What does a wedding actually cost these days? According to The Knot, the average U.S. wedding cost $34,200 in 2025 — and three factors account for a majority of that bill.
⛪ Location: Let’s take Taylor and Travis: some predict that they will hold their reception at Madison Square Garden in New York City, where the average wedding cost is $88,000. Other big cities, like Los Angeles ($45,000) and Chicago ($54,000), are also pricey. Couples looking to get more for their money head outside city limits. Planning a wedding in Idaho or Utah? You’ll be paying an average of $18,000.
👫 Guest list: Trimming your list to include only your nearest and dearest is one way to stay on budget. Weddings with 50 guests or fewer cost less than half as much or more as weddings with 100 or more attendees. Skipping “plus-one” invitations can also help keep your list tight. And you’d be in good company — Taylor and Travis are reportedly limiting plus-ones for their wedding.
Here’s the thing: Taylor and Travis may never have to decide between an open bar or live band, but the rest of us do. If you’re planning a wedding, focus on the parts that matter most to you and let the rest go. The goal isn’t to throw a celebrity wedding — it’s to start your marriage in a meaningful way that doesn’t come at the expense of your financial future.
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About the author
Amanda Barroso, Ph.D., is a writer and content strategist helping consumers navigate budgeting, credit building and credit scoring. Before joining NerdWallet, Amanda wrote about demographic trends at the Pew Research Center and earned a Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.
Her work has been featured by the Associated Press, Washington Post and Yahoo Finance.
