After you say ‘I Do’, and get engaged, there’s more, yes there is a wedding to plan, and according to The Knot’s 2019 Real Weddings Study, the average cost of a wedding stands at $33,900 (including the engagement ring, ceremony as well as the reception. From paying for the venue to the cost of make-up for the bride on her wedding day, the caterers, drinks, etc., it goes to say that wannabe couples have quite a task ahead of them.
The Average Cost of a Wedding (by state)
The average cost of your wedding can vary considerably depending on the state you get married. In the U.S., the average cost of a wedding was $24,723.
This is the average wedding cost state by state.
The below table shows States, followed by states Average wedding cost and States Average wedding cost.
States – Average cost per guest – Average wedding cost
Alabama $127 $17,216
Alaska $252 $34,298
Arizona $159 $21,605
Arkansas $128 $17,433
California $231 $31,437
Colorado $203 $27,646
Connecticut $263 $35,702
Delaware $206 $28,067
District of Columbia $265 $36,082
Florida $154 $20,933
Georgia $159 $21,666
Hawaii $278 $37,827
Idaho $147 $19,925
Illinois $191 $25,918
Indiana $154 $21,004
Iowa $172 $23,426
Kansas $165 $22,407
Kentucky $129 $17,607
Louisiana $145 $19,681
Maine $193 $26,211
Maryland $248 $33,755
Massachusetts $264 $35,966
Michigan $154 $20,942
Minnesota $201 $27,332
Mississippi $201 $27,332
Missouri $147 $20,058
Montana $152 $20,706
Nebraska $173 $23,488
Nevada $161 $21,879
New Hampshire $247 $33,612
New Jersey $272 $36,943
New Mexico $136 $18,470
New York $252 $34,315
North Carolina $150 $20,416
North Dakota $197 $26,774
Ohio $158 $21,478
Oklahoma $155 $21,032
Oregon $155 $21,032
Pennsylvania $212 $28,827
Rhode Island $227 $30,861
South Carolina $147 $20,047
South Dakota $168 $22,896
Tennessee $135 $18,346
Texas $180 $24,520
Utah $199 $27,095
Vermont $222 $30,257
Virginia $215 $29,196
Washington $217 $29,511
West Virginia $134 $18,228
Wisconsin $174 $23,680
Wyoming $191 $26,017
Average Cost of a Wedding in the Largest Metro Areas
Among the U.S metro areas, the average cost of a wedding can vary by nearly $15,000. The price may vary per region and more than 1 in 3 American weddings takes place in these metro areas.
Most and least expensive places to get married
According to research, the Northeast area excluding Hawaii is the most expensive state to host a wedding. These places include New Jersey; Washington, D.C; Massachusetts and Connecticut. The least expensive places to host a wedding, are places located in the Southeast quadrant of the U.S.
Factors to Consider When Looking for the Average Cost of a Wedding: By Feature and State
Here, we have carefully outlined some factors that can help you considerably reduce the cost of your wedding.
Season
Ceremony sites, reception halls, and photographers mostly lower their rates during the off-peak periods like January or February. This trade-off can be so significant as you plan your overall wedding budget.
Location
Major metropolitan areas,, charge a high fee and have increased competition for venues and other services. So unless you have the money, you can opt for a less expensive area where the hall fee is less to host your wedding.
Day of the Week
From time immemorial, Saturdays are always seen as the ideal day for weddings. Thus most Saturdays are always occupied which may necessitate you competing with other people to have your wedding fixed for a particular date which may come with a higher price tag.
But come to think of it, weddings do not have to take place on Saturdays only. You can take advantage of other weekdays like say Sunday, or other weekdays (apart from Saturday) to have your big day.
Hired help
Professional services and premium packages, come with a price tag that may be way off your budget. Thus, a cheaper option might be to ask a friend to bartend, make decorations, get ushers, etc., to lower your cost.
Guest List Size
The fewer the better. You can cut expenses across the board by inviting say 10-20 guests as some venues have minimum and maximum guest requirements and are priced accordingly, and vendors might charge per head for food and drink.
Compare Prices and Services
After deciding on the services you want, ask around from friends and family who have recently gone through the process to know where you can get the best prices. You can also consult a wedding planner, get quotes from multiple vendors and choose the options you think will give you the value you want and at the same time fit your budget.
Make sure, you screen the features included in the fees, because some venues offer tables, chairs, linens as well as audio equipment at no additional cost, while another charge you extra or demand that you rent these items.
Negotiate if You Can
If you think it’s necessary, you can negotiate with vendors, to cut back on what’s included in their packages.
Factor in Extra Cost
Eventualities will always spring up, no matter how well you plan. Thus it is expedient to set aside some money, to cover such eventualities that may arise.
On a final thought, you don’t have to owe after your wedding just to please people. Plan your income, regular expenses as well as other financial goals and decide the kind of wedding you want and that which will align with your budget. At the end of the day, it’s all about you and your partner.
