The national average hides a wide spread. In The Knot's 2026 data, the most expensive state, New Jersey ($57,000), averages more than three times the least expensive, Wyoming ($17,000). City averages range from about $20,000 to $88,000.
This page puts the two big 2026 datasets side by side: The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study, which gives one average per state, and Zola's Wedding Cost Index, which gives a budget range per state. Every number below comes from those two publishers. We haven't estimated or filled in anything. Where they disagree, we say so.
National benchmarks first
| Source | Average cost | Guests | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Knot 2026 Real Weddings Study | $34,200 | 117 | 10,474 US couples married in 2025; $292 per guest |
| Zola 2026 First Look Report | $36,000 | 145 | 11,500+ couples marrying in 2026 |
The Knot's state and city figures cover the ceremony and reception only (no engagement ring). Its state averages are published in round thousands.
Average wedding cost by region (The Knot 2026)
| Region | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Mid-Atlantic | $48,400 |
| New England / the Northeast | $46,600 |
| South / the Southeast | $31,300 |
| West | $31,300 |
| Southwest | $30,800 |
| Midwest | $29,000 |
The Knot doesn't list which states belong to each region.
Average wedding cost by state: both sources
How to read this table:
- The Knot 2026 is a single state average from couples married in 2025.
- Zola 2026 is a "budget range" from the Zola Wedding Cost Index, which Zola builds from couples' budgets, spending in its budget tool and vendor-reported prices.
- Zola's published table has no row for North Dakota, and neither source lists Washington, DC as a state (see the city table below).
| State | The Knot 2026 average | Zola 2026 range |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $27,000 | $25,000β$37,600 |
| Alaska | $19,000 | $29,600β$44,300 |
| Arizona | $27,000 | $28,800β$43,300 |
| Arkansas | $19,000 | $21,600β$32,400 |
| California | $39,000 | $34,500β$51,700 |
| Colorado | $31,000 | $27,000β$40,400 |
| Connecticut | $42,000 | $31,500β$47,300 |
| Delaware | $39,000 | $21,900β$32,900 |
| Florida | $33,000 | $25,200β$37,800 |
| Georgia | $29,000 | $25,500β$38,300 |
| Hawaii | $33,000 | $31,800β$47,700 |
| Idaho | $18,000 | $20,700β$31,000 |
| Illinois | $38,000 | $32,000β$48,000 |
| Indiana | $24,000 | $21,500β$32,300 |
| Iowa | $21,000 | $23,800β$35,700 |
| Kansas | $20,000 | $18,100β$27,100 |
| Kentucky | $23,000 | $24,000β$36,000 |
| Louisiana | $34,000 | $23,800β$35,700 |
| Maine | $37,000 | $30,600β$45,900 |
| Maryland | $38,000 | $29,700β$44,500 |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 | $34,100β$51,100 |
| Michigan | $29,000 | $25,500β$38,300 |
| Minnesota | $28,000 | $24,100β$36,100 |
| Mississippi | $21,000 | $20,700β$31,100 |
| Missouri | $26,000 | $23,100β$34,700 |
| Montana | $21,000 | $29,900β$44,800 |
| Nebraska | $22,000 | $22,500β$33,800 |
| Nevada | $21,000 | $36,600β$54,800 |
| New Hampshire | $37,000 | $33,300β$49,900 |
| New Jersey | $57,000 | $32,800β$49,200 |
| New Mexico | $22,000 | $20,800β$31,300 |
| New York | $49,000 | $43,400β$65,100 |
| North Carolina | $29,000 | $25,700β$38,500 |
| North Dakota | $22,000 | not listed |
| Ohio | $28,000 | $22,700β$34,000 |
| Oklahoma | $19,000 | $18,900β$28,300 |
| Oregon | $23,000 | $24,800β$37,300 |
| Pennsylvania | $36,000 | $25,800β$38,700 |
| Rhode Island | $51,000 | $28,600β$42,900 |
| South Carolina | $35,000 | $25,900β$38,800 |
| South Dakota | $21,000 | $20,100β$30,100 |
| Tennessee | $24,000 | $24,300β$36,500 |
| Texas | $31,000 | $25,400β$38,100 |
| Utah | $18,000 | $19,700β$29,600 |
| Vermont | $47,000 | $29,300β$43,900 |
| Virginia | $34,000 | $29,000β$43,400 |
| Washington | $26,000 | $26,100β$39,100 |
| West Virginia | $19,000 | $25,400β$38,100 |
| Wisconsin | $29,000 | $23,500β$35,300 |
| Wyoming | $17,000 | $41,000β$61,500 |
