral | May come with higher rates than personal loans Easy to rack up debt if you’re not careful Spending limit may not be as high as personal loan |
Methodology
LendingTree researchers based data on the 2021 Real Weddings Study by The Knot on the average cost of weddings per state as well as the average amount couples spend per vendor. The Knot surveyed more than $15,000 couples. Researchers also drew information on the average cost of wedding goods and services using data from the WeddingWire.