Cost benchmark
Average Wedding Cost in the U.S.
A national U.S. planning benchmark from surveyed couples married in 2025. Use it as a baseline, not a local quote.
Reported average
$34,200
National benchmark for United States. This is not a vendor quote or financial advice.
Source: The Knot Real Weddings Study 2026 (10,474 U.S. couples married in 2025), average-cost article updated 2026-06-24; study methodology updated 2026-02-17.
Method
The total uses The Knot's reported 2025 U.S. average wedding cost from 10,474 U.S. couples married in 2025. Category amounts are calculated from The Knot's published rounded budget percentages, so category totals may not equal the average exactly.
Source: The Knot Real Weddings Study 2026 (10,474 U.S. couples married in 2025), average-cost article updated 2026-06-24; study methodology updated 2026-02-17.
Budget breakdown
| Category | Percent | Estimated amount |
|---|---|---|
| Venue and rentals | 29% | $9,918 |
| Catering, cake and drinks | 24% | $8,208 |
| Photographer and videographer | 10% | $3,420 |
| Floral design and decor | 9% | $3,078 |
| Music | 6% | $2,052 |
| Attire and beauty | 6% | $2,052 |
| Wedding rings | 5% | $1,710 |
| Wedding planner | 5% | $1,710 |
| Guest entertainment | 3% | $1,026 |
| Transportation | 2% | $684 |
| Stationery | 1% | $342 |
| Officiant | 1% | $342 |
How to use this benchmark
Start with the national average only to frame early tradeoffs. Then adjust the budget calculator with your guest count, venue quotes, catering minimums, local taxes, service fees and the vendors you actually plan to hire.
FAQs
- Is this a local wedding quote?
No. This is a national planning benchmark. Use it to frame an early budget, then replace it with local vendor quotes. - Why do the category amounts not sum exactly to the average?
The category percentages are rounded source benchmarks, so calculated amounts can differ slightly from the reported total.