The Average US Wedding Cost
According to The Knot's annual survey, the average US wedding costs approximately $30,000. However, this varies wildly by region — a New York City wedding easily tops $70,000 while a rural Midwest wedding might come in under $15,000 for the same number of guests. The biggest cost drivers are always venue, catering, and guest count.
The 50/30/20 Budget Rule
A common financial guideline is to allocate 50% of your budget to venue + catering (the biggest non-negotiables), 30% to photography, music, and flowers (the experience), and keep 20% flexible for unexpected costs, tips, and last-minute additions. Overages are extremely common in wedding planning.