How much does the average wedding cost?

Many people describe their wedding as one of the best days of their lives. While planning a wedding can be exciting, the pressure to make a milestone celebration live up to your dreams can also feel daunting and stressful.

As you approach setting up your wedding budget, it can help to start with an average wedding cost breakdown. You can then gauge where you might want to spend less or more. With a list of common wedding expenses, you can more easily narrow down the must-haves versus the things you can compromise on or even cut altogether.

What does an average wedding cost?

According to wedding planning website The Knot, the average cost of a wedding is about $35,000. Of course, this depends on a variety of factors, including the number of guests invited, whether your reception includes dinner and the time of year. Location matters, too — not only your specific venue but where you live. For instance, wedding registry website Zola reports that Rhode Island is the most expensive state to tie the knot in while Alaska is the cheapest.

Breakdown of average wedding expenses

When you have an idea of the total cost of a wedding, you can start envisioning the details of your special day. If you're looking to use your wedding savings effectively and follow a budget, the easiest way to do so may be to price out individual components. Think about what you've enjoyed at weddings you've attended to help rank your budget line items from most to least important. Then decide which items are non-negotiable and which are OK to cut costs.

To help you get started, here's a detailed look at the typical costs of a wedding:

Wedding invitations

While elaborate paper invites are a classic part of weddings, they can put a dent in your budget. Wedding stationery costs an average of $530, according to The Knot. Digital options are one way to cut costs and add a contemporary flair. If you go with printed invitations, consider setting up a website for guests to log their RSVPs to avoid the costs of postage and reply cards.

Dress and tux

According to Brides, expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $4,000 for a wedding dress. Don't forget to add in the cost of alterations, which can be significant. If you need to rent a tuxedo, count on an average cost of around $200, with designer options running up to $500.

Wedding planner

If you can't or don't want to spend a lot of time taking charge of the wedding planning process, you may decide to enlist a wedding planner for their expertise and assistance. If you choose to go this route, Minted suggests reserving 10%–15% of your budget to accommodate the price of wedding planning services.

Wedding photographer

If you want to capture the moments of your big day on film, you may want to look into professional photography and videography services. According to The Knot, almost 90% of couples hire a photographer and the reported average cost was $2,900.

Officiant

You'll need someone to officiate your ceremony and validate your marriage license. According to Thumbtack, you should add about $260 to your budget to pay the officiant.

Wedding rings

The amount couples spend on wedding rings depends mostly on personal style and preference. It's a good idea to shop around and find out what's available at various price levels before plugging this line item into your budget.

Flowers

With most couples spending an average of $1,500 on flowers for their wedding day, Wedding Wire suggests using a range of $700–$2,500 for a florist when planning your budget. Prices vary depending on factors such as the size of your wedding party and what you choose as table centerpieces at the reception. A simpler centerpiece may look just as lovely and allow you to reduce this portion of your budget.

Food and drinks

What you end up paying to feed everyone at your wedding can vary widely based on the guest list and your menu choices. According to The Knot, the average cost of food at a wedding is $85 per person. Costs can climb much higher if you include alcoholic beverages, feature a food experience like a taco truck or offer a late-night to-go snack for your guests. Zola recommends budgeting an additional $15–$45 per person for an open bar, which could feature low-cost standard beer and wine options up to pricey top-shelf liquor. Another food expense you won’t want to forget about is the wedding cake, with an average cost of about $540.

Entertainment

If you want guests to get up and dance at your wedding, you’ll probably need a DJ, live band or other entertainment. Gig Salad indicates you can expect to pay $800–$1,000 per hour for a wedding band. If you prefer a DJ, Fash recommends planning on an average cost of $150–$300 per hour.

Common wedding costs at a glance

How to create a wedding budget

Creating a wedding budget together can set the stage for the ongoing important financial decisions you'll make as a couple. First, determine what amount of money you'll have to spend on the wedding. Have conversations with family members who've offered to help cover costs so you know the limits of their contributions. Once that's set, you can analyze your joint finances to establish how much the two of you feel comfortable spending.

With a total budget amount in mind, you can start dividing it into specific expense limits. Discuss with your partner what you each envision for the wedding, and narrow down your three top priorities. This will establish what gets the lion's share of your budget and how much you have left for the rest of your wedding spending categories.

Tips for saving money on a wedding

If your budget isn't stretching as far as you'd like, you can find creative ways to save on wedding costs while still hosting a unique and memorable occasion.

• Shop around. Collecting prices from multiple vendors is necessary to understand the going rates in your area. That way, you can gauge if you're getting a good deal. As you meet with people, let them know your budget so they can design a package to fit your needs.
• Stay flexible. Some newly engaged people default to envisioning a classic Saturday-in-June wedding. But popular wedding venues at the peak of the season can demand a premium price. You may be able to spend significantly less if you're open to booking in the off-season or considering less in-demand locations.
• Break tradition. Weddings can involve doing things a certain way because that's how they've "always" been done. Rather than spend money on something you don't really want to do, start your own tradition. For instance, maybe you want to trade the dresses and tuxes for something you're more comfortable in. Then you can use those hundreds or thousands of dollars saved for an amazing honeymoon instead.

Your wedding doesn't need to be 'average'

As you prepare for your wedding day, you might revisit these average wedding costs and your original plans to gauge if you're still on track. It can be easy to get carried away with spending a little extra here and there on details that add up. In the end, it's not about what you spend. Your wedding only needs to celebrate the beginning of your life together and reflect what's most important to you as a couple. Thinking about how you're going to fund your wedding? Build up your savings bit by bit. With Citizens Savings Tracker™, you can set up automatic recurring transfers, deposit rounded-up change from your transactions and get Smart Save alerts to put money toward your goal.¹