The real cost of a wedding in 2024? It depends where you say ‘I do'
For many couples, weddings are a monumental event to cement their commitment, but they can also come with a monumental price tag. Data from the Wedding Report (TWR) shows the average cost of weddings across the country reached $31,428 in 2024, while in some counties the average surpassed $50,000.
Santa Clara County in California holds the title for the priciest weddings on average, reaching $56,519. But costs can climb even higher in some places depending on the setting and guest count. A wedding in East Hampton, N.Y., with 250 guests, for example, ranges between $60,000 and $75,000, with venues costing over twice as much as the national average. Of course, some couples will opt for flashier, big-budget events, far exceeding these numbers.
Not all weddings are splashy, high-end productions, though. TWR's cost data, which is based on real couples' budgets rather than vendor prices, also shows half of U.S. couples spend under $19,112 on their big day.
Venues and catering are among the highest ticket items, based on average national costs from TWR. That means couples hoping to save money might want to consider hosting a micro-wedding with fewer guests in a backyard or small-scale venue. Other swaps — like hiring a DJ instead of a live band for about a third of the price — can also help cut costs, as can taking a DIY approach to some aspects of the planning and decor.
Yahoo News used data from The Wedding Report to map the cost of weddings across the U.S.

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13 hours ago
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How much does a wedding cost in your state? Check out our interactive map to find out.
For many couples, weddings are a monumental event to cement their commitment, but they can also come with a monumental price tag. Data from The Wedding Report (TWR) shows the average cost of weddings across the country reached $31,428 in 2024, while in some counties the average surpassed $50,000. Santa Clara County in California holds the title for the priciest weddings on average, reaching $56,519. But costs can climb even higher in some places depending on the setting and guest count. A wedding in East Hampton, N.Y., with 250 guests, for example, ranges between $60,000 and $75,000, with venues costing over twice as much as the national average. Of course, some couples will opt for flashier, big-budget events, far exceeding these numbers. Not all weddings are splashy, high-end productions, though. TWR's cost data, which is based on real couples' budgets rather than vendor prices, also shows half of U.S. couples spend under $19,112 on their big day. Venues and catering are among the highest ticket items, based on average national costs from TWR. That means couples hoping to save money might want to consider hosting a micro-wedding with fewer guests in a backyard or small-scale venue. Other swaps — like hiring a DJ instead of a live band for about a third of the price — can also help cut costs, as can taking a DIY approach to some aspects of the planning and decor. Yahoo News used data from The Wedding Report to map the cost of weddings across the U.S.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The real cost of a wedding in 2024? It depends where you say ‘I do'
For many couples, weddings are a monumental event to cement their commitment, but they can also come with a monumental price tag. Data from the Wedding Report (TWR) shows the average cost of weddings across the country reached $31,428 in 2024, while in some counties the average surpassed $50,000. Santa Clara County in California holds the title for the priciest weddings on average, reaching $56,519. But costs can climb even higher in some places depending on the setting and guest count. A wedding in East Hampton, N.Y., with 250 guests, for example, ranges between $60,000 and $75,000, with venues costing over twice as much as the national average. Of course, some couples will opt for flashier, big-budget events, far exceeding these numbers. Not all weddings are splashy, high-end productions, though. TWR's cost data, which is based on real couples' budgets rather than vendor prices, also shows half of U.S. couples spend under $19,112 on their big day. Venues and catering are among the highest ticket items, based on average national costs from TWR. That means couples hoping to save money might want to consider hosting a micro-wedding with fewer guests in a backyard or small-scale venue. Other swaps — like hiring a DJ instead of a live band for about a third of the price — can also help cut costs, as can taking a DIY approach to some aspects of the planning and decor. Yahoo News used data from The Wedding Report to map the cost of weddings across the U.S.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
The real cost of a wedding in 2024? It depends where you say ‘I do'
For many couples, weddings are a monumental event to cement their commitment, but they can also come with a monumental price tag. Data from the Wedding Report (TWR) shows the average cost of weddings across the country reached $31,428 in 2024, while in some counties the average surpassed $50,000. Santa Clara County in California holds the title for the priciest weddings on average, reaching $56,519. But costs can climb even higher in some places depending on the setting and guest count. A wedding in East Hampton, N.Y., with 250 guests, for example, ranges between $60,000 and $75,000, with venues costing over twice as much as the national average. Of course, some couples will opt for flashier, big-budget events, far exceeding these numbers. Not all weddings are splashy, high-end productions, though. TWR's cost data, which is based on real couples' budgets rather than vendor prices, also shows half of U.S. couples spend under $19,112 on their big day. Venues and catering are among the highest ticket items, based on average national costs from TWR. That means couples hoping to save money might want to consider hosting a micro-wedding with fewer guests in a backyard or small-scale venue. Other swaps — like hiring a DJ instead of a live band for about a third of the price — can also help cut costs, as can taking a DIY approach to some aspects of the planning and decor. Yahoo News used data from The Wedding Report to map the cost of weddings across the U.S.