EventSays

Average Wedding Cost in the US (2026 Data)

Direct answer

$34,000 — the average for 2025 US weddings in The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study (n=10,474 couples). That is $292 per guest at the average 117 guests. Venue averages $12,900; catering averages $80 per person with a regional span of $62–$123.

What the average hides

The $34,000 mean is pulled up by expensive coastal markets; median spend is materially lower. The per-guest figure ($292) travels better across regions than the total, which is why every EventSays estimate starts there.

Catering-only averages $80/person, but bundled venue+catering+bar typically absorbs 45–55% of the entire budget. If your venue quote plus catering quote exceeds that band, the rest of your plan will be squeezed.

Using the average without being misled

Anchor: your guest count × $292 is a better personal starting point than $34,000 itself.

Then correct for your market with real quotes — the survey's regional catering span ($62–$123/person) means identical weddings can differ by thousands on food alone.

Assumptions

  • Survey data, not a price list: self-reported spend by couples married Jan–Dec 2025.
  • All-in figure — includes attire, rings, photography, not just the reception.

What changes this answer

  • Region: Mid-Atlantic catering averages roughly double the Midwest.
  • Guest count above or below 117 moves the total roughly linearly.
  • Peak dates (October and June, 16% of 2025 weddings each) price higher than off-season.

Common questions

Is $34,000 the typical amount couples actually pay?

It is the survey mean for 2025 weddings (The Knot 2026, n=10,474). Means are pulled up by expensive markets; many couples spend well under it — though 74% report going over their own budget (Zola survey, 2025).

Sources

Last checked 2026-07-22. Tiers: 1 government/regulator · 2 industry body · 3 official supplier docs · 4 large surveys · 5 professional material.

Connected decisions