Highest and lowest states (The Knot 2026)
| Most expensive | Average | Least expensive | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey | $57,000 | Wyoming | $17,000 |
| Rhode Island | $51,000 | Idaho | $18,000 |
| New York | $49,000 | Utah | $18,000 |
| Vermont | $47,000 | Alaska, Arkansas, Oklahoma, West Virginia | $19,000 |
| Massachusetts | $45,000 | Kansas | $20,000 |
| Connecticut | $42,000 |
The middle state in The Knot's list sits at $28,000, below the $34,200 national average. That makes sense: high-population, high-cost states such as New York, New Jersey, California and Illinois pull the national mean up.
Why The Knot and Zola disagree
For 30 of the 49 states both sources cover, The Knot's average falls inside Zola's range. For the other 19 it doesn't, and some gaps are large:
| State | The Knot 2026 | Zola 2026 range | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | $17,000 | $41,000β$61,500 | Knot lowest state; Zola 2nd-highest range |
| Nevada | $21,000 | $36,600β$54,800 | Knot far below Zola's range |
| Montana | $21,000 | $29,900β$44,800 | Knot below |
| Alaska | $19,000 | $29,600β$44,300 | Knot below |
| Rhode Island | $51,000 | $28,600β$42,900 | Knot above |
| New Jersey | $57,000 | $32,800β$49,200 | Knot above |
| Vermont | $47,000 | $29,300β$43,900 | Knot above |
| Delaware | $39,000 | $21,900β$32,900 | Knot above |
Neither publisher explains state-level differences, but their methods differ in ways that plausibly matter:
- Different inputs. The Knot surveys couples after the wedding. Zola's index mixes couples' budgets, actual spending tracked in its budget tool, and prices reported by vendors.
- Different years and samples. The Knot covers weddings held in 2025. Zola's index is for 2026, and its First Look Report surveys couples planning 2026 weddings.
- Different averages. The Knot's national guest count is 117; Zola's is 145. A source with bigger weddings will show higher totals.
- Small states, few weddings. Neither source publishes per-state sample sizes. In low-population states, a handful of very expensive or very cheap weddings could move an average a lot, so treat those figures with extra caution.
Nevada, Wyoming and Montana show some of the biggest disagreements. Whether a wedding is counted in the state where the couple lives or where they marry could matter for states that attract out-of-state couples, but neither publisher says which approach it uses at state level.
What to do with this: use both numbers as a range, and get two or three local quotes for your venue and caterer, which together are the largest share of any budget.
Big-city averages
The Knot 2026 (ceremony and reception, actual guest counts):
| City | Average | City | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York City | $88,000 | Dallas | $32,000 |
| Chicago | $54,000 | Jacksonville, FL | $32,000 |
| San Francisco | $51,000 | Charlotte, NC | $32,000 |
| Boston | $51,000 | Seattle | $31,000 |
| Los Angeles | $45,000 | Denver | $31,000 |
| Washington, DC | $42,000 | Columbus, OH | $30,000 |
| Philadelphia | $40,000 | Nashville, TN | $29,000 |
| San Diego | $38,000 | Phoenix | $27,000 |
| Austin, TX | $37,000 | San Antonio | $26,000 |
| Houston | $33,000 | Indianapolis | $25,000 |
| Las Vegas | $22,000 | Oklahoma City | $21,000 |
| El Paso, TX | $20,000 |
Zola (estimated cost of a 150-guest wedding):
| City | 150 guests | City | 150 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manhattan, NY | $99,452 | Denver, CO | $48,616 |
| Brooklyn, NY | $94,787 | Atlanta, GA | $48,555 |
| San Francisco, CA | $84,649 | Dallas, TX | $48,096 |
| Los Angeles, CA | $66,832 | Miami, FL | $47,786 |
| Washington, DC | $62,864 | Kansas City, MO | $42,135 |
| Phoenix, AZ | $52,732 | Provo, UT | $34,866 |
| Philadelphia, PA | $49,725 | Tulsa, OK | $33,891 |
Zola's city numbers assume 150 guests, more than The Knot's 117-guest average, so they run higher. Zola also cites Milwaukee at about $42,571 for 150 guests.
