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Many couples can only dream of having a beautiful beach wedding, and then there are those who spend $40,000 to cover the beach with a floor because it's "tooo beachy." But hey, who are we to judge?
While the average American wedding comes in at around $33,000, there are many that fall below, or far above, that price. At the end of the day, it's about what the couple wants, and of course, what they can afford.
"You can spend $50 bucks on a marriage license and call it a day or spend $5.5 million and have Adele perform at your wedding," says wedding planning expert Annie Lee. "There's no finite range so the average can feel so off both ways. Some will think the average sounds so high or so wildly low."
Lee believes it's better to create an average within each type of wedding in each region rather than all weddings lumped together.
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Most couples are more than willing to go all-out when it comes to spending on their big day. One survey found that 58% of Americans believe a wedding is "priceless and worth the splurge."
The study, conducted by financial services company Empower, also revealed that Millennials are the most likely to dig deep when it comes to tying the knot. This group was found to have a higher average spend, forking out around $51,130 for their weddings.
It's worth noting that a separate survey from US News found that 56% of newlyweds go into debt for their nuptials.
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Meanwhile, The Knot 2025 Real Weddings Study found that the average cost per wedding guest is $284. And most couples invite about 116 people to witness their nuptials.
"Your guest list is one of the biggest factors in determining how much you'll spend on your wedding," notes The Knot. "It goes without saying, but the more people you invite, the more you'll spend. What is the average wedding cost for 50 guests? Typically, that'll be less than the average wedding cost for 100 guests."
So if you're working on trimming your on wedding expenses, then start by chopping that guest list."
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Another factor at play is where you decide to get hitched. Some states are far more expensive than others. According to Zola’s state-by-state numbers, a wedding in Iowa will cost roughly a third of the cost of a wedding in New York.
And on that note, if you're dreaming of a New York wedding, be warned that the average cost of hosting one there is around $87,700. While doing it in Las Vegas will set you back a lot less, at around $22,140.
The time of year, and season also play a part. "In the same way that a trip to the beach is going to cost more during the summer than the winter, a wedding that takes place during wedding season will cost more than an off-season wedding," cautions The Knot.
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One of the best things you can do to keep your spending in check is to start planning early. "You'll have your pick of venues and wedding pros that fit your budget, rather than scrambling to find someone that works within your desired price range," explain The Knot's wedding experts.
"You'll also be able to lock in prices for certain products and services now, so that even if inflation drives rates up, your contract will stay the same. Additionally, tighter planning timelines mean rush fees and other last-minute charges that drive costs up," they add.
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If you find your jaw dropping faster than a garter at some of the costs on this list, bear in mind that they probably don't come close to the wedding budget of Russian heiress Khadija Uzhakhova and oil heir Said Gutseriev.
Their over-the-top, elaborate wedding reportedly cost a cool $1 billion. Yes, you read that right. And that was back in 2016. "A retinue of opulent Bentleys drove the couple's loved ones to the restaurant location. The room was filled from floor to ceiling with ornate arrangements of fresh flowers when they arrived," reports the Standard.
The bride's couture Elie Saab wedding dress allegedly weighed 28 pounds. But it's possibly the cake that, err, takes the cake... The newlyweds opted for a nine-foot wedding cake that "loomed over the guests" during the event.
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And what's a wedding without entertainment? Sting, Enrique Iglesias, and Jennifer Lopez were among the artists who performed at the "wedding of the year." For context, JLo is said to charge around $1 million per hour.
To top off the celebrations, there was a massive fireworks display. And as a "small" token of thanks, each guest went home with personalised jewelled boxes as souvenirs.
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