Other factors in the same Knot data
Location isn't the only driver. The same study reports:
| Factor | Average cost (The Knot 2026) |
|---|---|
| Hometown wedding | $32,600 |
| Domestic destination wedding | $41,700 |
| International destination wedding | $43,700 |
| 1β50 guests | $17,100 |
| 51β100 guests | $27,200 |
| Over 100 guests | $43,300 |
| JanuaryβMarch / OctoberβDecember | $33,200 |
| JulyβSeptember | $35,400 |
Guest count moves the total more than season does. For small-wedding budgets, see how much a micro wedding costs. For the full national breakdown by vendor, see how much a wedding costs in 2026.
Turning a state average into your budget
- Start with your state's Knot average and Zola range. If they disagree, plan to the higher figure until you have quotes.
- Adjust for guest count. Divide by the source's guest count to get a rough per-guest figure ($292 nationally in The Knot data), then use the cost per guest calculator.
- Get the venue and catering quotes early. Together they're the biggest share of the budget. The venue calculator and menu calculator help compare options.
- Build the full budget in the wedding cost calculator, and set a savings plan with the monthly savings calculator.
FAQ
What is the most expensive state to get married in 2026?
In The Knot 2026 study, New Jersey at $57,000, followed by Rhode Island ($51,000) and New York ($49,000). In Zola's index, New York has the highest range ($43,400β$65,100).
What is the cheapest state to get married?
In The Knot 2026 study, Wyoming at $17,000, then Idaho and Utah ($18,000 each). Zola's lowest range is Kansas ($18,100β$27,100), and it puts Wyoming among the most expensive, so treat Wyoming's figure with caution.
What is the average wedding cost in New York City?
The Knot 2026 reports $88,000 for New York City. Zola estimates about $99,452 for a 150-guest wedding in Manhattan and $94,787 in Brooklyn.
Do these averages include the engagement ring and honeymoon?
The Knot's state and city figures don't include the engagement ring. The honeymoon ($5,500 average) and rehearsal dinner ($2,800) are listed separately from the main average in The Knot's data.
Why do sources give different averages?
They survey different couples (married in 2025 vs. planning for 2026), use different methods (post-wedding survey vs. a cost index combining budgets and vendor prices) and have different average guest counts (117 vs. 145).
Sources
- The Knot, The Average Wedding Cost, According to The Knot Data (2026 Real Weddings Study; state, region and city averages; guest-count, season and destination brackets; updated Sep 29, 2026): https://www.theknot.com/content/average-wedding-cost
- The Knot Worldwide, 2026 Real Weddings Study press release (Feb 18, 2026): https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260218045442/en/The-Knot-Worldwide-Unveils-2026-Real-Weddings-Study
- Zola, Average Cost of Weddings in 2026 (Zola Wedding Cost Index: state ranges, 150-guest city costs, methodology): https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/whats-the-average-cost-of-a-wedding
- Zola, 2026 First Look Report ($36,000; 145 guests; 11,500+ couples): https://www.zola.com/expert-advice/the-first-look-report
- Figures as published on 27 October 2026. Comparisons and "inside/outside range" counts are our own arithmetic on the published tables.